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  <h2 data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Full-Day Root Glacier Day Spa Package Trip</h2>
  

Source: http://www.steliasguides.com/feed/

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11. <title>St. Elias Guides</title>
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29. </image>
30. <item>
31. <title>Wilderness Recipe: Frederika Flapjacks</title>
32. <link>https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/wilderness-recipe-frederika-flapjacks/</link>
34. <dc:creator><![CDATA[St. Elias Guides]]></dc:creator>
35. <pubDate>Sat, 30 Mar 2024 22:01:04 +0000</pubDate>
36. <category><![CDATA[Wilderness Cooking]]></category>
37. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.steliasguides.com/?p=30308</guid>
38.  
39. <description><![CDATA[<p>We whipped up this recipe with a nod to the good old days, mixing a bit of that pioneer spirit with the kind of breakfast that fuels your inner explorer. Named after the jaw-dropping Frederika Mountain and its icy companion, the Frederika Glacier, these aren&#8217;t your run-of-the-mill pancakes! Our Frederika Flapjacks are the kind of &#8230;</p>
40. <p class="read-more"> <a class="" href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/wilderness-recipe-frederika-flapjacks/"> <span class="screen-reader-text">Wilderness Recipe: Frederika Flapjacks</span> Read More &#187;</a></p>
41. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/wilderness-recipe-frederika-flapjacks/">Wilderness Recipe: Frederika Flapjacks</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
42. ]]></description>
43. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
44. <p>We whipped up this recipe with a nod to the good old days, mixing a bit of that pioneer spirit with the kind of breakfast that fuels your inner explorer. Named after the jaw-dropping Frederika Mountain and its icy companion, the Frederika Glacier, these aren&#8217;t your run-of-the-mill pancakes! Our Frederika Flapjacks are the kind of breakfast that makes you feel like you&#8217;ve stepped back in time and joined the ranks of the hardy folks who navigated these parts in the late 1890s.</p>
45. <p>So, let’s dive into how to whip up your own stack of Frederika Flapjacks, and start your day with a slice of history and a hearty helping of adventure!</p>
46. </div>
47. <div>
48. <p><span id="more-30308"></span></p>
49. <div>
50. <p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-30320" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3145.jpg-1024x768.jpeg" alt="A pancake on a plate with a fork and another, half-made, on a pan" width="600" height="450" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3145.jpg-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3145.jpg-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3145.jpg-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3145.jpg-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3145.jpg.jpeg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></p>
51. <p>&nbsp;</p>
52. <h1>Fredericka Flapjacks</h1>
53. <p>&nbsp;</p>
54. <p><strong>Makes: </strong>6-7 pancakes</p>
55. </div>
56. <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p>
57. <ul>
58. <li>1 cup of your favorite pancake mix (ideally one that only requires water)</li>
59. <li>2/3 cup of water</li>
60. <li>1/2 cup of precooked bacon bits</li>
61. <li>1/2 stick of butter</li>
62. <li>Optional toppings: 1/2 cup of maple syrup, butter, honey</li>
63. </ul>
64. <p><strong>Cooking Equipment Needed:</strong> skillet or pot lid, spatula, optional big pot with insulator as a warmer</p>
65. <p><strong>Instructions: </strong>Combine the pancake mix with water and stir &#8211; a few lumps will remain, but try to get it as smooth as you can. You can do this in the same ziplock bag you brought the dry mix in to keep dishes lighter. Let the mix sit for a few minutes while you set yourself up to cook, get your butter stick handy, and get a covered pot and insulator prepped to keep cakes warm before serving. You can wrap the pot in a puffy jacket as a homemade insulator.</p>
66. <p>Generously butter your pan at the start and between cakes. If you&#8217;re using a lightweight aluminum pan or pot lid,  always hold the pan about 3” above your stove backcountry stove &#8211; the cakes are guaranteed to burn if you keep the pan right on the stove. If you&#8217;re using a castiron pan, you&#8217;ll be just fine right on the burner. Pour a 3-5” circle of batter onto the sizzling buttered pan and immediately sprinkle bacon bits all over the top. Once you see bubbles form and pop on the top of the cake, it’s ready to flip. They’ll only need a few minutes on each side to achieve that perfect golden brown color of doneness!</p>
67. <p>Keep your cakes warm until you are done cooking, or serve as you go!</p>
68. <p><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-30318" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/views-crossing-frederika-glacier-1024x768.jpg" alt="Hiker looking very small in front of an enormous Frederika Mountain" width="600" height="450" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/views-crossing-frederika-glacier-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/views-crossing-frederika-glacier-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/views-crossing-frederika-glacier-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/views-crossing-frederika-glacier-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/views-crossing-frederika-glacier-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></p>
69. </div>
70. <p>&nbsp;</p>
71. <p>Charles Hayes, Mark Russel, and <strong>Frederik</strong> Schwatka were the first white explorers to enter our area back in the 1890s. They mapped the region and named many of the peaks, rivers, and glaciers (sometimes after themselves). Travel in their footsteps on our <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/doubtful-river-packrafting/">Nizina Lake Packrafting Basecamp</a>, <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/skolai-pass-basecamp-and-trekking/">Skolai Pass mini-Backpacking Trip</a>, our <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/upper-chitistone-goat-trail/">Upper Chitistone Goat Trail</a>, or our <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/source-to-sea/">Source to Sea River Expedition</a> and relive the rich history of the Wrangell Mountains!</p>
72. <div>
73. <p>&nbsp;</p>
74. <p><em>updated 04/2024</em></p>
75. </div>
76. <p>&nbsp;</p>
77. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/wilderness-recipe-frederika-flapjacks/">Wilderness Recipe: Frederika Flapjacks</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
78. ]]></content:encoded>
82. </item>
83. <item>
84. <title>The Best Backpacking in Alaska is in the Wrangells</title>
85. <link>https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/best-backpacking-in-alaska/</link>
87. <dc:creator><![CDATA[St. Elias Guides]]></dc:creator>
88. <pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 2024 21:28:10 +0000</pubDate>
89. <category><![CDATA[Spotlight on Adventure]]></category>
90. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.steliasguides.com/?p=30228</guid>
91.  
