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HIGHLIGHTS
A quick look about this trip!
DURATION
12 DAYS
COMFORT
LANGUAGE
RATING
  • Ski-plane flights between Kenai, Alaska and the Lake Clark wilderness
  • 60 minute flight from Kenai to the Lake Clark Wilderness
  • Visit Chugach and Kenai mountain ranges
ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP
Primary: Mountaineering
Other: Small Aircraft Touring, skiing, Education, glacier, national parks, Camping
$0USD
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ONGOING PROMOTIONS
"Get 5% off when you book with AdventureLink before May 31st, 2012!"
SAVE 5%
Applies to Departures Between:
4/25/2012 and 1/1/2013
Promotion lasts :
From 4/25/2012 To 6/1/2012
TRIP MAP
See the locations you'll visit!

Alaska Ski Mountaineering - Lake Clark National Park

In the last few years, backcountry skiing has surged in popularity throughout the US. With rising lift ticket prices across the country’s ski resorts, and the wider availability of affordable and technologically advanced backcountry gear.
In the last few years, backcountry skiing has surged in popularity throughout the US. With rising lift ticket prices across the country’s ski resorts, and the wider availability of affordable and technologically advanced backcountry gear – telemark, randonee (aka alpine touring), and split snowboards – riders of all skills and abilities are heading into the backcountry to "earn their turns!" Unfortunately, the US has also experienced a sharp rise in backcountry injuries and fatalities, due in large part to avalanches. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive ski-mountaineering educational program and building on our awarding winning itinerary, Powder, Steeps, & Glaciers, we are returning into Lake Clark National Park’s stunning and remote Neacola Mountains in 2012, where we’ll enjoy 10-full days of Alaska ski-mountaineering lessons with an American Mountain Guides Association certified guide – all while savoring the remote solitude and sumptuous cuisine which are the signatures of any Alaska Alpine Adventure.

Remote, stunning, diverse, and magical, are just a few adjectives that we've come up with to describe the Neacola Mountains. Located approximately 120 air-miles west/southwest of Anchorage, the Neacola Mountains comprise the southernmost portion of the massive Alaska Range. They have been best described as a heavily glaciated version of Washington’s North Cascades. At roughly 150 square miles in size, this small portion of Lake Clark National Park offers some of the finest ski touring and ski mountaineering potential in the entire state of Alaska. What’s even more enticing is the fact that the Neacolas have seen very little in the way of skiing or climbing activity. Given the latitude, these relatively low elevation mountains provide excellent skiing with great snow quality on a variety of terrain within easy touring of our base camps. Another great thing about the lower elevations is that it much easier to reach the top of the peaks and passes without contending with altitude issues! This means great skiing within your grasp. Furthermore, there isn't a heli ski operation within many miles so it is just you and your guides and the spectacular skiing terrain of this pristine winter environment. Except for an occasional reference on the USGS topographic maps, most of the peaks and glaciers in the Neacola Mountains remain not only unskied but also unclimbed and unnamed.

A small airplane equipped with skis will get us onto a glacier in the heart of the range. We’ll spend the first 6-days out on the glacier operating out of a spacious basecamp. During this time you’ll not only learn the skills of winter camping, avalanche and crevasse rescue, efficient glacier travel and route finding techniques, but also the subtle art of ski touring including skinning, kick-turning, transition efficiencies, and pacing.

