create account login
|
Welcome to thebackpacker.com create account login |
|
trips - ALASKA EXPEDITION 09Trip Info
DescriptionALASKA EXPEDITION 2009 LETTER # 1 July 09 Welcome Alaska team member: As I send this first letter to you, I know it's lengthy and I hope you take time to read it all. I promise future letters will not be so lengthy. My first time to actually Backpack in Alaska was this year and I have to go back. I cannot explain into words what is the driving force for me returning. I think it's addiction. For the first time ever in my life I was in a place that I had only seen pictures of or on tv, magazine. It literally took my breath away with every angle, step, offering a different view. Animals, clouds, plant life, flowers, terrain even the water was different from anything I had ever seen. Eagles everywhere soaring, Dall sheep everywhere, Caribou seen at several locations, Pika, being charged by a Bull Moose, plenty of scat and evidence of Bear,and I realized I was not alone. Just think about walking on land, no man has walked on. Touch a Glacier no man has touched, Dip out some Glacier water from the creeks that has been locked up some thousands of years ago and not made it to an ocean yet. I have to go back! I'll be sending several e mail letters through out the following year to give you the latest updates, plans, expenses, questions,planning etc,...to each of you that is on my contact list for this trip. Everybody need to express there ideas, needs and input so don't hesitate in contacting me via e mail or cell # 276-706-0588. The actual dates have not been set in stone but for cost effective planning, we need to set a date soon. I found out last trip by purchasing my round trip airfare in November 07 for the 08 trip, I saved $400.00 bucks or more by not waiting a month before the trip. If we need to rent a vehicle of some type I found out all trucks ,vans capable of transporting all of us was not available 4 months before our trip in July. I had made reservations in Dec 07 to insure us a vehicle for the 08 trip and when I went to change the status I realized no trucks, vans was available no where. So early planning will needed to insure our trip a success. Our first issue will be transportation to Nabesna from Anchorage. One possible method is the Alaska Bus Line . Leaves Anchorage on Mon, Wed, Fri at 6 am from the Days Inn in Anchorage. Cost was $200.00 bucks round trip from Anchorage to Chistochina and we had arranged for a shuttle to carry us some 88 miles to Nabesna and return us to Chistochina. I am rethinking this cost and looking into our own rental truck 4wd to carry us to and from giving us transportation in and around Anchorage as well for Fuel and the local REI store and Groceries. Another possibility is a motor home rental letting us stay anywhere we wish as we travel to Nabesna and not staying in a Hostel or Motel. We could head straight to the Nabesna road and camp at several open spots FREE, and this road is some 68 miles to Nabesna Spam and I seen Moose, and others seen ole GRIZZ on this road. There is fishing too everywhere along this road and spectacular views 360 degrees. A word on Lodging. When we first arrive in Anchorage and when we return: The 08 trip, we all stayed at the Backpackers Hostel, costs are 22 bucks a night in a dorm room sleeping 4 or 6 (bunk beds). Room for 2 costs approx 35 bucks each and a single room is 60 bucks a night. Community Showers and bathrooms. Backpacker Inn/ 907-277-2770 327 Eagle St. Anchorage, AK 99501 You do not have to stay here, there is a Days Inn near by and a Sheraton. Alaska Direct Bus Line if we choose to take this route , http://www.alaskadirectbusline.com 125 Oklahoma Street, Anchorage Alaska 99504 907-277-6752 1-800-770-6652 The bus does not take us into Nabesna, and that's why I am looking into a Truck Rental. Airplane regulations will not allow us to carry Bear Spray, Fuel for stoves on the plane so we will purchase these items in Anchorage. There is a local REI store in Anchorage located at 1200 W Northern Lights Blvd,,Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 272-4565. I have a satellite phone we will need to contact the outside world once we are on our own in the backcountry.....there will be no cell phone nor did my radios work for the 10 noaa channels. Satellite phone does have the capabilities of Noaa and of course making calls to love one. I purchase bundle minutes there in Alaska and this will be another cost we need to address. Bundle minutes are sold at 50 minutes a bundle at $2.00 a minute. Well worth it when you need to make a call to our Bush Pilot for an emergency situation. We purchased 150 bundle minutes this last trip and several also got to call home to check on momma, or the wife. I am currently looking at an area within the Wrangell - St Elias Park, at a landing strip near the Jacksina Glacier where we can camp first night and explore this massive Glacier. Mt Jarvis, 13,421 ft is the backdrop and this mountain is massive. Snow capped making it's own weather. We may want to stay here 2 nights giving us a full day to explore the Glacier and get a closer look at Mt Jarvis. Map set # Nabesna A-6 63 K. The exact route I am looking at will use the following map sets.....note, there