Ultimate Alaska

Our Alaskan adventure begins with stunning scenery and abundant wildlife on a sea kayak adventure out of Resurrection Bay. Back on land, we head to the Chugach mountain range to enjoy a four-day backpack as well as a give-back project to the areas we visit.

Next, an unforgettable Alaskan mountaineering experience on the Matanuska Glacier gets us outfitted with crampons, ice axes and climbing gear for an introduction to the exhilarating sport of ice climbing.

On the Matanuska River we spend two days rafting class III and IV rapids. Our final adventure is a five day exploration of Denali region where we backpack along the Kesugi Ridge in the shadow of Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America.

» Day 1:
You will be met upon arrival at the airport gate by your experienced AAVE expedition leaders. After a complete gear check, to assure that you are prepared for the diverse, demanding and remote regions we explore, we load up and head off! During orientation we get to know each other and learn what to expect in the days ahead. Our daily routine, jobs and safety rules are explained and the process of growing together as a group begins.

» Day 2-5:
We begin our backpack into Chugach State Park, the third largest state park in the country at half a million acres! We learn how to practice Leave No Trace ethics and travel safely in the wilderness and in bear country. We enjoy spotting wildflowers, moose, eagles, roaring glacier-fed rivers, wolves and maybe even a grizzly.

» Day 6-7:
We travel to Resurrection Bay and get a good night's sleep before an early start the next morning when we sea kayak along the Caines Head coast to moss covered rainforests and a gorgeous waterfall.

» Day 8:
Tonight we camp at the base of the Matanuska Glacier as we resupply and prepare for a day of ice climbing tomorrow.

» Day 9-12:
Today we try the challenging and exhilarating sport of ice climbing. After an orientation regarding safety, equipment and it's uses we begin getting the feel for movement on the ice: crampon techniques, self arrests, and knots. Over the next four days we build on our techniques enjoying top roping, zip lining and either a summit or a mock crevasse rescue!

» Day 13-14:
Two thrilling days plunging down the Matanuska River ensures heart-pumping adventure. We camp along the banks of the river and enjoy Class IV rapids amid Dall sheep and towering peaks.

» Day 15:
We have the opportunity to do a give back and have the chance to help out the areas we've been enjoying. Our dedication to a day of hard work and our positive attitudes help make this a rewarding experience for all who are involved.

» Day 16-20:
For the grand finale we finish our trip in the shadow of the tallest peak in North America in Denali State Park. For the next four days we savor our last bit of time in the majestic park with the 20,320-foot Mt. McKinley on the horizon. We may see grizzly, caribou, moose, fox, and eagles as we practice topographic map skills and enjoy our last few days together as a group.

» Day 21:
We head back to Anchorage to clean up all our gear, enjoy our last meal together and savor one last evening meeting.

» Day 22:
We wake up early, head to the airport, hug goodbye to our new friends and start planning AAVE adventure for next year!