During the final few days of the trip, you’ll tour through some of the most spectacular and remote terrain in Alaska. This 4-day ski tour will allow you to hone the skills you’ve developed over the last week and introduce you to Alaska expedition travel. Our route will take us over glacier passes and we’ll move daily from camp to camp, eventually looping back to our basecamp from the previous week. The skiing in the Neacolas is as diverse as the Alaskan weather, and the conditions often vary with the hour. Our day to day itinerary will be based on that diversity, but the satisfaction of thriving in such a remote and mountainous environment will overwhelm you. You're idea of backcountry skiing will forever be altered.
Day 1: Anchorage
Today you are free to arrive in Anchorage on your own. We use a few of the best properties in town, which are located close to the airport and adjacent to downtown Anchorage. After checking into the hotel, you’ll meet our guides by early afternoon. Tonight we’ll do an orientation dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants, and upon returning to our hotel, we’ll pour over maps and discuss the trip and the route.
Day 2: Kenai
Today, we’ll get an early start and begin the 3-hour drive to Kenai. Our route will take us down the scenic Seward Highway, and through the Chugach and Kenai mountain ranges. We’ll arrive in Kenai by 10am, and weather permitting will board our airplane and begin shuttling ourselves and our gear into the Neacolas. Our pilot has spent years flying in this area and you’ll immediately understand why we choose to fly with him. The flight will take about an hour and will take you over some of the most remote and beautiful country in Alaska. After our flight, we’ll begin the task of digging in to the glacier and positioning our basecamp. By late afternoon, we’ll rope up for a quick tour of the glacier and by early evening we’ll be back at camp enjoying our first of many fantastic meals.
Days 3-7: Neacolas
We’ll spend these days touring from our basecamp and exploring the surrounding peaks and glaciers. As we get used to our equipment and the nuance of traveling on glaciers, we’ll spend the first couple of days assessing the snow pack on differing aspects and skiing mellower terrain. As our confidence (as well as the weather and the snow stability) allows, we’ll slowly begin to venture into steeper country. The Neacolas offer suitable skiing terrain for all ability levels and we’ll travel in groups of three or four skiers per guide in order to accommodate people’s various abilities and aspirations. By day 6, you’ll be putting all the skills to practice on client led tours!

Clinics: TOURING FUNDAMENTALS; TERRAIN; GLACIER TRAVEL 

Day 3: Safety, speed, efficiency lecture, transition efficiency, skinning, kick-turns, pacing, downhill skiing in the backcountry 
Day 4: Tour planning lecture, selecting a route, avalanche stability evaluation 
Day 5: Rope setup, navigating through crevasses, prussiking, ski anchors, belaying. 
Day 6: Client led tour 
Day 7: Client led tour
Days 8-11: Neacola Mountains
After a healthy breakfast, we’ll pack up sleds and backpacks and prepare to begin our 4-day tour of the Neacola Mountains. There are countless options possible from our basecamp and we’ll likely choose to head into new country on an exploratory expedition; on a route that piques everyone’s interest and one that your guides deem to be safe and appropriate for the given snow and weather conditions. Regardless of the exact route, our objective will include an attempt of at least one significant peak in the region and crossings of at least two glacier passes. During this week, you’ll learn firsthand how to move camp in a winter and glacier environment, safe campsite selection, the art of snow shelter construction, safe route finding techniques.
Day 12: Anchorage
We’ll schedule a mid-morning ski plane back to civilization. We’ll make the drive from Kenai to Anchorage and plan on being back by late afternoon. If you are leaving Alaska on this day, please schedule all homebound flights from Anchorage for after 10pm.
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Tom Butts
"Outstanding!!! Everything was great. The places we went, the activities that were planned, the personalities and professionalism of the guides, the gear and the food were second to none. An awesome experience for us and our students. I will definitely use you on our next trip."
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Accommodation Rating
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TRIP INCLUDES
  • All group camping & climbing gear (tents, stoves, fuel, ropes, etc.)
  • Van transportation from Anchorage to our air taxi in Kenai.
  • All internal airfare and glacier flights necessary for the trip.
  • One night of lodging in Anchorage.
  • Professional guide service at a maximum 4:1 client to guide ratio.
  • All meals from lunch on day one through breakfast on the final day of the itinerary.
  • Storage for your extra travel items while in the field.
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
  • Lodging in Anchorage prior to and after your adventure.
  • Personal gear (sleeping bags, packs, rain gear, etc.)
  • Trip cancellation insurance.
  • Additional room nights due to weather delays
  • Alcoholic beverages.
  • Guide gratuities.
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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