Alaska trip- could be a reality in 04

“just wondering if shellin out approximately $700.00 would be worth a 3.5 day backpack trip to the Hanging Valleys, South Fork of the Eagle River.

Leave out at 6 am on a thurs...arrive in Anchorage at noon...catch a shuttle to the TH, by 3 in the afternoon, be soul deep in the Alaska wilderness...emerge on Sunday late afternoon, and camp at the TH, then catch a cab back to the airport in the early am on monday, and be back home by 10 in the evening on monday and back at work on tuesday.

Thoughts and opinions are welcome...yes, I get backpacker magazine (page 37 of the April edition)”

“wow too bad it couldnt be longer.”

“I only want to cook 3 vacation days, but I could be convinced to burn 4. that would give an extra day...so, who's interested? I'm really serious about this.”

“I have found tickets as low as 433.00 to anc. I am going in july for 12 days”

“I say do it, Stikmon. Ifsthere any way you could spend more time there, though? Still, even if it's just a few days, it'll be a blast and worth every penny, I'm sure. :-)”

“I think its about a 8 hr flight from Chicago to Anchorage and about 4 from Seattle.

You're planning on relying on shuttles and cabbies to get to and from the TH. Whats a rental run ya? The 700 bones seems kinda steep this earlier in the planning. I don't know how many Vaca days you'll have next year but I would look into doing more than 3 days in the BC because you will spend just about 2 days in transit.

I would like to get some TTer's and go float thru the Gates on the Noatak.”

“i would have no problem using 10 vacation days for an alaska trip. then again, starting next year i have a total of 22 paid vacation and personal days, plus a system that allows an almost unlimited amount of unpaid days off on days that are slow.”

“Stikmon - I've been wanting to go to Alaska for a long time. I would also want to go for longer than a week. Soo many things I want to see... Please keep me posted.”

“I would be up for something like that! But I also think that if I was going to travel that distance I would want to do more than 3 days. A 4-5 day trip would be awesome. I have a conection in Ancorage that might be willing to help out with planning.”

“Hmmm...surely there's a way to combine it with a 3 day weekend to extend the stay without burning any more vacation days. Is that going to be possible, weather-wise? If you tack on a couple of days before a holiday weekend and a couple of days after it you (usually) avoid the holliday rates.


If $700 is just the plane ticket and transportation to and from the trailhead, I would find a way to stretch the stay more than 3 or 4 days.”

“I don't know if you get July 4 as a paid holiday, but we do. If so, it falls on Wednesday next year. Burn 4 vacation days for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and you'll have 9 consecutive days. I don't know what the weather is like in the part of Alaska you're going to in July but it's worth checking into. That's what I would do anyway.”

“I'm sorry, I screwed up. I was went the wrong way with the math, July 4 is on Sunday next year. LOL! Well...it coulda worked...”

“the air fare is $470.00 for THIS august...can't get rates for next august...too far out in the future.

I figured $130.00 on/for incidentals...There are no 3 day weekends in mid august. and it seems to be a short window on weather, so timing is everything. I agree on the time/distance factor...far, but 8 hours is not alot...heck, I drive 6 hours to go float or backpack for a weekend, so, 8 hours is nothing.

I would use a local shuttle...the TH is only 20 minutes from the airport..why rent a car?

3-4 day trip...I personally like shorter trips...my philosophy is short and exciting and frequent. I agree that there is sooooo much to see, but really, your not going to see it all anyway, so why try. just go and do what you do, and see what you see...ya can always come back for more. I would have no problem burning 4 vaca days (wed, thur, fri & mon). That would allow for 4.5 days of high end adventure...thats enough for this ole dude...after all...I can only die once, and pushing 5-6 days would increase my odds of death, so, a shorter trip increases my odds of survival.

I am glad that there seems to be some interest in this. Lets keep it alive and do research...

LThiker...your contact in Anchorage could be helpful...can you gather some data on this hike...backpacker mag had little to go on, other than the idea.

I'd really like to make this thing happen.”

“July is BAAAAAAAAAAD for me. Its budget time for my business, and Im not taking vacation in July anymore...its always a hassle.”

“S'ok Stikmon, I screwed up the dates anyway. It's a shame about the three day weekend thing. That would have made it so much easier.”

“Stikmon, my contact is not a backpacker so he wouldn't be good for trail info, but he might be good for other local info. He is also a boyfriend of a friend so no real close contact. But I am sure he would be glad to help with what he can.

Stikmon where would you fly out of? For me on the East Coast it would be a really long flight. Direct flight from Newark to Ancorage would be $565 this August and a 7:41 flight. Not bad!”

“I would fly from Memphis and connect in Minneaopolis. There is LOTS of time to plan this. I am wanting to do this next year...and I might just make it for a longer period of time...but like I said...5 days is good for me...that way, I;d still have plenty of time left for other activities throughout the year. I will make some inquiries and start my data gathering. Should be fun just planning it and gathering info and pictures.”

“Sounds like a plan!”

“bears”

“Strat that is only one word. Did you mean to say "BIG BEARS"”

“bigfuggingeatyerassinonebiteandcrapyoulatersmellyevilmean bears”

“hahahahahaha! Had a bad bear experience?”

“no, i just never got over that thread awile back where it showed a bear victom......

if i ws goin to griz country , i'd pack some heat with a whollup. i don't trust bear spray......”

“As long as you are not the slowest runner in the group.”

“lmao! not a chance of that!”

“RUN!!!!!

as long as its a good day to die...so be it.”

“stickyhead, as you may remember, my oldest son is named forreat(he came out before the movie) so we yell that out to him whenever he gets a hit in baseball, lol. we say the movie the other night and the next day, when i dropped him off at school, i waited till he was just about to slam the truck door and i sais "hey forrest" (i was doing my gump impression), he turned around and said...'yeah dad?". i said "i wanna tell you that i love you"(just like the movie when his boy gets on the bus). he just smiled real big and said "i love you too dad"”

“I need to go puke now...”

“STFU BEEYUTCH!

GET HIM BUCKY!”

“stikmon,i,m going in june and have 17 days and feel like thats not going to be enough!I paid $413 through northwest air.I get backpacker too and am thinking about the same hike.We,my son and I,are going to roam from Anchorage to Homer,charter fishing and Kachemak bay St.Pk, to Seward,Caines head St. Rec. area and anything else that catches our eye in between.Hope to have alot of good pics and trip reports upon our return.If I only had a long weekend I would cry,burn sick days!! Hope you get there no matter how many days that you have.”

“please pick up as much literature and reading material that you can...I'd even send ya some money to pick up some topos and a guide book for me...email me...marclherring@hotmail.com”

“you have mail,hope it helps!”