Abbreviated
Itinerary:
Day 1
Anchorage-Denali: travel north towards Denali National
Park; afternoon hike in the Alaska Range near Denali State
Park; private camp overlooking Jack River; evening tundra
exploration along river
Day 2 Denali National
Park: full day natural history and wildlife tour into
the center of the park; late afternoon hike in the
neighborhood; back to Jack River camp
Day 3 Denali - Meier's
Lake: traverse spectacular Denali Highway (gravel); hike
alpine ridge of Maclaren Summit; hike to Gulkana Glacier
(swinging bridge!); overnight south of Paxson at the Meier's
Lake Roadhouse (cabins)
Day 4 Meier's Lake -
McCarthy: leave Alaska Range and head to the heart of
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park; cross Kennicott River to
reach private riverside camp; PM hike over glacial terminal
moraine; explore McCarthy
Day 5 McCarthy -
Kennicott: travel four miles to abandoned town/mine of
Kennicott; exploration; hike to the Root Glacier and onto
face; lunch on glacier; dinner in McCarthy; evening hike w/flightseeing
optl.; river camp
Day 6 McCarthy -
Valdez: morning open for hiking or just plain
relaxation, or, conditions permitting, optional flightseeing
or river rafting; late afternoon park departure to cross
alpine beauty of Thompson Pass, descending to Valdez on
Prince William Sound; overnight B & B
Day 7 Valdez -
Whittier - Anchorage: board ferry for incomparably
scenic trip across Prince William Sound for: mountains,
marine life, and yes, more glaciers; arrive Whittier for
trip through mountain tunnels (America's longest); Seward
Highway hugging Turnagain Arm to return to Anchorage
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