92. <description><![CDATA[<p>With 13.2 million acres of National Park land to explore, Wrangell-St. Elias NP has nearly endless possibilities for epic backpacking routes. Remote, wild, and undeveloped, the Wrangells wilderness is the ultimate backcountry playground with the best backpacking in Alaska. For the backpacker who is looking to get off the beaten path and, in fact, leave &#8230;</p>
93. <p class="read-more"> <a class="" href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/best-backpacking-in-alaska/"> <span class="screen-reader-text">The Best Backpacking in Alaska is in the Wrangells</span> Read More &#187;</a></p>
94. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/best-backpacking-in-alaska/">The Best Backpacking in Alaska is in the Wrangells</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
95. ]]></description>
96. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
97. <p>With 13.2 million acres of National Park land to explore, Wrangell-St. Elias NP has nearly endless possibilities for epic backpacking routes. Remote, wild, and undeveloped, the Wrangells wilderness is the ultimate backcountry playground with the best backpacking in Alaska. For the backpacker who is looking to get off the beaten path and, in fact, leave all paths and trails behind, an epic experience of some of the most unique terrain in the US awaits!</p>
98. </div>
99. <div>
100. <p><span id="more-30228"></span></p>
101. <div>
102. <p><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-13286 size-full" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/backpacking-through-brush.jpg" alt="backpackers hiking past lake of icebergs" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/backpacking-through-brush.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/backpacking-through-brush-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/backpacking-through-brush-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
103. <p>Navigating a trailless wilderness offers a level of engagement and adventure that surpasses simply following a marked path. It&#8217;s about forging your own route, connecting with nature in its rawest form, and discovering hidden gems along the way.</p>
104. <p>To get to the coolest places you&#8217;ll need to push your comfort zone and overcome challenges together as a group. From micro to macro, every inch of this landscape presents a moment of awe, a challenge to face, a curiosity to explore, forcing you to be present and creating memories to last.</p>
105. <p>Imagine waking up to the surreal beauty of a glacier beneath your tent, its icy expanse stretching as far as the eye can see. Basecamp Hiking and Backpacking trips provide the opportunity to explore and even camp on these magnificent natural wonders, providing a perspective on the landscape that few ever experience.</p>
106. <p>Valley glaciers of bright white ice are like &#8220;highways&#8221; in the backcountry connecting high passes with tundra meadows. Bright blue pools, sharp white fins, and deep crevasses crack their surface and make for a stunning trek through an other-worldly environment.</p>
107. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-28116 size-full" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Olga-loves-camping-under-the-Stairway-Icefall.jpg" alt="happy camper smiling in a tent at the edge of a glacier in alaska" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Olga-loves-camping-under-the-Stairway-Icefall.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Olga-loves-camping-under-the-Stairway-Icefall-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Olga-loves-camping-under-the-Stairway-Icefall-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
108. <p>Accessing remote areas of the wilderness is made possible through bush planes, offering not just transportation but a stunning aerial tour of an otherwise inaccessible landscape. It&#8217;s a thrilling prelude to the adventure that awaits and a chance to behold the vastness of Wrangell &#8211; St. Elias National Park from above.</p>
109. <p>Not to mention, you&#8217;re getting even farther away from everyone else. Nothing makes you feel more &#8220;out there&#8221; than when that bush plane drops you off and you look around, realizing you&#8217;re the only ones out here for so many miles around!</p>
110. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-29647 size-large" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/6-_DSC0021-1024x683.jpg" alt="Yellow bush plane taking off in front of a mountain" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/6-_DSC0021-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/6-_DSC0021-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/6-_DSC0021-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/6-_DSC0021-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/6-_DSC0021-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>
111. </div>
112. <p>Unlike on the crowded trails of Denali National Park, you aren&#8217;t likely to see another soul for the entirety of your backcountry trip&#8230;well, a human soul, that is!</p>
113. <div>
114. <p>Our meticulously curated routes and destinations showcase the most breathtaking areas of WSENP, ensuring that every step of your journey is met with awe-inspiring vistas and unforgettable moments. Some routes get run once or twice a season, and some none at all. This means that you could be one of only about 15 people to visit any particular area if any have been there at all this season. Check out our <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/alaska-backpacking-hiking/">Backpacking Page </a>for more information on the best backpacking in Alaska!</p>
115. <p>Over the last 40 years of guiding trips out here, we&#8217;ve chosen what we believe to be the absolute best routes in the Park, but we know there&#8217;s more out there! We&#8217;re always excited to come up with a custom itinerary, trek into the unknown, and see what&#8217;s on the other side of the horizon with you! <a href="https://calendly.com/steliasguides-copperoar/30-min-phone-call?month=2024-03">Schedule a call</a> with our Expedition Coordinator to talk backpacking and plan a trip of a lifetime to the Wrangells!</p>
116. <p>&nbsp;</p>
117. <p><em>updated 03/2024</em></p>
118. </div>
119. </div>
120. <p>&nbsp;</p>
121. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/best-backpacking-in-alaska/">The Best Backpacking in Alaska is in the Wrangells</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
122. ]]></content:encoded>
126. </item>
127. <item>
128. <title>New Trip Offering &#8211; 14-Day Mill Tour Expedition</title>
129. <link>https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/14-day-mill-tour-expedition/</link>
131. <dc:creator><![CDATA[St. Elias Guides]]></dc:creator>
132. <pubDate>Fri, 01 Mar 2024 15:06:57 +0000</pubDate>
133. <category><![CDATA[Spotlight on Adventure]]></category>
134. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.steliasguides.com/?p=30326</guid>
135.  
136. <description><![CDATA[<p>For over 40 years, St. Elias Alpine Guides has provided extreme adventurers access to North America’s tallest wooden structure, the Kennecott Mill Building. Towering over the old mining town at 14 stories high, this impressive red majesty was built at the turn of the century and under the stewardship of the National Park Service, she &#8230;</p>
137. <p class="read-more"> <a class="" href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/14-day-mill-tour-expedition/"> <span class="screen-reader-text">New Trip Offering &#8211; 14-Day Mill Tour Expedition</span> Read More &#187;</a></p>
138. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/14-day-mill-tour-expedition/">New Trip Offering &#8211; 14-Day Mill Tour Expedition</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
139. ]]></description>
140. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
141. <p>For over 40 years, St. Elias Alpine Guides has provided extreme adventurers access to North America’s tallest wooden structure, the Kennecott Mill Building. Towering over the old mining town at 14 stories high, this impressive red majesty was built at the turn of the century and under the stewardship of the National Park Service, she still stands as she was abandoned nearly 100 years ago.</p>
142. </div>
143. <p><span id="more-30326"></span></p>
144. <div><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-30337" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kennecott-Mill-Building-1024x683.jpg" alt="Kennecott Mill Building from below" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kennecott-Mill-Building-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kennecott-Mill-Building-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kennecott-Mill-Building-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kennecott-Mill-Building-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kennecott-Mill-Building-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></div>
145. <div></div>
146. <div></div>
147. <p>Thousands of visitors flock this historical masterpiece, spending a few hours poking around the buildings of Kennecott, taking some photos, and feeling like they got a taste for Alaskan history. But for those who want to dive deeper, those who know there are so many more stories to tell, we&#8217;ve put together an all-inclusive, fully immersive, historical extravaganza, certain to take you back in time on a trip of a lifetime!</p>
148. <div>
149. <h1>14-Day Mill Tour Expedition</h1>
150. <p>&nbsp;</p>
151. </div>
152. <h2>Expedition Details:</h2>
153. <p><strong><br />
154. Trip Duration: </strong>14 days (12 days in the Mill)<br />
155. <strong>Mileage:</strong> 1 mile<br />
156. <strong>Terrain: </strong>flat gravel trail, trail with steep switchbacks, steep stairs and ladders, uneven flooring<br />
157. <strong>Group Size:</strong> 1-4 participants</p>
158. <h4><strong>What&#8217;s Included?</strong></h4>
159. <ul>
160. <li>Although it takes place in the front country, this is a backcountry trip and we will be camping in the open air of the Mill. Please reference our Backpacking Equipment List.</li>
161. <li>All food and bear canisters are provided.</li>
162. <li>We&#8217;ll provide all participants with a hard hat.</li>
163. <li>Close-toed footwear is required.</li>
164. </ul>
165. <h2>Trip Itinerary:</h2>
166. <p>The following is a sample itinerary for this trip. Due to individual abilities and goals, as well as the strong environment swings of Alaska, all of our trips are customized as they unfold. Your guide will fluidly make decisions based on weather, conditions, logistics, safety, and group dynamics to maximize each day’s experience. There can be quite a bit of variation, but we always strive to make every trip your best ever!</p>
167. <h4><strong>DAY 0</strong></h4>
168. <p>Meet at our Kennecott Office early in the morning for a day devoted to packing, planning and training in our indoor facilities. This is the time to go over all your gear with your guide and do some last-minute training before heading out the next morning.</p>
169. <h4><strong>DAY 1</strong></h4>
170. <p>An early alpine start gets you out of the office and onto the street of Kennecott before anyone else in town is even awake. Capture the morning light on the recreation hall, bunkhouse, and general store buildings as you photograph your way through town, accompanied by your guide&#8217;s narration of the story of how it all came to be. The Mill Building, nearly sky high, stretches up and up in front of you as you approach, mentally preparing yourself for the climb as you set up your first camp at the base.</p>
171. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-30334" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Camping-at-base-of-Mill-1024x819.png" alt="A clearly edited photo of people camping at the base of the Kennecott Mill Building" width="600" height="480" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Camping-at-base-of-Mill-1024x819.png 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Camping-at-base-of-Mill-300x240.png 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Camping-at-base-of-Mill-768x614.png 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Camping-at-base-of-Mill.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></p>
172. <h4><strong>DAY 2</strong></h4>
173. <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">The smell of a savory breakfast wakes you up and as you unzip your tent, you can&#8217;t believe your eyes. Is that the glacier?! I thought it was just mine tailings&#8230;</span></p>
174. <p>Feeling pumped, you begin the ascent. Setting a comfortable pace is key as you progress up, weaving up the hillside on a beautifully groomed trail, and taking care to notice old artifacts scattered around in the brush. Finally cresting the last rise you see the entrance to the top of the Mill &#8211; we made it!</p>
175. <p>After another phenomenal dinner, you magining what it would be like to ride in an ore bucket down from Bonanza mine as you tuck into your sleeping bag.</p>
176. <h4><strong>DAY 3</strong></h4>
177. <p>Views of Mt. Blackburn, the Root and Kennicott Glaciers and the Chugach Mountains in the distance fill your eyes this morning and your heart is pounding with the spirit of adventure! This is what the miners must have felt when they first arrived here!</p>
178. <p>As you pack up your camp, your guide opens the creaky door into the Mill and issues everyone a hard hat. Donning your PPE, you enter inside the building&#8230;only to find that you are still actually outside&#8230;ah! That&#8217;s what they meant by it being a backcountry trip!</p>
179. <p>Get your bearings and follow your guide carefully, navigating the wild nature of the top portion of the Mill &#8211; open air windows, endless elevator shafts, and the Grizzly Grate! You&#8217;ll spend an entire day up here acclimatizing to the high elevation as your guide instructs you on the technical skills of mitigating any Mill-specific hazards to come (steep stairs, low clearance, uneven floors). Remember, the National Park Service has stabilized the building over the last several decades so if you feel like the the whole thing is about to blow over, just imagine how those mining engineers felt who worked in there 100 years ago!</p>
180. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-30335" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Camping-on-top-of-Mill-Building-1024x819.png" alt="A clearly edited photo showing people and tents in the top of the Mill Building" width="600" height="480" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Camping-on-top-of-Mill-Building-1024x819.png 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Camping-on-top-of-Mill-Building-300x240.png 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Camping-on-top-of-Mill-Building-768x614.png 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Camping-on-top-of-Mill-Building.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></p>
181. <h4><strong>DAY 4-7</strong></h4>
182. <p>Today you&#8217;ll begin the descent. Making your way to the first steep staircase you&#8217;ll choose your route &#8211; will you tackle it straight on or will you turn to face the stairs and make your way down backward? You choose your adventure!</p>
183. <p>Over the next several days your guide will take you through the rest of the crushing process, showcasing each machine and highlighting which belt connected what to what. Staged at strategic intervals on the journey, our fully costumed interns will act out famous scenes of local lucky fortunes, tenacious frontiersmen, and tragic endings. Get hands-on with the machinery as you poke through the nuts and bolts in the workshop as you try to get the Traylor Roller Mill up and running again.</p>
184. <h4><strong>DAY 8-10</strong></h4>
185. <p>Following the copper down through the Mill, you&#8217;ll enter the sorting section. Endless rows of shaker tables cover the slanting floors as far as the eye can see. You start to think of home, your cat, your favorite TV show&#8230;but then you remember the brave souls that lived and worked here so many decades ago! Inspired by tales of Steven Birch&#8217;s leadership, you persevere, knowing this once-in-a-lifetime trip is nearly over.</p>
186. <p>All the training is paying off as you feel your brain growing larger and the facts keep coming. Our expert guides cover every nook and cranny of each level, deepening your understanding of turn-of-the-century copper mining and processing to a level you never thought possible. An intern assistant guide offers additional support &#8211; carrying a small library in their backpack, they&#8217;ll come prepared with all of our resource material so no question goes unanswered!</p>
187. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-30336" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Tent-door-to-shaker-tables-1024x686.png" alt="Yellow tent flaps show shaker tables outside the tent" width="600" height="402" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Tent-door-to-shaker-tables-1024x686.png 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Tent-door-to-shaker-tables-300x201.png 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Tent-door-to-shaker-tables-768x514.png 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Tent-door-to-shaker-tables.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></p>
188. <h4><strong>DAY 11-13</strong></h4>
189. <p>Lower and lower, you descend into the belly of the beast. Past all the sorting, you start to enter the Sacking Department, the levels devoted to bagging up that copper. Experience a day in the life of a mill worker as you work a full 8hr shift, filling up and throwing around 50lb bags of rocks to simulate loading up a train cart full of copper oar &#8211; remember, just like the mill workers of old, no headphones! Just like in the good old days, we&#8217;ll run the simulation a full 24hrs which means that someone will get the night shift! What a way to spend a night in Alaska&#8217;s largest national park under the midnight sun!</p>
190. <p>Nearing the end of the trip, you relish every moment in this incredible space. The connection to the past that you have developed over the last couple weeks has you speaking in an old-timey ascent and thinking you hear the train whistle coming in (and you better run and hide your bathtub moonshine!).</p>
191. <h4><strong>DAY 14</strong></h4>
192. <p>Your guide collects your hard hats and opens another creaky door. Blinding sunlight shines in and it takes your eyes a while to adjust as you step out of the great Mill Building. As you walk back through Kennecott you experience &#8220;green shock&#8221; seeing plants and other people for the first time in weeks. A hot sauna awaits you at our headquarters and a cold beverage and a warm bed tonight are much appreciated as you re-enter civilization.</p>
193. <p>Looking out under the wing of your bush plane flight out of town, you see the Mill Building standing tall and proud at the glacier&#8217;s edge. You&#8217;re already planning your next adventure. The powerhouse! The ammonia leaching plant! There&#8217;s so much more to explore!</p>
194. <p>&nbsp;</p>
195. <p><a href="https://calendly.com/steliasguides-copperoar/30-min-phone-call">Schedule a call</a> with our Expedition Coordinator to start planning your trip of a lifetime to Wrangell &#8211; St. Elias National Park!</p>
196. <div>
197. <p>&nbsp;</p>
198. <p><em>published 04/01/2024</em></p>
199. </div>
200. <p>&nbsp;</p>
201. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/14-day-mill-tour-expedition/">New Trip Offering &#8211; 14-Day Mill Tour Expedition</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
202. ]]></content:encoded>
206. </item>
207. <item>
208. <title>Trip Report: Source to Sea Rafting Expedition</title>
209. <link>https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/source-to-sea-rafting-expedition/</link>
211. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Trent Blizzard]]></dc:creator>
212. <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jan 2024 12:10:19 +0000</pubDate>
213. <category><![CDATA[Spotlight on Adventure]]></category>
214. <category><![CDATA[Trip Reports]]></category>
215. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.steliasguides.com/?p=29502</guid>
216.  
217. <description><![CDATA[<p>Source to Sea Rafting Expedition Photos and text by Wade Stokes &#8211; participant on August 2023 Source to Sea Trip &#160; Well, my son and I have completed our epic Great Alaskan Adventure of 2023, a three-week exploration of the USA&#8217;s largest state, and a two-week-plus guided float trip down the Nizina, Chitina, and Copper &#8230;</p>
218. <p class="read-more"> <a class="" href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/source-to-sea-rafting-expedition/"> <span class="screen-reader-text">Trip Report: Source to Sea Rafting Expedition</span> Read More &#187;</a></p>
219. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/source-to-sea-rafting-expedition/">Trip Report: Source to Sea Rafting Expedition</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
220. ]]></description>
221. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Source to Sea Rafting Expedition</h2>
222. <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Photos and text by Wade Stokes &#8211; participant on August 2023 Source to Sea Trip<br />
223. </span></p>
224. <h6 style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-29505 size-large" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/31032496_Unknown-1024x683.jpg" alt="Flowers in the foreground, raft on the river and huge mountains behind it" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/31032496_Unknown-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/31032496_Unknown-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/31032496_Unknown-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/31032496_Unknown-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/31032496_Unknown-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></h6>
225. <p>&nbsp;</p>
226. <p style="text-align: center;">Well, my son and I have completed our epic Great Alaskan Adventure of 2023, a three-week exploration of the USA&#8217;s largest state, and a two-week-plus guided float trip down the Nizina, Chitina, and Copper Rivers in Wrangell St. Elias National Park, almost 200 miles from the Source to the Sea.</p>
227. <p>&nbsp;</p>
228. <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span id="more-29502"></span></h2>
229. <p style="text-align: center;">This was two expeditions in one.  First, for the most part, we were floating in untouched wilderness (we might have been the only group to float all three rivers together this year).  We had almost a dozen grizzly encounters, and we saw a few black bears as well as countless bald eagles, seals, and salmon.  Second, the trip was also a hands-on dive into Alaska&#8217;s mining history.  The world&#8217;s largest copper mining operations early last century left its mark both in the ruins of the main mill and other buildings in Kennecott (operations ended in 1938), as well as in the remnants all along our route of the railroad built to carry the ore out to Prince William Sound and the sea &#8211; an incredible engineering feat for 1911.</p>
230. <p style="text-align: center;">A big shout out to St. Elias Alpine Guides &#8211; without their knowledgeable, fun guides and all their logistics behind the trip, we never could have had such an experience.</p>
231. <p style="text-align: center;">Highly recommended! Even my son approves!</p>
232. <h6 style="text-align: center;"></h6>
233. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29507" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-1.jpg" alt="Wade and Peter on the Root Glacier" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-1.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-1-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
234. <p style="text-align: center;">My son and I on the Root Glacier in Kennecott. The ice fall far behind us is 7,000 feet high, the second largest in the world.</p>
235. <p>&nbsp;</p>
236. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29508" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-2.jpg" alt="A Map of the Source to Sea route through Wrangell - St. Elias National Park" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-2.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-2-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
237. <p style="text-align: center;">Here&#8217;s the route of our float trip. The &#8220;Source&#8221; was Nizina Lake below the Nizina Glacier. We floated south on the Nizina River, west on the Chitina River, and then south on the Copper River almost all the way out to Prince William Sound and &#8220;the Sea.&#8221;</p>
238. <p>&nbsp;</p>
239. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29509" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-3.jpg" alt="Wade and Peter stand in front of a bush plane" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-3.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-3-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-3-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-3-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
240. <p style="text-align: center;">Bush planes make up a lot of the travel in the region. Here in Gulkana, my son and I are about to <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/transport-lodging/">fly to McCarthy</a> near Kennecott.</p>
241. <p>&nbsp;</p>
242. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29510" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-4.jpg" alt="Kennecott Mill Building and old town" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-4.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-4-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-4-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-4-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
243. <p style="text-align: center;">Above McCarthy, the old <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/kennecott-mill-town-tour/">Kennecott copper mill building</a> rises 14 stories high up the hillside. Until it ceased operations in 1938, the mill served the richest copper mine in the world on the ridges above.</p>
244. <p>&nbsp;</p>
245. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29511" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-5.jpg" alt="Mill Building in looks out over the Kennicott Glacier" width="900" height="1200" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-5.jpg 900w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-5-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-5-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
246. <p style="text-align: center;">The old mill building looks out over the <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/full-day-glacier-hike-itinerary/">Root Glacier</a>. Over the years, the remelting of the glacier moraine has left gravel from the glacier&#8217;s moraine on top.</p>
247. <p>&nbsp;</p>
248. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29512" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-6.jpg" alt="Peter naps on the white ice of the glacier" width="900" height="1200" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-6.jpg 900w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-6-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-6-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
249. <p style="text-align: center;">The day before we started our float trip, my son and I took a <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/ice-climbing/">one-day ice climbing course</a> on the Root Glacier from St. Elias Alpine Guides. Here, my son is snoozing before his climb on the slope behind him.</p>
250. <p>&nbsp;</p>
251. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29513" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-7.jpg" alt="Four pictures of an ice climber being lowered into a moulin." width="1200" height="1200" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-7.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-7-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-7-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-7-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-7-768x768.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
252. <p style="text-align: center;">Here, my son in blue disappears down to the bottom of a moulin, a hole in the glacier formed by escaping water. Our guide Landon is using a top belay to keep him from falling into the abyss.</p>
253. <p>&nbsp;</p>
254. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29514" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-8.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-8.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-8-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-8-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-8-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
255. <p style="text-align: center;">The view from the bottom of the moulin. Needless to say, my son climbed out a lot faster than me. To climb, you have crampons on your feet and two ice axes in your hands. You should climb mainly with your legs, but this old swimmer was using too much arms the whole way up. I think Landon, our guide here, is looking down to check if I am still alive.</p>
256. <p>&nbsp;</p>
257. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29515" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-9.jpg" alt="Nizina Lake" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-9.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-9-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-9-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-9-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
258. <p style="text-align: center;">The next day, from McCarthy a bush plane dropped our group for the rafting trip off by the <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/nizina-glacier-fly-in-packrafting/">Nizina Lake</a> (foreground), fed by the Nizina Glacier in the background.</p>
259. <p>&nbsp;</p>
260. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29516" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-10.jpg" alt="Wade swimming in Nizina Lake with icebergs in the background" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-10.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-10-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-10-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-10-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
261. <p style="text-align: center;">As a practicing winter swimmer, I couldn&#8217;t resist hopping in to swim for a couple of minutes. With all the silt from the glacier, visibility was nil. Since it is all meltwater from the ice, you can imagine the temperature.</p>
262. <p>&nbsp;</p>
263. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29517" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-11.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-11.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-11-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-11-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-11-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
264. <p style="text-align: center;">All geared up and ready to go. We had three rafts, three guides, and nine guests. All three rafts were set up with central double oars. One raft was a gear raft with one guide, and all of us were split up between the other two rafts.</p>
265. <p>&nbsp;</p>
266. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29518" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-12.jpg" alt="Waterfall on Nizina River" width="900" height="1200" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-12.jpg 900w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-12-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-12-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
267. <p style="text-align: center;">On the <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/nizina-river/">Nizina River</a>, there were a lot of waterfalls to explore.</p>
268. <p>&nbsp;</p>
269. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29519" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-13.jpg" alt="Blue raft and green dome tent in front of a mountain" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-13.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-13-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-13-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-13-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
270. <p style="text-align: center;">Most of the campsites were gravel bars along the river.</p>
271. <p>&nbsp;</p>
272. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29520" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-14.jpg" alt="Dryas covers the ground" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-14.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-14-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-14-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-14-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
273. <p style="text-align: center;">On the Nizina, a lot of gravel bars were filled with dryas (the white flowering plants) and fireweed (the purple flowers). Dryas usually comes in first, starts to establish topsoil and add nitrogen, and then allows other plants to gain a foothold.</p>
274. <p>&nbsp;</p>
275. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29521" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-15.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="1200" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-15.jpg 900w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-15-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-15-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
276. <p style="text-align: center;">A word on hygiene. These rivers are &#8220;pack out,&#8221; meaning all our waste had to be carried out. We used a mini toilet called a &#8220;groover,&#8221; which got reset after every five uses. The views made up for any &#8220;ick&#8221; factor. The nickname of &#8220;groover&#8221; comes from the original pack-out toilets &#8211; repurposed metal ammunition boxes that left twin grooves on your butt after each use.</p>
277. <p>&nbsp;</p>
278. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29522" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-16.jpg" alt="Colorful tents set up along the river in white fog" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-16.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-16-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-16-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-16-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
279. <p style="text-align: center;">A campsite near the Lower Canyon where the Nizina joins the Chitina.</p>
280. <p>&nbsp;</p>
281. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29523" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-17.jpg" alt="Thick fog on the river" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-17.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-17-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-17-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-17-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
282. <p style="text-align: center;">In the early stretch of the <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/chitina-river/">Chitina River</a>, it often felt like we were on the set of &#8220;Vikings,&#8221; and a howling group of axe-wielding warriors was about to charge at us through the mist.</p>
283. <p>&nbsp;</p>
284. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29524" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-18.jpg" alt="Stepping in mud in Xtratuf boots" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-18.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-18-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-18-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-18-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
285. <p style="text-align: center;">Mud. Glacial silt makes so much mud. Back in Estonia, I am still cleaning silt out of everything. The brown XtraTuf neoprene boots are iconic in Alaska &#8211; everyone from commercial fishermen to hikers to even businessmen wear them to get through the wet seasons.</p>
286. <p>&nbsp;</p>
287. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29525" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-19.jpg" alt="Wolf tracks on the sand" width="900" height="1200" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-19.jpg 900w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-19-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-19-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
288. <p style="text-align: center;">Wolf tracks on the Chitina. While we saw a lot of tracks, their owners proved elusive all trip.</p>
289. <p>&nbsp;</p>
290. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29526" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-20.jpg" alt="A tent set up close to the water with mountains in the background" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-20.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-20-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-20-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-20-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
291. <p style="text-align: center;">Camp on the Chitina. The guides kept track of water levels, and all the major flooding events that normally transpire had taken place this summer already. So, we felt safe being so close to the water. And, sleeping to the sound of a fast-moving river was so peaceful.</p>
292. <p>&nbsp;</p>
293. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29527" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-21.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-21.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-21-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-21-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-21-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
294. <p style="text-align: center;">Kip, Ty, and the lead guide Tristan serving breakfast to the crowd. The food was so good all the way through &#8211; my cardiologist would clearly not have approved. Our guides&#8217; knowledge and humor and energy were infectious &#8211; they kept us all engaged and motivated even in the cold and wet. Ty left after the first week, Tristan and Kip steered us for the full trip.</p>
295. <p>&nbsp;</p>
296. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29528" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-22.jpg" alt="Group of people in camp chairs against a sunset" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-22.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-22-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-22-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-22-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
297. <p style="text-align: center;">The best part of the trip: Our group of fellow travelers. Everyone had been on major Alaskan trips before, and their experiences and knowledge made for great conversations and easy traveling. One key benefit of river travel: You can carry luxuries. Folding camp chairs were a saving grace every evening, and the happy hour selection of Alaskan craft beers was even more inspiring.</p>
298. <p>&nbsp;</p>
299. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29529" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-23.jpg" alt="Sunset on the water" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-23.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-23-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-23-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-23-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
300. <p style="text-align: center;">The sunset closing the first half of the trip.</p>
301. <p>&nbsp;</p>
302. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29530" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-24.jpg" alt="A business in Chitina" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-24.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-24-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-24-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-24-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
303. <p style="text-align: center;">We resupplied in the tiny settlement (think a road crossing not a town) of Chitina, right where the Chitina river meets the Copper River. Some residents made their politics clear.</p>
304. <p>&nbsp;</p>
305. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29531" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-25.jpg" alt="People fishing in Alaska" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-25.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-25-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-25-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-25-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
306. <p style="text-align: center;">Our resupply point was at Mill Creek outside Chitina. The Copper River red salmon were running, and there were a lot of Alaskan residents catching their annual allotment while we were there.</p>
307. <p>&nbsp;</p>
308. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29532" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-26.jpg" alt="Dipnet fishing in Alaska" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-26.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-26-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-26-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-26-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
309. <p style="text-align: center;">The salmon run so fiercely here that fishermen use dipnets &#8211; you literally drop a big net in by shore and just scoop your salmon out. (Alaskan families get an allotment of 40 salmon each plus 10 salmon per person in the family.)</p>
310. <p>&nbsp;</p>
311. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29533" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-27.jpg" alt="Rafts staged at the river with supplies on shore" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-27.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-27-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-27-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-27-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
312. <p style="text-align: center;">Getting ready for resupply.</p>
313. <p>&nbsp;</p>
314. <p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29534" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-28.jpg" alt="Group of guides moving gear between vans" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-28.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-28-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-28-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-28-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
315. <p style="text-align: center;">Our craft beer supply needed to be replenished.</p>
316. <p>&nbsp;</p>
317. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29535" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-29.jpg" alt="Dark canyon on the Copper River" width="900" height="1200" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-29.jpg 900w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-29-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-29-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
318. <p style="text-align: center;">The weather turned a bit darker and colder at the beginning of the second half.</p>
319. <p>&nbsp;</p>
320. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29536" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-30.jpg" alt="A rainbow over a misty river" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-30.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-30-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-30-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-30-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
321. <p style="text-align: center;">Rainbows teased us the whole second week.</p>
322. <p>&nbsp;</p>
323. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29537" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-31.jpg" alt="People under a tent canopy on the river" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-31.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-31-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-31-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-31-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
324. <p style="text-align: center;">The guides set up a tarp canopy to keep things dry.</p>
325. <p>&nbsp;</p>
326. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29538" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-32.jpg" alt="Two people walking along the river" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-32.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-32-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-32-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-32-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
327. <p style="text-align: center;">Gravel bars made the best places to stop for lunch.</p>
328. <p>&nbsp;</p>
329. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29539" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-33.jpg" alt="Old bridge pilings stick up out of the water" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-33.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-33-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-33-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-33-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
330. <p style="text-align: center;">These pilings are the remains of the foundation of the Copper River Railroad which followed our route all the way from Kennecott and McCarthy out to the sea. The railroad was completed around 1911 and was operational until 1938.</p>
331. <p>&nbsp;</p>
332. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29540" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-34.jpg" alt="Grizzly bear tracks on the sand" width="900" height="1200" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-34.jpg 900w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-34-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-34-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
333. <p style="text-align: center;">Grizzly tracks on the beach. Their feet are HUGE.</p>
334. <p>&nbsp;</p>
335. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29541" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-35.jpg" alt="Guides help client across a stream" width="900" height="1200" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-35.jpg 900w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-35-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-35-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
336. <p style="text-align: center;">The guides helped us across stream crossings on day hikes when needed. Most of us were wearing 15-inch high rubber boots &#8211; one misstep would have led to wet feet for days.</p>
337. <p>&nbsp;</p>
338. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29542" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-36.jpg" alt="Sunset on the Copper River" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-36.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-36-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-36-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-36-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
339. <p style="text-align: center;">Sunset on the <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/copper-river-rafting/">Copper River</a>.</p>
340. <p>&nbsp;</p>
341. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29543" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-37.jpg" alt="Far away bear near camp" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-37.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-37-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-37-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-37-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
342. <p style="text-align: center;">I only snagged one photo of a grizzly. That brown blob in the background in the bushes was a juvenile on his own (probably three years old), and he tracked the perimeter of our camp. It was conceivable that we were the first humans he had ever seen.</p>
343. <p>&nbsp;</p>
344. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29544" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-38.jpg" alt="Head of a seal poking up out of the water" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-38.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-38-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-38-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-38-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
345. <p style="text-align: center;">Seals were common on the Copper (the little blob in the upper part of the photo here is a seal&#8217;s head). They would swim upstream from Prince William Sound to feast on salmon. Unfortunately for them, orcas know this and wait outside the river delta for the plump seals to return.</p>
346. <p>&nbsp;</p>
347. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29545" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-39.jpg" alt="Chilly Alaskan landscape" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-39.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-39-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-39-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-39-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
