Mt. Sanford, Wrangell - St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Please click on the image to view a larger version of this photo.

Hey Folks,

Wow, what a great response to this; I so appreciate everyone taking the time to enter, and especially those who shared the offer around the web. Thanks so much.

So, to cut to the chase, I’ll announce the folks who were drawn here:

1) Adam Wolf/Christina Smith

2) Patsy Lascha/Charles Fry

It was so cool to hear from people with such a clear passion for the great outdoors and particularly for Alaska. This is definitely a special place, and it’s great to see so many people who are attuned to that.

And that’s it. I’ll try to persuade them to maybe send me a photo so I can post it here and you’ll all get to see who these people are. And we’ll definitely have some photos and videos with a full trip report posted in March.

Thanks so much, and I really wish you all a great year for 2012.

Cheers

Carl

PS: Edit, 4pm – Folks, I’ve had a few people email me and ask about an opportunity to book a trip like this as a regular trip. If anyone is interested, please let me know. If we can get a group together, 3 minimum, we can run a trip for about $1000.00 p.p.

Snowshoeing in winter in the boreal forest of Wrangell - St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska.

A Holiday Season Special – Spring Equinox Celebration

OK, this one is so simple it’s ridiculous.

In the best of the holiday spirit, here’s what I’m doing. I’m offering a free trip to Wrangell – St. Elias National Park. This offer is open to any who who think they’d enjoy a trip like this. The more people that enter, the more people will win.

If fewer than 250 people enter, I’ll give away a trip for free to 2 people. If I get more than 250 people enter, I’ll give away 4 free spots on the trip.

Wrangell – St. Elias National Park. 6 nights in a backcountry cabin; days spent snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and/or hiking, enjoying some winter landscape photography, possible northern lights photography and the quietest, peaceful-est cabin you never been to. Here’s what you need to know.

The Trip

We leave Anchorage, drive 5 hours to Wrangell – St. Elias National Park. 5 nights in the cabin, March 18-23, and return to Anchorage on March 24. During the day, we can either snowshoe, cross country ski, or, depending on weather and snow conditions, hike.

We’ll have the van nearby so we can easily saunter down to the van, drive 10 miles down the road, snowshoe all day, drive back to the cabin and enjoy the comfort of a wood stove, hot food and a quiet like no other. Next day, we can do the same in the other direction.

The exploratory opportunities are literally endless here. Winter landscape photography opportunities abound. This is a massive landscape; Mt Sanford rises over 16 000′ right out the window. It’s also an intimate boreal forest, for some great shooting opportunities. There’s a decent chance of seeing moose in the area, and possibly caribou. The northern lights are a strong possibility; displays are typically strongest and most active right around the Equinox, so this timing is optimal for great northern lights viewing/photography. There are never any guarantees with the aurora, of course.

Price: Normally $1400.00 per person, this year 2, or possibly 4 people get to come out for free.

Dates: March 18-23, 2012

My holiday gift and thank you to everyone who’s supported what I do.

Requirements to enter

This isn’t really a contest, per se; 2 or 4 people will be picked at random. That’s pretty much all there is to it. Whether it’s a couple & 2 singles, or a group of 4, etc, doesn’t matter.

Please, no shysters. I’m offering this trip in the spirit of the holidays, and would like it to be treated as such.

And just a head’s up. I’ll be in the backcounty over the New Year, from Dec 27-January 10th and unavailable. So if you have any questions, send them along and I’ll respond as soon as I get back in from my trip to Denali.

To be eligible, simply fill in the following form.

ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED.

The more people who enter, the more people who win. In the giveaway spirit:

Please share on Google Plus:

Basic Trip Info:

This trip is not strenuous at all, and very customizable to fit your level, whether you’re a hardy experienced outdoors person, or more of a beginner. But, it’s not for everybody.

1. You’ll need to be in decent shape, capable of comfortably hiking a few miles or so.
2. The skiing isn’t technical at all, it’s not a heli-ski adventure. Nordic cross country skiing is all. We can either xc ski on trails or off-trails, but at least a little skiing ability will make your trip more enjoyable.
3. Snowshoeing, if you’ve never done it before, is straightforward. If you can hike OK, you’ll have no problem.
4. It can be cold. You’re welcome to spend all day inside the cabin by the fire, but if you really dislike the cold, this might not be for you.
5. We’re not backpacking, sleeping in tents.
6. You’ll need a sleeping bag, and clothing.
7. You can rent ski and snowshoe gear if you don’t have it.
8. If I receive 0-250 entrants, I’ll select 2 people for a free trip. More than 250 entrants, and I’ll pick 2 more.
9. No alcohol is provided.
10. You must be 18 to enter; but under 18 year olds are welcome if accompanied by an adult

Questions

1. I want to bring my family. Can I enter?

• I’d love to say yes. But each drawing is restricted to a single or one couple;  you can’t enter for more than 2 people. It’d simply get unmanageable to draw correctly.

