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Wilderness
Expedition
Alaska Mountaineering School’s wilderness backpacking expedition
explores a remote region of the Talkeetna Mountains with expert instructors
who teach a full backcountry curriculum. Participants take a 40 minute
flight by float plane from Talkeetna and land on a remote lake in
the Talkeetna Mountains. The goal of the expedition is to learn wilderness
skills while exploring a vast and scenic alpine environment. AMS instructors
teach classes related to backcountry travel in Alaska in the areas
of safety and judgment, leadership and teamwork, camping and travel
skills, and the natural history of the area. The 12-day course format
allows time to learn and apply backcountry skills while seeing some
amazing country. This is a hands on expedition and you will be involved
in all aspects of the trip. The Talkeetna Mountains offer some of
the best vantage points for seeing Alaskan wildlife and the glaciated
mountains of Denali National Park & Preserve. The course finishes
in a roadless area north of Talkeetna and uses the Alaska Railroad
flag train to return.
Features of This Course
- Hiking route approximately 50-60 miles
- Elevations 2,000 to 4,200 feet
- Natural history: geology and alpine ecology
- Non-technical peak ascents
- Excellent opportunities to fly-fish for Dolley Varden and Grayling,
and occasional Rainbow Trout
- Excellent opportunities to view eagles, caribou, moose, sheep,
wolf, and brown bear
- Classes on safe and environmentally sound back country travel
and camping techniques
- 1:4 instructor/student ratio
Expedition Style & Remoteness
AMS courses are self-reliant backpacking expeditions that travel in
remote mountainous regions of Alaska. Throughout the course, students
learn how to live in the outdoors, prepare tasty meals, and care for
themselves. Course format emphasizes hands-on learning and the application
of new skills in a variety of situations. From these areas, evacuation
to modern medical facilities can be difficult.
Students are divided into tent groups of two to three people and learn
cooking and camp tasks with instructors. These groups may be co-ed.
All members of the group help to carry group equipment and rations.
Environment
The Wilderness Expedition takes place in the Talkeetna Mountain
Range which is known for its spectacular views of Mount McKinley,
the Alaska Range, and wildlife. The majority of the route is above
treeline, 3000’, and crosses Alaska’s unique Tundra
ecosystem. The Wilderness Expedition is a point to point journey
that flies in to an alpine lake and ends at a designated mile marker
on the Alaska Railroad track north of Talkeetna. The expedition
will be in a trail-less area giving you a unique experience of freedom,
beauty, and connection to nature. Our camps each night will be near
small alpine lakes or creeks that provide drinking and cooking water.
You will hike each day, with time worked into the schedule for exploration,
wildlife viewing, and peak ascents. At times, the route will descend
into valleys filled with Alder and Birch and you will learn first
hand why Alaska bush whacking has a difficulty grade. Alaska is
well known for it’s vistas, wilderness, and it’s mosquitoes
- the Talkeetna mountains are no exception. We use repellant and
head nets to protect ourselves from the bugs. We can look forward
to sunny weather, but rain will most likely occur at some point
during the hike and explains why Alaska is so green and lush during
the summer. Temperatures range from high 30’s to high 60’s.
Expect to encounter a variety of terrain in the Talkeetnas requiring
river crossings, talus and boulder field traverses, and bush whacking,
but most of the time you will be in open tundra.
The
First Day
We meet for orientation at AMS in Talkeetna at 9:00 a.m. on the
first day of the course. If you choose to drive to Talkeetna, you
can park your car at our office. After a course orientation, we’ll
check personal equipment and issue any needed items, change into
our hiking clothes, store personal gear, load the van, and drive
to Alaska Bush flight service. We will help load the float plane
with our gear and fly about 30 minutes to a high alpine lake. This
is a busy day, so please take care of personal business before meeting
at 9:00.
Course
Progression
At first, hiking distances will be short to grow accustomed to carrying
packs and allowing time to learn basic travel skills, such as the
rest step, and the use of a map and compass. As the course progresses,
longer travel days of five to eight miles can be expected. Evenings
and mornings will include classes and natural history walks. On
occasion, we will not move camp and instead climb a small peak or
spend time watching wildlife, fly fishing, photographing, or identifying
species of wild flowers. The day to day route is not pre-determined,
but decided upon in the field in order to maximize flexibility and
participant involvement. The last day is spent hiking down a creek
made famous in the 1950’s for gold panning and boarding the
last flag train (possibly in the world) back to Talkeetna. Once
in Talkeetna, we de-issue rental equipment and clean any group gear.
Course Objectives
Wilderness courses varies in route, group dynamics, and environmental conditions. Working with these variables, it is our intent to strive for the following goals for each student:
Safety & Judgment
AMS teaches back country skills which promote the health and safety
of all expedition members. Each graduate is expected to:
- demonstrate knowledge of the hazards in a wilderness environment,
especially as it relates to bears
- participate in making sound decisions affecting the health
and safety of the expedition
- display knowledge of personal limitations, and the judgment
to stay within them
Leadership & Teamwork
Students are exposed to theory and practice of outdoor leadership,
teamwork and expedition behavior. Each graduate is expected to:
- work effectively as a team member
- demonstrate sound expedition behavior: commitment to the group,
a positive attitude, and cooperation to achieve group goals
- effectively communicate ideas and concerns with individuals
and within a group
- use decision-making and planning skills to participate fully
in a safe, environmentally sound expedition
Environmental
An integral part of every course is to raise students' understanding
of the natural ecosystem in which they are traveling. Each graduate
is expected to:
- consistently perform minimum impact living and traveling skills
- show an understanding, appreciation, and respect for the local
natural history
- develop natural history and interpretive skills
Outdoor Living Skills: Camping & Traveling
AMS courses focus on learning and practicing back country skills
which are safe for the individual and environment. Each graduate
is expected to:
- live comfortably and efficiently in a mountain environment,
learning to camp, cook, and dress for a variety of conditions
- travel competently using appropriate map and compass skills,
off-trail navigation, and route-finding techniques
- consistently use appropriate bear camping and travel techniques
- demonstrate a good understanding of river crossing techniques
- take responsibility for the organization, maintenance and
repair of group and personal equipment
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