348. <p style="text-align: center;">On the coldest and wettest day, there was not much difference between the river and the sky.</p>
349. <p>&nbsp;</p>
350. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29546" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-40.jpg" alt="Tent set up on river shore with mountains behind" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-40.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-40-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-40-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-40-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
351. <p style="text-align: center;">After three or so days of rain, we finally had a chance to let our tent dry out. At this point, probably everything I had was wet.</p>
352. <p>&nbsp;</p>
353. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29547" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-41.jpg" alt="Wade and Peter in front of the Miles Glacier" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-41.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-41-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-41-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-41-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
354. <p style="text-align: center;">After days of rain, we got our reward: a cloudless sky at Miles Lake, where the Miles Glacier is on one side of the river (shown here) and the Child Glacier is on the other.</p>
355. <p>&nbsp;</p>
356. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29548" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-42.jpg" alt="Tent set up on sand in front of mountains" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-42.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-42-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-42-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-42-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
357. <p style="text-align: center;">We camped on a gravel bar on Miles Lake. The landscape felt lunar &#8211; I have never seen such open sky.</p>
358. <p>&nbsp;</p>
359. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29550" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-43.jpg" alt="Glacier on the Copper River" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-43.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-43-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-43-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-43-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
360. <p style="text-align: center;">The scale was amazing. The Miles Glacier here is probably 2.5 miles away with a face 200 feet high &#8211; think a 20-story building.</p>
361. <p>&nbsp;</p>
362. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29551" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-44.jpg" alt="Guide on a small iceberg" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-44.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-44-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-44-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-44-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
363. <p style="text-align: center;">Kip riding an iceberg from Miles Glacier.</p>
364. <p>&nbsp;</p>
365. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29552" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-45.jpg" alt="Three river guides relaxing on the bank with mountains behind them" width="900" height="1200" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-45.jpg 900w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-45-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-45-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
366. <p style="text-align: center;">Kip, Danny, and Tristan with the Child Glacier across Miles Lake behind them.</p>
367. <p>&nbsp;</p>
368. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29553" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-46.jpg" alt="Night at camp" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-46.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-46-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-46-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-46-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
369. <p style="text-align: center;">Sunset.</p>
370. <p>&nbsp;</p>
371. <p>&nbsp;</p>
372. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29554" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-47.jpg" alt="Guide at the oars with two clients in the front of boat with icebergs behind them" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-47.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-47-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-47-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-47-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
373. <p style="text-align: center;">Kip steering us through the bergs on Miles Lake.</p>
374. <p>&nbsp;</p>
375. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29555" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-48.jpg" alt="Rafts floating under the Million Dollar Bridge" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-48.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-48-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-48-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-48-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
376. <p style="text-align: center;">An engineering marvel, the &#8220;Million Dollar Bridge&#8221; was completed in 1911 for the Copper River railroad leading up to Kennecott. The bridge had to contend with the advancing Child Glacier downstream (shown here), and all the icebergs coming off the Miles Glacier and floating downstream into the bridge.</p>
377. <p>&nbsp;</p>
378. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29556" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-49.jpg" alt="view from below of the Million Dollar Bridge" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-49.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-49-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-49-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-49-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
379. <p style="text-align: center;">The revetments you see in front of the bridge pilings are what protect the bridge from the icebergs coming off the Miles Glacier. To think these were engineered over 100 years ago is astounding &#8211; they had to invent new building techniques to erect this bridge.</p>
380. <p>&nbsp;</p>
381. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29557" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-50.jpg" alt="people in rafts in front of the massive Childs Glacier" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-50.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-50-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-50-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-50-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
382. <p style="text-align: center;">The Child Glacier has a face 100-feet high (think a 10-story building).</p>
383. <p>&nbsp;</p>
384. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29558" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-51.jpg" alt="Peter trying to lasso an iceberg" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-51.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-51-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-51-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-51-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
385. <p style="text-align: center;">My son decided one night to try to lasso an iceberg. Everyone thought he was mad to try, especially given the river&#8217;s speed at this campsite.</p>
386. <p>&nbsp;</p>
387. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29559" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-52.jpg" alt="Peter holds an iceberg he caught out of the water" width="900" height="1200" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-52.jpg 900w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-52-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-52-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
388. <p style="text-align: center;">After an hour, we weren&#8217;t laughing&#8230;.</p>
389. <p>&nbsp;</p>
390. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29560" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-53.jpg" alt="Making margaritas with glacial ice" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-53.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-53-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-53-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-53-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
391. <p style="text-align: center;">. &#8230;especially when the guides used the glacial ice to make margaritas on our last night.</p>
392. <p>&nbsp;</p>
393. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29561" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-54.jpg" alt="Guide's tent near river's edge" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-54.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-54-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-54-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-54-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
394. <p style="text-align: center;">While this might look like an ad for Cabela&#8217;s tents, with the Child Glacier in the background, the guides were less than pleased with its rain protection.</p>
395. <p>&nbsp;</p>
396. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29562" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-55.jpg" alt="Guide Danny shows off the pick lists" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-55.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-55-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-55-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-55-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
397. <p style="text-align: center;">Danny the guide showing the &#8220;pick lists&#8221; for our meals for the week. Danny joined us for the second half of the trip. To give you insight into the guiding community, at 28 years of age, Danny&#8217;s nickname at Elias Alpine Guides was &#8220;Granny Danny.&#8221; This was really funny given the percentage of real grandparents on the trip.</p>
398. <p>&nbsp;</p>
399. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29563" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-56.jpg" alt="Two people sitting with their gear on the river's edge" width="900" height="1200" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-56.jpg 900w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-56-225x300.jpg 225w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-56-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
400. <p style="text-align: center;">Ron and Ed waiting for the last day&#8217;s paddling.</p>
401. <p>&nbsp;</p>
402. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29564" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-57.jpg" alt="Seals far away in the water" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-57.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-57-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-57-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-57-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
403. <p style="text-align: center;">Those small black dots are a dozen or so seals that we startled during their afternoon naps.</p>
404. <p>&nbsp;</p>
405. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29565" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-58.jpg" alt="Clouds reflected on the river" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-58.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-58-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-58-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-58-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
406. <p style="text-align: center;">The sun came out for the last day.</p>
407. <p>&nbsp;</p>
408. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29566" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-59.jpg" alt="Flag Point take out" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-59.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-59-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-59-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-59-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
409. <p style="text-align: center;">Our take-out point was probably ten or so miles from the sea. At that point, the river delta is 50 miles wide.</p>
410. <p>&nbsp;</p>
411. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29567" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-60.jpg" alt="Wade says &quot;peace out, Alaska&quot;" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-60.jpg 1200w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-60-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-60-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Source-to-Sea-Photo-Essay-60-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
412. <p style="text-align: center;">Peace out. Until next time, Alaska.</p>
413. <div data-wp-editing="1">
414. <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Inspired by Wade&#8217;s tale? Check out our <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/source-to-sea/">Source to Sea Expedition</a>! </span><a href="/contact-us/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Get in touch</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with any questions &#8211; we can’t wait to see you in the Wrangells this summer and are happy to help you get out here by answering any questions you have!</span></p>
415. </div>
416. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/source-to-sea-rafting-expedition/">Trip Report: Source to Sea Rafting Expedition</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
417. ]]></content:encoded>
421. </item>
422. <item>
423. <title>Tech Tip &#8211; Training for Alaska Backpacking and Mountaineering</title>
424. <link>https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/tech-tip-training-for-alaska-backpacking-and-mountaineering/</link>
426. <dc:creator><![CDATA[St. Elias Guides]]></dc:creator>
427. <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jan 2024 06:45:44 +0000</pubDate>
428. <category><![CDATA[Tech Tips]]></category>
429. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.steliasguides.com/?p=29357</guid>
430.  
431. <description><![CDATA[<p>&#160; Backpacking and mountaineering in Alaska have at least one similarity &#8211; you&#8217;re going to be schlepping gear. That means a heavy load on your back, or maybe split between your back and a sled if you&#8217;re climbing one of AK&#8217;s bigger peaks. Most commonly, you&#8217;ll also be moving on a slope, whether up or &#8230;</p>
432. <p class="read-more"> <a class="" href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/tech-tip-training-for-alaska-backpacking-and-mountaineering/"> <span class="screen-reader-text">Tech Tip &#8211; Training for Alaska Backpacking and Mountaineering</span> Read More &#187;</a></p>
433. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/tech-tip-training-for-alaska-backpacking-and-mountaineering/">Tech Tip &#8211; Training for Alaska Backpacking and Mountaineering</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
434. ]]></description>
435. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
436. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-29363 size-large" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8028-1024x768.jpg" alt="Two mountaineers approach a snowy slope" width="1024" height="768" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8028-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8028-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8028-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8028-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_8028-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>
437. <p>&nbsp;</p>
438. <p><a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/alaska-backpacking-hiking/">Backpacking</a> and <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/alaska-mountaineering/">mountaineering</a> in Alaska have at least one similarity &#8211; you&#8217;re going to be schlepping gear. That means a heavy load on your back, or maybe split between your back and a sled if you&#8217;re climbing one of AK&#8217;s bigger peaks. Most commonly, you&#8217;ll also be moving on a slope, whether up or down or traversing across a steep incline. These trips are some of the hardest (and most epic) in their categories, so being physically prepared will make a big difference in your experience and the overall success of the trip.</p>
439. <p>So how do you train for a challenge like this? There are many schools of thought, books, and programs on this subject and it can be difficult to figure out what&#8217;s going to work best for you. Over the last +40 years of guiding backpacking and mountaineering trips in Alaska&#8217;s greatest wilderness, Wrangell &#8211; St. Elias National Park, we&#8217;ve seen a lot of climbers, skiers, and backpackers and want to share what we&#8217;ve found to work best.</p>
440. </div>
441. <p>&nbsp;</p>
442. <div>
443. <p><span id="more-29357"></span></p>
444. <div>
445. <h1><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29361" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Backpacking-and-Mountaineering-Collage-scaled.jpg" alt="Three photos of Alaska backpacking and mountaineering" width="2560" height="1024" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Backpacking-and-Mountaineering-Collage-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Backpacking-and-Mountaineering-Collage-300x120.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Backpacking-and-Mountaineering-Collage-1024x410.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Backpacking-and-Mountaineering-Collage-768x307.jpg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Backpacking-and-Mountaineering-Collage-1536x614.jpg 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Backpacking-and-Mountaineering-Collage-2048x819.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></h1>
446. <h1></h1>
447. <h1>What&#8217;s most important?</h1>
448. <p>&nbsp;</p>
449. <h2><b>Core and Leg Strength</b></h2>
450. <p>Every day of your trip you’ll be carrying a heavy backpack (40-60lbs depending on the trip) and maybe even pulling a sled full of gear, too. You’ll see a benefit from almost any strength training, but we recommend to focus your training on your lower body and your core so you can move through uneven terrain, uphill, and downhill with a very heavy pack on.</p>
451. <h2><b>Balance</b></h2>
452. <p>Often overlooked, balance training can greatly improve your performance in the backcountry where there isn’t a flat spot to be found. Out there you will constantly be using very specific balancing muscles to micro-adjust as you step over logs and branches, push through thick brush, crawl over boulders, or swim through thigh-deep snow – all with a heavy pack on! These muscles don’t get used much when you spend most of your days in buildings or on sidewalks, so focused training can really help you make a smooth transition from front-country to backcountry.</p>
453. <h2><b>Mobility</b></h2>
454. <p>On these trips, you’ll often find yourself performing motions that you don’t often do in your everyday life – big or wide steps, squatting, crawling, reaching and pulling, etc. You’ll also be putting your body through other stressors like sleeping on a thin sleeping pad, which causes the body to tighten up. Make sure that your body is flexible and prepared for these movements and stresses with focused mobility training. Starting this part of your training early will help you prevent training injuries.</p>
455. <h2><b>Endurance</b></h2>
456. <p>Usually, the most obvious component of physical preparation is endurance-focused training. Consider what types of exercises will simulate your upcoming trip the best and work with those. Remember, that often the terrain prevents us from moving very quickly, so get your body ready to move slowly or at a comfortable pace but for extended periods of time.</p>
457. <p>&nbsp;</p>
458. </div>
459. </div>
460. <h1>What activities are best?</h1>
461. <p>&nbsp;</p>
462. <h2>Hiking, Trail Running, Backpacking</h2>
463. <p>There is no better substitute for training for an activity than by doing that activity itself &#8211; practice how you play! The more experience you have in the mountains, the better your body will deal with small and likely discomforts. Anywhere you can walk for extended periods of time, especially that are rugged and have changes in elevation – go there! If you don’t have access to backcountry-like terrain, hit the stairs or the treadmill with a backpack on!</p>
464. <h2>Yoga, Pilates</h2>
465. <p>Yoga and similar activities like pilates are a great way to prepare the body for an upcoming trip. We recommend some type of stretching routine to help with mobility and yoga specifically also works a lot with balance. Yoga can help build and maintain a basic amount of strength and certain practices can have a stronger focus on strength building. Yoga also teaches breathing techniques and its meditative qualities are great for preparing the mind for your big adventure.</p>
466. <div>
467. <div></div>
468. </div>
469. <h2>Are there any activities to avoid?</h2>
470. <p>Activities where you aren’t bearing your full body weight like swimming or biking won’t be quite as helpful as “full-gravity” activities like hiking or running. Swimming and biking both have a ton of other benefits however and if they are what motivates you, keep them in your routine, just balance them out with more strength-building.</p>
471. <p>Be careful and don’t go too hard! Injuries caused by training are the #1 reason for our clients to cancel their trips and the irony is just devastating! Don’t let it happen to you! Start early and aim for a slow progression with lots of rest and recovery built into your program.</p>
472. <p>&nbsp;</p>
473. <h1 style="font-style: normal;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-29360 size-full" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Physical-Training-Collage-scaled.jpg" alt="Three photos of physical training activities" width="2560" height="1024" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Physical-Training-Collage-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Physical-Training-Collage-300x120.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Physical-Training-Collage-1024x410.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Physical-Training-Collage-768x307.jpg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Physical-Training-Collage-1536x614.jpg 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Physical-Training-Collage-2048x819.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></h1>
474. <h1></h1>
475. <h1>Commercial Training Programs</h1>
476. <p>&nbsp;</p>
477. <p>There are a million different training programs out there and you can likely find success with many of them. Here we have a few recommendations that we have personal experience with and recommend first-hand:</p>
478. <p><a href="https://uphillathlete.com/">Uphill Athlete</a> – Founded by one of the greatest alpinists of our time and an olympic coach, Uphill Athlete is the best training program in the industry that focuses specifically on mountain pursuits.</p>
479. <p><a href="https://gmb.io/">GMB Fitness</a> – Somewhere between yoga and martial arts, this unique practice combines balance, mobility and strength training.</p>
480. <p><a href="https://www.yogabody.com/">Yoga Body</a> – This program combines science and traditional yoga for a powerful stretching and breathing routine for increased flexibility, mobility, and mindfulness.</p>
481. <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/MadFit/videos">MadFit</a> – Free 5-45min fast-paced workout videos you can do anywhere, often with no equipment required. Great for travel or folks with limited space and time.</p>
482. <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene">Yoga with Adriene</a> – A YouTube staple, Adriene has a free yoga practice for every level, every occasion, every focus, and every time frame. This is a great place to start if you are new to yoga.</p>
483. <p>&nbsp;</p>
484. <p>Remember that a fully prepared mountain athlete trains both body and mind. Check out our advice on mental prep for a big trip in the Wrangells!</p>
485. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/tech-tip-training-for-alaska-backpacking-and-mountaineering/">Tech Tip &#8211; Training for Alaska Backpacking and Mountaineering</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
486. ]]></content:encoded>
490. </item>
491. <item>
492. <title>Tech Tip &#8211; Footwear for Alaska Hiking and Backpacking</title>
493. <link>https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/footwear-for-alaska-hiking-and-backpacking/</link>
495. <dc:creator><![CDATA[St. Elias Guides]]></dc:creator>
496. <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jan 2024 05:52:32 +0000</pubDate>
497. <category><![CDATA[Tech Tips]]></category>
498. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.steliasguides.com/?p=29334</guid>
499.  
