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7 Day Denali State Park Hiking Extravaganza
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The Denali Region
These treks are the classic example of adventure/exploring with a traverse of the high alpine plateaus of the Talkeetna Mountains. There are over a hundred species of wildflowers! You can't imagine anything so delicate and beautiful growing in this sometimes hostile climatic zone of mountain shoulders and wind-whipped passes.
Grizzly Bears and Wolves are often spotted, commanding your immediate attention and leaving you invigorated with the true spirit of "the wilderness"! Tundra nesting birds, some that have traveled 10,000 miles to their breeding grounds, can be spotted and photographed! The most awe inspiring sensation of all...walking through the hall of the mountains!...is yours each and every day as we travel through the Alaska highlands. The scenery is absolutely magnificent, almost spellbinding, everyone feels humbled. We talk in soft, hushed voices. We walk gently over the terrain and rest often to absorb as much as possible in this supernal habitat. These treks are very educational and an adventure you will reminisce and talk about for years to come. During the trip we offer very savory and nutritious meals and can accommodate almost anyone's dietary needs. Each trip is fully guided by one of our very experienced and knowledgeable staff. We hope you'll join us for an unforgettable walk through the realm of Denali!
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TOUR ITINERARY  |
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Day 01 Anchorage - Talkeetna - Denali Park
All our guests will be picked up in Anchorage around noon on the Saturday that starts your trip. The drive up to Talkeetna takes about 2 1/2 hours and we stop for drinks and the restroom in Wasilla. Upon arrival in Talkeetna, we enjoy snacks and drinks and go over everyone's equipment. There is also an orientation discussion on safety, the meaning of leaving "no footprint" in the tundra (no wildflowers picking, etc.), emergency procedures, communications and conduct in and around aircraft. Questions are encouraged and we invite open discussions with everyone. Our flights out are scheduled for late afternoon. We drive to the floatplane lake 20 minutes before departure. Arrival at our destination is before 6pm, giving us plenty of time to set up camp and get settled in before dinner that evening. |
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Day 02 Denali Park
After breakfast, we partake in a day hike outing, exploring the mountains in the immediate area. This light-duty jaunt with near empty packs helps to familiarize everyone with tundra walking and acts as a good introduction to the flora and fauna and some very interesting birds of the area.
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Day 03 Denali Park
Early breakfast, break camp, pack-up and off we go across a wide alpine valley to a point just shy of crossing our first mountain pass. It's a gorgeous setting at the edge of a brilliant emerald tarn. |
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Day 04 Denali Park
We head up and over a notch in the chain of mountains in front of us. The descent is tricky and we travel slow. At the base is a bubbly creek with delicious water and home to a few pair of Rosy finches and some beautiful wildflowers. This day we'll make about 5 miles and there are two descents of 3 to 4 hundred feet each. Our camp is set up in a large bowl of three lakes; lots of waterfowl. |
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Day 05 Denali Park
Lazy morning, our last day in the high alpine area of the trek. We climb over a rolling ridge and head through a long pass and a slow descent into the upper "lakes" region of our route. Views of the Alaska Range and Talkeetna Mountains are fantastic. This leg of the trek spans an area excellent for viewing wildlife including Grizzly Bears, Caribou, Black Bears and Wolves. |
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Day 06 Denali Park
Continued descent into lower lakes region. Skirting a few lakes with nesting waterfowl, there are an abundance of wildflowers and views of the lower riparian zones, 1000' below us. It will be our first encounter with alder bushes and willows, home of the Alaskan Moose. This camp is on the shores of a great lake for swimming, if the weather permits. |
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Day 07 Denali Park - Talkeetna
Rolling hills with less tundra and more grassy meadows interspersed with small copses of spruce trees, again, excellent views of the Alaska Range with Mt. McKinley dominating the horizon. Last day of 5 mile hiking and reaching the terminus lake by evening. There may be an opportunity for a great, two hour hike up to the top of "Medicine Hat" knob. Excellent views of the Alaska Range, the Talkeetna Mountains and the glacier fed Talkeetna River winding it's way down to the confluence with the Susitna River. Pick-up is at 6:30pm for the flight home. |
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All Rates in US Dollar per Person
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Adult
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7 Day Denali State Park Hiking Extravaganza
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$1449.00 (+ $150.00 Flight)
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Month
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Departure Dates
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May - September
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7 Day Denali State Park Hiking Package includes
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• Experienced and professional guide service
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• Return flight Talkeetna to a high Alpine Mountain Lake in the Denali Region
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• Tent and cook shelter
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• Kitchen Equipment (stove, fuel, pots, pans)
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• All meals
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Please Note: As far as skill/conditioning level is concerned; we have had clients that are 70 years old doing this hike and my daughter completed it flawlessly when she was 13. Guests are expected to carry a pack that may weigh up to 50 pounds or more, depending on what you choose to bring. Naturally, the better shape one is at the start of the trip the more enjoyable it is. We highly recommend that our guests prepare for the trek by walking 3 to 5 miles at least a dozen times in the month prior to coming to Alaska for the start of their trip.
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