2. Are the dates flexible?

• Unfortunately, no. The dates are set.

3. What happens if the first entrance drawn is a couple?

• Easy. Those are the 2 people who come along.

4. What happens if the 1st entrant drawn is a single?

• Easy.  If I receive, for example, 145 entrants, and then draw an entry for a single, I’ll then select another entry. If it’s a couple, then it’ll be 3 people free on the trip. If I get more than 250 entries, and select a single, then a couple, I’ll only select from the remaining single entries for the 4th person. That’s the only way I can see this working out yet staying fair and manageable.

5. When will the entry be drawn?

• January 18. At 10am, Alaska time (we’re 4hrs behind EST). That’s 2 months before the trip departure date.

6. What happens if I win and then can’t come along?

• Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee your schedule. But, if you’re drawn, and then can’t make the trip, let me know ASAP. I’m an upright guy, and I’ll do what I can to accommodate you.

7. What if I don’t have the right gear?

• You’ll need decent outdoor clothing. Ski gear and snowshoes you can rent if you don’t already have them.

8. Can I enter for someone else?

• Absolutely. But you must let me know that when you enter, not afterward. If you want to enter this, for example, as a holiday gift for someone else, you must enter their name in the appropriate section on the submission form.

9. If I win and change my mind can I give the trip to someone else?

• Don’t be crazy. No. If you want to enter for someone else, that’s fine, but you must let me know that when you enter. This is what they call “non-transferrable”.

10. Can I enter more than once?

• Now you’re pushing it. No. One entry per person/household. You can’t have you kids and your friends and your dog enter for you if you’ve already entered.

11. How will the winner/s be drawn?

• Excellent question. I had no idea initially. From looking around, this seems the fairest way. I’ll enter everyone’s info into the List Randomizer. Then I’ll use the Random # Generator to pick the first winner, and do it again as needed. This protects your info, and is the fairest I can figure.

12. How long do I have to claim if I win?

• 1 week. If you know you’ll be out of reach for more than one week after January 18, let me know before the drawing.

13. Where will the announcement be made?

• Right here on the blog, of course. And I’ll also post the info to the facebook, G+, Twitter feeds as well. I’ll email the folks who are drawn, and follow up with a call if I don’t hear back.

 14. Can we make the trip shorter?

• If you’re selected, and you and your partner don’t want to stay for 6 nights, and either cut it short, or plan for it to be shorter, that’s fine. If there are 3 or 4 people on the trip, it will be highly unlikely to change the schedule.

15. I have a few more questions; Can I contact you for more information?

• Sure; But, as I said above “I’ll be in the backcounty over the New Year, from Dec 27-January 10th. So if you have any questions, send them along and I’ll respond as soon as I get back in from my trip to Denali.”. Email me or call 770. 952 4549.

16. What’s the catch?

• There is none. This is NOT a requirement, but if you appreciate this offer, you’re invited to follow

1. Alaskan Alpine Treks’ Facebook page,
2.  Google Plus page
3. Follow on Twitter
4. Linked In.

If you’re not on any of those social media sites, you’re welcome, but not obligated, to subscribe to the email newsletter.

Below are a few photos showing the cabin, the forest, the landscape and so forth. These are all from this trip in past years. You can post any questions, comments, etc, below and I’ll get back with you asap.

Have a great holiday season, and here’s to a really great New Year. Thanks so much.

Cheers

Carl

PS: Remember to bring your camera!

Winter in Wrangell - St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Wrangell Mountains, Mount Blackburn, Kuskulana River, Winter, Alaska. Please click on the image above to view a larger version of this photo.

Hey Folks,

I’d like to take a few minutes to say thanks so much to everyone for a really great year this year. We had some fantastic adventures, I met some wonderful people, and am so grateful to you all for coming out, as always. It really means a lot to me that so many people come out and share this amazing place with me. Thank you.

And I’d like to wish everyone the absolute happiest of holidays, and all of my very best to each of you for the coming New Year.

Travel safe, and travel well. Thanks again.

