Join Alaska Alpine Adventures on our signature backpacking trip through this most amazing region of Lake Clark National Park! We've dramatically improved the itinerary in 2011 and are now finishing the adventure with a 1-hour visit to Dick Proenneke's log cabin on upper Twin Lake.
After an incredible evening at the lodge and a thorough introduction to Lake Clark, we’ll load up the Cessna floatplane and take-off north into the heart of the Park. Arriving at Turquoise Lake, we will be greeted by one of the most spectacular views Alaska has to offer. We will stand in awe as 6000' of vertical relief towers above and to the east of our first camp; to the west, endless sweeps of tundra will beckon the hiker inside all of us. This glacial lake, nestled beneath the Alaska Range, offers some of the best hiking, wildlife viewing and bird watching in Lake Clark National Park, and remains one of our favorite places in Alaska to backpack and explore.
We'll spend the first couple of days hiking around Turquoise Lake exploring the powerful remnants of the massive glaciers that once filled this canyon. Here you’ll get used to the off-trail hiking in remote Alaska. Out here, the only trails are made by animals! Whether we stand beneath 2000' waterfalls, walk on moving glaciers, or listen to the raw wilderness being shaped all around us, you will be mystified. Your sense of scale will most certainly be warped by the grandeur, and you'll forever carry that feeling with you.
We'll then load our backpacks and move camp a few miles south beneath the magical 'Sheep Lick.' This mineral lick is a favorite haunt for the majestic dall sheep and we'll likely see ewes and lambs frolicking in the area. Our camp here will be situated on a small clear stream high in the alpine tundra and solitude will be guaranteed. We'll hike to the sheep lick and beyond as we enjoy incredible hiking and majestic views of Twin Lakes, the Chilikadrotna River, and the Aleutian and Alaksa mountain ranges.
We’ll then descend into the Twin Lakes basin and set up camp for our final night at the mouth of Lower Twin. If you like to fish, this will be the time when you'll thank yourself for lugging the rod and reel. Arctic Grayling clog the river while the lakes abound with Arctic Char and Lake Trout. After enjoying the renowned beauty of Twin Lakes, meeting the park ranger stationed there and generally resting achy muscles, we'll all be ready for our pick-up. This Alaska backpacking trip is not to be missed!
Day 1: Anchorage to Port Alsworth
Today you’ll fly from Anchorage to Port Alsworth – one of the most stunning bush flights in Alaska. After meeting your guide, you’ll check into our lakeside lodge on Lake Clark, spend the afternoon hiking to Tanalian Falls, and finish the evening with an orientation/welcome dinner at the lodge. Lunch & Dinner included
Day 2: Turquoise Lake
A hearty breakfast at the lodge will be followed by an early AM floatplane flight to Turquoise Lake. This 30 minute flight will take us over the 50-mile long Lake Clark, the spectacular mountains of the Aleutian Range, and into the heart of the national park. We’ll make camp on the shore of Turquoise Lake, and stand in awe of the azure water and surrounding peaks. We’ll then take light packs and explore the surrounding mountains. Based on weather conditions, our guide will decide which of the many hiking options will be best for the day. Whether it’s climbing Crag Peak, hiking up the Grand Canyon of Turquoise Lake, or making our way across the Mulchatna River for a view from the north, our day will be filled with breathtaking scenery, remarkable hiking, and astounding solitude. All meals included.
Day 3 & 4: Sheep Lick Valley
We’ll pack up camp on the third day, hoist our packs, and begin the trek to Sheep Lick Valley; our home for the next two nights. We’ll trade the wide-open expanses of the Turquoise Lake drainage for the intimacy of our river camp, nestled in a glacially carved valley below the sheep lick. While the hike to the Sheep Lick Valley is strenuous and includes a climb of 1500’, the hiking itself is on a carpet of open and dry tundra. Glacier erratics litter the landscape and views of the surrounding mountains are simply astounding. By the end of Day 3, you’ll be accustomed to real Alaska backpacking and comfortable hiking and exploring this incredible wilderness region of Lake Clark National Park. All meals included.
Day 5: Sheep Lick Valley
Today will be dedicated to exploration; we look to the surrounding peaks for inspiration and head out on another day hike that’s bound to tire our legs and leave us in awe of Alaska’s beauty. All meals included.
Day 6: Twin Lakes to Chilikodrotna River
After another great breakfast, we’ll again hoist our packs and begin the ascent out of the Sheep Lick Valley. We will be rewarded for the efforts of our climb with spectacular views of Twin Lakes and the Chilikodrotna River, an aquatic highway stretching to Bristol Bay. We’ll descend out of the high country and through the boreal forests, making our camp on the bluffs standing watch over Lower Twin Lake. All meals included.
Day 7: Lake Clark National Park
After a leisurely morning, we’ll pack up our gear, and await the arrival of our floatplane. If weather and lake conditions permit, we'll make the quick flight to Dick Proenneke's cabin at Hope Creek. We'll then spend 1-hour on the ground at world famous Proenneke site where you'll have the chance to truly experience the legacy of one of Alaska's most respected wilderness legends. We’ll return to Port Alsworth on Lake Clark by early afternoon. After showers and a celebratory lunch, we’ll tally up our wildlife sightings, and revel in the adventure that we will never forget. We’ll then pay an afternoon visit to the Lake Clark National Park visitor’s center where you’ll have a chance to purchase maps and postcards. You’ll then board an afternoon charter flight to Anchorage. If you are departing Alaska on this day, please schedule all homebound flights for after 9PM. Breakfast & Lunch included.