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The Wilderness Hike explores the high mountain tundra and alpine lakes of the vast Talkeetna Mountains with expert instructors and naturalist guides. The group flies in a bush plane from Talkeetna to one of a number of high alpine lakes to begin the hike. The goal of the hike is to practice backcountry skills while exploring a vast and scenic alpine environment. AMS instructors teach classes related to backcountry travel in Alaska: safety and judgment, leadership and teamwork, camping and travel skills, and the natural history of the area. The 7-day course format allows us to cover the classes and see a variety of terrain. This is a hands-on backpacking expedition, and you will be involved in all aspects of the hike. Your route will take advantage of some of the best vantage points for seeing Alaskan wildlife and the glaciated mountains of the Alaska Range.
Deposit: $250 (Balance Due: 60 days prior to the starting date.)
Group Limit: 8 students, 2 AMS Instructors
Tuition Includes: Instruction, float plane, food and fuel, group camping equipment, camping at AMS in Talkeetna.
You are responsible for: Transportation to and from Talkeetna, lodging in Talkeetna , travelers' cancellation insurance, personal equipment and clothing.
Wilderness 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 their own 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 the cooking and camp tasks. These groups may be co-ed. All members of the course help to carry group equipment and rations.
The Wilderness Hike takes place in the Talkeetna mountain range that is known for its spectacular views, lake fishing, and wildlife. The majority of the route is above tree line and crosses Alaska's unique tundra ecosystem. The wilderness hike is a point to point backpacking adventure, flying in and out of two different lakes. The entire hike will be on terrain without an established trail, giving you an unmatchable experience of freedom, beauty, and connection to nature. Our camps each night will be near small alpine lakes and our source for drinking and cooking water. We hike each day, and during the course, we set aside time for exploration, wildlife viewing, and peak ascents. Alaska is well-known for its vistas, wilderness and mosquitoes; the Talkeetna mountains are no exception. We use insect repellant and headnets to protect ourselves from the bugs. Expect sunny weather, but rain will likely occur at some point during the hike, which explains why Alaska is so green and lush during the summer. Temperatures range from low 40's to high 60's. We encounter a variety of terrain in the Talkeetnas requiring stream crossings, talus and boulder field traverses, and bushwhacking, but most of the time, we will be in open alpine tundra.
At first, hiking distances will be short so participant can grow accustomed to hiking off trail, carrying packs, practicing basic travel skills such as the rest step, and using 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 discussions. On occasion, we will not move camp and instead climb a small peak or spend time watching wildlife, photographing, or identifying species of wild flowers and plants. The route is pre-determined, but each day's activities are decided upon in the field in order to maximize flexibility, work with the weather, and allow participant involvement. The last day is spent hiking to a lake where we will be picked up and flown back to Talkeetna. Once in Talkeetna, together we return rental equipment and clean any group gear.
AMS provides all of the food for this course; however, we ask that you bring one pound of your favorite snack foods. This will be used to supplement what we have for you here and ensures that you have your preferred snack foods.
Wilderness courses vary in route, and environmental conditions. Working with these variables, we strive for the following goals for each student:
AMS teaches backcountry skills which promote the health and safety of all group members. We expect graduates to:
Students are exposed to theory and practice of outdoor leadership, teamwork, and expedition behavior. We expect graduates to:
An integral part of every course is to raise students' understanding of the natural ecosystem in which they are traveling. We expect graduates to:
AMS courses teach and practice backcountry skills that are safe for the individual and environment. We expect graduates to: