NOLS Alaska Backpacking Trip Report

“I just finished my first full NOLS Course, Backpacking in the Wrangell mountain range in Wrangell St. Elias National park. 28 days straight of backpacking - it was incredible. The trip report is in the picture titles, if anything, read the intro/view the panoramics, after that it's divided by ration period - each album has many awesome pictures of the Wrangells. I'm psyched after my first course, I love my job

http://community.webshots.com/user/simer190”

“shoot - i love your job too!”

“simer, what was the experience level of the typical nols student?
last edited: 8/11/07 6:38:40 AM”

“i see you used the expedition bearikades. those things are ginormous, aint they? take up practically the whole freakin pack. i had one, traded it in for the weekender”

“Looked at 'em all. Awesome.”

“Nice accomplishment, simer190.

Sorry, I'm just out of some hospitals and in no condition to explore so many pictures. Any chance you could post a few of your favorite ones? Thanks.”

“Experience level - Average, not very much.

A handfull had some backpacking experience, a few others had some outdoor experience, and a the rest had no experience at all - a few of them didn't even know what they were getting into at all, two of them left because they couldn't handle it, the others toughed it out and loved it, learned a ton.

Those damn bear cans - yeah, they take up the whole pack, we hated 'em, but they're required in the park. We couldn't have any smaller, well, because those were our only option that the school would provide, and 7 day ration periods didn't entirely fit in those cans anyway.”

“I'll see if i can find a handfull of favorites

Mt Gordon behind our Tents



View of Mt Jarvis and Surrounding peaks


Mt Jarvis behind the tents

last edited: 8/11/07 9:27:06 AM”

“how many days did you go between re-supply? where the re-supplies brought in by those planes in the first pics?”

“A glacier crossing



Dall sheep


The NOLS Classroom


Mt Jarvis


Fireweed and Peak


A rainbow


I think that's Wrangell in the background

last edited: 8/11/07 9:43:14 AM”

“i hate you”

“6-7 days between resupply, and yes, we had three resupplies brought in by the Hulk
”

“you took a lot of pictures. did you take a lot of batteries, or did you have something set up with base to recharge your batteries?”

“I went through three sets of batteries, carried two - sent out the dead ones at the rerations, and had two more sets sent in at ration 3. So, at the most I had one set(4AA) in the camera and carried one extra set.”

“That's too cool simer. You suck.
What a spectacular place. Great pics btw.
What does such a course cost?”

“do you think that they would re-charge a battery for me at re-ration? i only have two batteries, one came with the camera, the other i had to pay about 50 bucks for”

“Depends on where you want to go, what you want to do, and for how long, this particular trip cost the students just over 4k

http://www.nols.edu/courses/locations/alaska/akbackpacking.shtml”

“I wouldn't count on it, It might be possible to work something out with the pilot, but the logistics of that might be complicated.”

“feh”

“you need to hike with a solar battery charger Crash. It's ultra light because then you only need to take one battery.


Thanks for the link Simer.”

“how much? (weight and price)”

“mg, im thinkin about takin a month trip next june or july”

“where are you thinking of going crash?”

“I couldn't take off for that long right now Crash, but when my girls are older I would like to do this. Do they let 40 y/o into the course?”

“simer, im thinking the absaroka trip

mg, all ages”

“The '40 and over' courses are directed towards those less skilled and really toned down, doing much less mileage, and probably fly into a remote area avoiding difficult activity. The 23 and over courses are similar, slightly toned down, but directed towards an older audience. The 17 and over courses are just that, they're open to anybody over 17, expect that the average age would be around 20 and that it might be a slightly more difficult route.

http://www.nols.edu/courses/find/byage/byage.shtm
last edited: 8/11/07 10:23:31 AM”

“mg how much weight and price for the solar battery charger?
also, my battery has a sort of unique shape (its rectangular and flat, about the size and shape of a hersheys mini), do the chargers have adapters, or are they universal?
last edited: 8/11/07 10:25:54 AM”

“I have no clue Crash. I know I saw them somewhere on-line a good while back. I don't know if they work for odd sizes though.”

“Thanks, simer190. I enjoyed those pictures.

During our trip we did see long-horned sheep at Boulder, NE.

What secrets can you tell now to help us improve our backpacking? Will you be giving a class for us in Minnesota?”

“Secrets... If you have any questions I'll be glad to answer. I might be planning a trip in the BWCA this fall - but I will not be in my teaching mode, don't expect any curriculum. But I am happy to answer questions or give advice.”

“I'm going to miss alaska, MN doesn't quite compare. But, I am looking forward to getting home, I've been away for a long time. Took off on May 12, been mostly backpacking since then, I'll be glad to have a break. Heading home on Wednesday”