What makes the Alaska Southeast Adventure Special?
This is the only program in the country for young adults where you are guaranteed to see many whales from your kayak. This trip combines tremendous variety with very little travel and includes two bush plane flights to amazing Chichagoff Island. There is nothing else like it for young adults and we’ve been leading trips in Southeast Alaska since 1977.
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 experience do I need for this trip?
No previous backpacking, ice climbing, whitewater rafting, or sea kayaking experience is necessary for this trip. Our leaders will teach you everything that you need to know about wilderness travel. If you are fit enthusiastic, then you are more than capable of completing this Wilderness Ventures expedition.
Do I need to provide my own climbing gear?
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.
Will I need a passport for this trip?
Yes! We will actually cross over into Canada on this trip to go whitewater rafting on the Blanchard River and backpack in the Tatshensini Wilderness. A valid passport is necessary to enter Canada and then return back to the United States. If you do not have a passport you should consider starting the process as soon as possible as it can take up to six weeks to receive a new passport.
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.
How do we get around when we’re in Southeastern Alaska?
The main way of transportation for you and your group is going to be driving in a 15-passenger van. However, we will also get to experience two modes of transportation that make traveling in Southeastern Alaska truly unique: ferries and bush planes.
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 activity 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.
