What makes the Alaska Southcentral Adventure special?
Simply the best Southcentral Alaska program available for young adults. We’ve been running expeditions in this area since 1977.
What kind of experience do I need for this trip?
No previous experience is necessary for this trip. Our leaders will teach you everything that you need to know about wilderness travel. If you are fit and enthusiastic, then you are more then capable of completing this Wilderness Ventures expedition.
Will I see wildlife?
Southcentral Alaska is home to abundant wildlife. On our backpacking trips, you will have the opportunity to see moose, grizzly and black bears, wolf, fox, and many other species of mammals and birds. While sea kayaking in the Prince William Sound, you can see whales and other aquatic mammals.
What kind of weather can I expect in Alaska?
Weather in Alaska during the summer is quite nice. During the day, you can expect sun with warm temperatures. Hiking in a t-shirt and shorts is the norm. In the evening, the temperatures will drop as low as the 40’s, providing the perfect sleeping weather.
What kind of food will I eat this summer?
Your fellow trip participants, with help from your leaders, will create the menus for your trip. Everyone will be involved in this process to ensure a wide variety of food choices that provide a balanced diet to fuel our bodies. We shop in regular grocery stores and teach you how to plan for and obtain great food for backcountry travels. The food is delicious, healthy, and there will be plenty of it.
How will I get to know more about my leaders before the summer starts?
Before the summer starts your leaders will be sending you a letter introducing themselves. They will include information about their background as well as some details about the group you will be traveling with this summer.
Isn’t the sun always out in Alaska during the summer? How am I going to sleep?
Alaska is situated near the Northern reaches of the globe so it does receive quite a bit of light by the summer solstice. Since our trip does not take us to the Arctic Circle we will not be experiencing 24 hours of daylight. Instead we will experience nights that resemble dusk in the amount of light we’ll have. Don’t worry though, after days filled with activity you’ll have no trouble sleeping.
Will we be taking showers and doing laundry?
Yes! After each backcountry section we will be taking showers and doing our laundry. It’s also a great time to write a letter home to tell your family and friends about the backcountry section you just completed.
Is the ice climbing section really difficult and will I need to provide my own gear for it?
We will be working with experienced guides, learning the techniques to safely climb vertical ice. Most of the other participants will have no previous ice climbing experience. Wilderness Ventures provides all of the specialized gear on our trips. For the ice-climbing portion of the trip, we will provide all of the ice tools, harnesses, crampons, and helmets.
What will my group be like?
Your group will be the most important and memorable part of your Wilderness Ventures experience. Your group will have 13 students with two leaders, one male and one female. Our groups are co-ed and made up of students from all over the country and internationally as well. The other students in your group will be just as excited as you are about the Alaska Southcentral trip and the activities you’ll be doing.