Cheers

Carl

Evening light, after dusk, on Mount Saint Elias and Icy Bay, Wrangell - St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Please click on the image above to view a larger version of this photo.

Hey Folks,

We’ll end the “Image of the Month” series for 2011 with a look at my favorite mountain; Mt. St. Elias. Taken after sunset from Icy Bay, Wrangell – St. Elias National Park and Preserve.

Have a great holiday season everyone, and all the best for the the coming year. Let’s make it a big one, eh?

Cheers

Carl

Hey Folks,

One topic I thought I might write about here that readers might enjoy has to do with navigation; every backcountry traveler has  had issues with getting lost, even if only briefly, and being unsure of direction. So we learn how to read a compass and topographic map. And w learn how to pay attention to our terrain and landscape. We learn about geology and landform features to help us navigate. We learn how to pay attention to the sky, and the sun. Some of us even look skyward after dark and learn to read the constellations.

More recently, we’ve acquired and learned GPS technologies, for pinpoint accuracy, and for better navigation in adverse situations (clouds and fog, flat, featureless terrain, etc).  But even this amazing GPS stuff is years old now. So what’s the “new” navigation technology?

On a recent sojourn down around the Malaspina Glacier and along the coastal reaches of Wrangell – St. Elias National Park, I looked around at the available topo maps before setting out. They really aren’t so great. They’re old and the landscape in such a dynamic region, with a crashing coastline and an ever-changing glacier, is different year to year. The topos didn’t seem like the way to go.

But what DID seem to be a good call, and turned out to be a super-helpful tool, was google earth. Here’s the kind of thing we printed out:

Malaspina Glacier coastline, Wrangell - St. Elias National Park, Alaska. Click on the image here for a much larger version of the photo.

So we printed out a handful of these “aerial photos” and that’s how we navigated and found our way around. It’s not perfect, and it’s not foolproof, but the imagery is a lot more current and useful than a topo map here. I carried both topo maps AND the satellite imagery, and the topo maps simply stayed in my pack the whole trip.

I hadn’t tried using imagery like this to navigate with before, but it worked out great. The satellite photos showed us a lot about the ground; the forest, the brush, etc, and were a great tool to have along. Where is water, what water is clear versus glacial silt, and so on were just a few of the things these images help with. Add a scale, and they’re a very helpful resource. I wouldn’t use them in all situations, at all, but nor are a GPS or compass/topos perfect in all situations either. Tools are contextual, and in this situation, there was no better tool for the job than these google earth photos.

Give it a try.

Cheers

Carl

Hig (carrying Katmai) and Erin (carrying Lituya) walk along the shore of a small lake at the edge of the Malaspina Glacier, looking north toward Mt. St. Elias and the Saint Elias Mountain Range.Wrangell - St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Please click on the image above to view a larger version of this photo.

Hey Folks,

Here’s another shot from the trip recently down along the coastline. This photo was one of my first days on the hike with hig and Erin, and their 2 children Katmai (wearing his “Prince-pants”, and carried here by Hig, on the left) and Lituya (whom Erin is carrying). What a treat it was to be invited to join this great family on their adventure! So, on this particular morning, we wanted to go and explore the edges of the Malaspina Glacier, and enjoyed a gorgeous morning hike up over the moraine and out on to the ice. The farther reaches of the glacier provided spectacular views of nearby Mt. St. Elias (pictured) and the Saint Elias Mountain Range, and the amazingly expansive view over the Malaspina. Incredible place.

It was really cool to hike with Erin and Hig, both accomplished backcountry travelers, but particularly to do so and accompany them with their 2 young children. Katmai is nearly 3, and Lituya is about 8 months old. Toddlers like this are always fascinating, but watching such young kids experience the wilderness was great fun.

What struck me most, I suppose, was the thought of how great it is that 2 young parents are here spending 24 hours a day with their children. Not too many parents do I know, or know of, ever do something like this, and it was really fun to observe. Almost every waking moment of their day Erin and//or Hig engaged their children, for 2 months. The kids had a blast, especially young Katmai, who soaked up the beach, the mountains, the views, the dirt, my peanut butter, any chocolate within a half mile, and the sunshine whenever he could.

Certainly, there was some “enduring” going on from time to time, but oh so rarely. For the most part, everyone simply enjoyed being in the backcountry. Good times all around.

