Join us on this quick getaway to the mountain fortress of the Talkeetna Mountains, where we spend our days hiking in high alpine areas between a series of spectacular glacial lakes. The mountains will always be in our view: to the west, the stunning Alaska Range, with Mt. McKinley (Denali) rising above all the other peaks; and to the east of us are the 8,000 foot Talkeetna Mountains. The area offers great alpine (treeless) hiking, as well as opportunities to climb up rocky ridges for absolutely breathtaking views of Denali, North America's highest peak at 20,320 feet, and the Alaska Range. We find exceptional opportunities for wildlife observation, and great hiking. Inaccessible by road, we will fly into the wilderness by bush floatplane. Caribou, grizzly bears, moose, wolves, and wolverines are among the wildlife we might see. Golden plovers, whimbrels, jaegers, northern wheatears and rosy finches all nest in this area. Wildflowers grace the tundra from late June through July.
Our trip starts in Anchorage, where we meet you at your hotel, then drive immediately north of the city, along the Chugach Mountains and through the Matanuska Valley, where we will stop to pick up any food, snacks or supplies that you might want. We continue north to Talkeetna (2 hr. drive). Talkeetna is a town with an authentic pioneer feel. This is the staging ground for climbing expeditions to Denali and other peaks in the Alaska Range. We can step into Alaska's history at the Fairview Inn, and sample one of Alaska's microbrews. We check into our lodge for the evening, have dinner, and take a walking tour of the town, and a walk down to the river. Talkeetna is actually closer to Mt. McKinley than the entrance of Denali National Park. If the mountain's out, you'll get spectacular views of North America's tallest peak.
After a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast, we meet up with our bush pilot on a lake at the edge of Talkeetna. Our flight takes us over the vast terrain where we will hike. On clear days, the views are outstanding. We land on one of the small alpine lakes nestled in the mountains. Then we set off with backpacks. Each day we awake in our small mountain tents, then eat breakfast, pack up, and set off for another day of walking and observing wildlife, scenic views, wildflowers and birds.
There are no manmade trails in the area. We walk on the open tundra, or follow wildlife trails. Our schedule is flexible. We take plenty of breaks to enjoy the scenery or to scramble up to the top of a ridge. You'll feel like you're on top of the world as we cross the vast, wild country, and gaze down on rivers and forest, and the glaciers rising to the top of North AmericaÕs highest mountains. This adventure is for hikers of all ages with some overnight camping and hiking experience. You have the chance to be immersed in a truly pristine Alaskan wilderness.
If you want to experience Alaska's alpine, without the crowds and noisy skies of Denali National Park, join us for a trek through a quintessential Alaska wilderness, complete with its own caribou herd, wolf pack, and never-ending scenery.