are no 1/24 or 1/25 k map sets available for Alaska.....they only carry 63 k and they are quite detailed. Nabesna A-5, A-6, B-5 all 63 K. Map A-5 takes us to Tumble Creek and if we encounter rain or warm temps we will need to cross this creek early in the morning. We found out in Alaska that what they call creeks are like rivers here south. From Tumble creek we head to GRIZZLY LAKE.....yes if your wondering why they call this GRIZZLY lake. Fishing for Trout and Grayling will be possible here for at least a 2 nighter giving us a full day to fish or explore the many canyons with Glacier Lakes,(most of the lakes in this area are dead lakes, no fish). This entire area we seen from afar as our Bush Pilot returned us to Nabesna. Some scattered Spruce trees all around the Grizzly Lake area making fire wood available along with Alder trees for quick and easy fire wood. From Grizzly Lake we continue on to Sheep Lake map B-5 and continuing on what is called a pack trail to a canyon on the right taking us to PINGO where there is a small airstrip for a pick up. Before heading up the canyon to Pingo we can camp at the head wall and day hike to TANADA LAKE....this lake is big will fishing of all sorts. If we do not make it to Pingo we can get picked up at Grizzly Lake. There will be several pick up points we will consider to insure we have plenty of options if needed. Almost the entire route is Tree less and what trees we will encounter will be sparse so Views will be literally 360 degrees. Tussock will make our mileage shrink to approx 5 miles a day giving you the feel of a 10 mile day, or at least that's what the 08 team agreed to. (Randall actually stepped on a Tussock pad thinking it was solid only to sink up to his waist in water and quickly retreating. I actually seen this and it was a wake up call questioning every step.) We actually stopped approx every mile to rest and give us time to check out the ever changing views and of course to re calculate our positioning on Maps and GPS. Water will be abundant for drinking from the snow melts, and streams will be everywhere, we used several filters, chemicals, MSR mini works, First Need Purifier, Steri Pen and all worked well. The Glacier Creeks and Rivers will look either muddy or gray in color from the Glacier melt and in my opinion is not a good source for water. Lots of silt. Water temps will be some of the coldest water you have ever felt...don't believe me, ask Spam, Randall, Crash, Lone wolf, Smokey......some of the coldest water I have ever been in and quickly numbing your legs. After a couple days crossing in just Crocks I realized I had packed up a pair of Seal Skinz socks, so I used them and was amazed on what a difference they made. For the first several crossings my feet stayed dry and eventually water reaching top of the socks penetrated but I never felt the coldness I felt earlier. Kinda like a swim suit on, and my feet was happy. My boots dry and making my experience a learning experience I will use all the time when crossing water. Rain Gear is essential and should be good quality,,,trust me on this.....it will pay off, bring a good Water proof hat, Gaiters.... We will discuss gear later as we get closer to the trip. A word about our recent Bush Pilot: KIRK ELLIS Is a Bush Pilot that was recommended to me by two other guide services working within Wrangell-St.Elias Park, and when I was talking to them about a section of the park remote and away from the beaten path they recommended the Northern section with Kirk Ellis as the expert in this area. Also when we arrived at the Ranger station just some 68 miles away from Nabesna to check with conditions with the Rangers, they asked me who was our bush pilot and of course Kirk Ellis. The Ranger said Kirk was the expert about conditions in this area and ever made me feel like we had the best Bush Pilot available. The Rangers never did give me conditions at the present time but when we arrived in Nabesna, Kirk had already made a flight the day before checking conditions for our departure to Jaegar Mesa, and letting us know that it had snowed up top the Mesa and wet . He landed his plane on a HILL SIDE that freaked me out. I thought we were going to crash but apparently he does this often. He landed the plane with less shake than a big jet landing. YES I had to pp. Kirk is quiet at first, very reserved, but when asking questions he opens up just enough to give you the answers you are looking for. His home is powered by a Generator with a kinda like 2 way radio telephone system for contact with the outside world. His front yard is the airstrip with snow capped peaks and some 60 miles to the Yukon. His plane is a Super Cub and only 2 in existence are being used, or registered with the FAA to fly.All wing and motor Kirk's plane is called the HULK. Okay enough talk, maybe to much talk...... Give me a shout if you have questions.....I'll be looking into Transportation and cost within the next month and relaying all my findings to you all. Thanks....Fridge / Mike THIS IS NOT A WALK IN THE PARK.
 = Yes,  = Maybe
Trip Attendees
Picture Albums Wrangell St-Elias (0 pics) - Refrigerator
Threads
|
SearchReady to Buy Gear?Sponsored Links
Great Outdoor Sites |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