We spent a few days in this area, then packrafted across this lake, hiked over the moraine, boated back down the next river to the beach, and then hiked the coast east to meet up with 2 other folks, Sam and Michael, for more adventures. I think my favorite area to explore was the grand old Sitka Spruce forests along the beach; absolutely amazing trees, mosses and vegetation in this dark and silent world. Silent, yet pounded by a mighty surf just outside; it’s a weird experience, hearing both silence and crashing, breaking waves pounding the shoreline simultaneously. Beautifully odd.

Erin and Hig and the family are still down in the area as I write this, but returning soon, and I’ll look forward to hearing from them about the rest of their trip. I had a great time with them, and will post a few more images from the trip as time permits.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers

Carl

Setting out for a month long backpack along the coastline of Wrangell - St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Please click on the image above to view a larger version of this photo.

Hey Folks,

Wow; what a cool trip this last one was. A month along the coastline and borders of the Malaspina Glacier in Wrangell – St. Elias National Park’s southeastern reaches.

This photo is my first night on the beach, right after the air taxi departed, I shouldered the heavy pack, posed for an image, and set off down the beach to find a campsite. Dark comes quickly this time of year in Alaska.

I caught up with friends Erin and Hig from Ground Truth Trekking, and their 2 kids Katmai and Lituya, the following afternoon. I spent most of the rest of my trip with them, and then the last 10 days or so in the Icy Bay area, trying to get a nice sunset photo of Mt. St. Elias from that area. Seemed like things were still getting going when before I knew it, the month was over and I had to fly back to the city. Time flies, eh?

We backpacked a good chunk of the coastline, and packrafted some of the rivers and lagoons in the area. The Alpacka packrafts are a great way to deal with big water, and allowed us to cover quite a bit of ground more easily. I’m still trying to figure a way to bring some packrafting into the sumer trips; it’s really a valuable tool to have in the field up here.

I think my favorite part of the trip, though, was poking around in the old growth Spruce forests along the coastline; mighty, moss-covered Sitka Spruce trees, and centuries old bear trails on the forest floor. What a wonderful experience it is to hike through that landscape.

Fantastic trip. I’ll try to post some more images and information about the hike soon.

Cheers

Carl

Sunrise over Mount Sanford, Wrangell - St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Please click on the image above to view a larger version of this photo.

Hey Folks,

A quick post for while I’m away. I’m still off on the Malaspina Glacier expedition with Erin and Hig I mentioned earlier. I should be back soon, with tons of new images and stories from the trip. In the meantime, here’s the Image of the Month for November, 2011.

Mount Sanford on a gorgeous fall morning, taken back in September on our Fall Photo Tour. I hope you enjoy this photo.

Cheers

Carl

Backpacking down the Goat Trail, Chitistone Canyon, Wrangell - St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Please click on the image above to view a larger version of this photo.

Hey Folks,

So now the “season” has officially ended, I want to thank everyone that came out this year for such a fun summer/fall. It’s always a treat to see familiar faces, those who’ve returned yet again for another Alaskan Alpine Treks trip, thank you. And for all those who took their first trip with us this year, thanks so much, and I sincerely hope you had a great time here. Thank you.

So now, it’s time for me to take off and explore some more. I’m taking 4 weeks to join up with Erin and Hig, of Ground Truth Trekking, for part of their ‘Life On Ice’ adventure, down around the Malaspina Glacier and the Lost Coast of Wrangell – St. Elias National Park, a little travelled part of the world for sure. I’m super excited about this trip,  for a number of reasons, one is simply to spend a month in the backcountry. I’m also stoked to join up with Erin and Hig, great people with a wealth of experience and wisdom to learn from. That’ll be a great experience.

Take a look at their site, and the links above. You might also want to follow their adventures on Twitter, as they post reasonably often. I won’t be posting until I get back; but you can get a glimpse of how things are going via their tweets. It promises to be a fantastic trip, and a wonderful place. I’ve only spent a brief time near the area before, so it will be fun to really explore a bit here.

In the meantime, I hope you all have a great fall, and I’ll try to follow up when I get back with a full trip report for you all, photos and all.

Thanks folks,

Cheers

Carl

Hiking on the Russell Glacier, Wrangell - St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. To view a larger version of this image, please click on the photo above.

Hey Folks,

Here’s a quick snapshot from the recent trip we did to Skolai Pass; Justin hiking on the Russell Glacier on a gorgeous afternoon in Wrangell – St. Elias National Park. This was actually the first time I’ve ventured out on to this particular glacier; good times indeed.

An hour or so later, we saw a wolf heading up the valley. That’s a great day!

Cheers

Carl