500. <description><![CDATA[<p>Hiking and backpacking in Alaska, and in the Wrangells especially, is going to be rugged and footwear can make or break a trip. Over the last +40 years of guiding trips in the Wrangell &#8211; St. Elias National Park, we&#8217;ve figured out what works best out here and want to share the details with you &#8230;</p>
501. <p class="read-more"> <a class="" href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/footwear-for-alaska-hiking-and-backpacking/"> <span class="screen-reader-text">Tech Tip &#8211; Footwear for Alaska Hiking and Backpacking</span> Read More &#187;</a></p>
502. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/footwear-for-alaska-hiking-and-backpacking/">Tech Tip &#8211; Footwear for Alaska Hiking and Backpacking</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
503. ]]></description>
504. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
505. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-29352" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Backpacking-Footwear-768x1024.jpeg" alt="Two pairs of legs with mismatched boots in Alaska" width="500" height="667" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Backpacking-Footwear-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Backpacking-Footwear-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Backpacking-Footwear-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Backpacking-Footwear.jpeg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />Hiking and backpacking in Alaska, and in the Wrangells especially, is going to be rugged and footwear can make or break a trip. Over the last +40 years of guiding trips in the Wrangell &#8211; St. Elias National Park, we&#8217;ve figured out what works best out here and want to share the details with you so you&#8217;re fully prepared for your adventure!</p>
506. <p>Here&#8217;s our advice for what to wear on your feet for backpacking and hiking in the Wrangells:</p>
507. </div>
508. <p>&nbsp;</p>
509. <div>
510. <p><span id="more-29334"></span></p>
511. <div>
512. <h1>Backpacking:</h1>
513. <p>&nbsp;</p>
514. <h2>Over-the-ankle, waterproof, hiking boots</h2>
515. </div>
516. </div>
517. <p>&nbsp;</p>
518. <p>This might be the most commonly argued-over item on the equipment list &#8211; pre-trip, that is! &#8220;But I usually just backpack in trail runners!&#8221; Yup, we&#8217;ve heard that before, and frankly so do we! When we&#8217;re in the lower 48, especially on trails, we love the lightness of a grippy running shoe or an approach shoe to get us around on our longer adventures. There won&#8217;t be any trails where you&#8217;re going in the Wrangells&#8230;in fact, most of the landscape is rough, unyielding, uneven, and sometimes even moving &#8211; classic ankle-twisting terrain. Add a 40-55 lb backpack to the mix and incredible scenery you can&#8217;t tear your eyes away from, and you&#8217;re going to want all the support you can get!</p>
519. <p>This concept of &#8220;uneven terrain&#8221; doesn&#8217;t sound like much, but it cannot be emphasized enough. Maybe you&#8217;ve gone off-trail before or even crossed sections of scree or talus. That&#8217;s a great taste of what Alaska has in store! We do our best to show and explain this concept before you get here, and even still, we often hear that the beat down of the constant ruggedness is the biggest challenge of the trip and what our clients wish they had been better prepared for!</p>
520. <p>The entire landscape is constantly undulating. We joke that the only flat spots you&#8217;ll encounter are where you&#8217;ll want to set up your tent! Some sections are just straight-up steep. The rest of the land mass is covered in round river rocks, jagged alpine talus, thick squishy tundra (akin to walking in deep sand), deep sand, suction-y mud, light-to-heavy brush, swamps, rivers, snow, and glacial ice. When walking out here with a heavy pack, and especially when we don our crampons to walk on the ice, we use our stabilizing muscles a lot. If you live in a world of paved sidewalks, and even floors, these muscles likely don&#8217;t get a lot of use. Without supportive footwear, the sudden use of these muscles can result in foot, ankle, knee, and/or hip pain in the backcountry. Training can help here too, so check out our <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/tech-tip-training-for-alaska-backpacking-and-mountaineering/">advice on how to train</a> for trips like these.</p>
521. <p>The mountains of Alaska are also known for their unpredictable weather. This means that moisture management is a key element of a good experience. Make sure that your boots are completely waterproof, and if they&#8217;re older, take the time to recondition them before the trip. We like <a href="https://www.nikwax.com/en-us/">Nikwax</a> products for adding a protective layer to your boots, jackets, gloves, tent flies, etc.</p>
522. <p>Remember, that you&#8217;re going to be hundreds of miles away from civilization when you&#8217;re on an extended <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/alaska-backpacking-hiking/">backpacking</a> trip in Wrangell &#8211; St. Elias. Twisting or spraining an ankle or developing trench foot is never a fun experience, but can be compounded by the difficult logistics of this remote wilderness for an absolute trip-ruiner.</p>
523. <p>Make your backpacking trip an experience of a lifetime and don&#8217;t skimp out on a heavy-duty, waterproof, over-the-ankle, backpacking boot! Your feet, ankles, knees, and brain will thank you!</p>
524. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-29353 size-full" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaskan-Backpacking-Terrain-scaled.jpg" alt="Three pictures of Alaska backpacking terrain" width="2560" height="1024" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaskan-Backpacking-Terrain-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaskan-Backpacking-Terrain-300x120.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaskan-Backpacking-Terrain-1024x410.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaskan-Backpacking-Terrain-768x307.jpg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaskan-Backpacking-Terrain-1536x614.jpg 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaskan-Backpacking-Terrain-2048x819.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
525. <p>Here are some of our favorite boots for Alaska backpacking:</p>
526. <p><a href="https://us.scarpa.com/zodiac-tech-gtx">Scarpa Zodiac Tech GTX</a> &#8211; These are the type of boots most of our guides wear in the backcountry. They are probably too much for most backpacking trips in the lower 48, but if you live in Alaska or want to continue to explore the backcountry out here, these provide a great balance of rugged toughness, support and comfort.</p>
527. <p><a href="https://www.salomon.com/en-us/shop/product/quest-element-gore-tex-lg5641.html#color=78466">Salomon Quest Element Gore-Tex</a> or <a href="https://www.salomon.com/en-us/shop/product/quest-4-gore-tex-21.html#color=70627">Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex</a> &#8211; Versions of these boots have been around for a while and have stood the test of time. They&#8217;re rugged and supportive and are popular options for backpacking outside of Alaska as well!</p>
528. <p>Protip: Make sure your footwear is worn in before you get to AK! Wear your boots/shoes around the house, on errands, to the grocery store, wear them everywhere for a while. Then, take them out on a long hike or even a multi-day trip to work out the kinks before your big Alaskan adventure.</p>
529. <p>Protip: Wear your boots on the plane to Alaska! If your luggage gets delayed or lost, we can outfit you with a spare jacket or sleeping bag, but we don&#8217;t have a fleet of rental hiking boots&#8230;wearing your boots on the flight will not only look cool and have everyone asking where you&#8217;re going but will also keep weight out of your luggage to make more room for other things you want to bring!</p>
530. <p>&nbsp;</p>
531. <div>
532. <div>
533. <h1>Hiking :</h1>
534. <p>&nbsp;</p>
535. <h2>Comfortable, waterproof, hiking boots or shoes</h2>
536. <p>&nbsp;</p>
537. </div>
538. </div>
539. <p>If you&#8217;re joining us for an <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/alaska-day-hikes-adventures/">Alpine Hike, </a><a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/half-day-glacier-hike/">Glacier Hike</a>, or <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/fan-glacier-fly-in/">Fly-in Hike</a>, we recommend wearing hiking-specific boots or shoes that are waterproof, because there&#8217;s a solid chance you might get wet.</p>
540. <p>If you&#8217;re headed out on the glacier, you&#8217;ll be given a set of strap-on crampons. We use different styles that are highly compatible with most footwear. You&#8217;ll also have about 4mi of trail hiking on a moderate but uneven trail of which about 2mi are on rocky moraine. If you&#8217;re headed up to one of the mines, you&#8217;ll be on a rugged trail, likely encountering some muddy stretches and rocky sections up high. On a Fly-in Hike, you&#8217;ll likely find a little social trail near the airstrip, but pretty soon it will peeter off and you&#8217;ll be navigating undeveloped and untouched rocks, sand, and/or tundra. For all three hikes, we recommend supportive footwear like a higher top for ankle support or a stiffer sole to help with the rugged terrain. You likely don&#8217;t need to get special footwear just for this trip. A good hiking shoe or boot will be great for the rest of your Alaska trip as well, and most likely whatever you hike in elsewhere in the world will work just fine here too.</p>
541. <p>Avoid light canvas shoes with soft soles, sandals, and crocs. Non of this footwear is crampon-compatible, and not waterproof either. Adventure sandals may sound nice on a sunny day, but you&#8217;ll likely encounter cold water,</p>
542. <p>If you&#8217;re joining us for a<a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/alaska-base-camp-hiking/"> multi-day basecamp hiking trip</a>, you&#8217;ll encounter a variety of terrain ranging from soft and squishy tundra to rocky talus and tussocky slopes. Maybe even a little bushwhacking if you&#8217;re lucky! Although you can get away with low-top footwear, we highly recommend high-top footwear with ankle support. This will likely be the most consistently rugged terrain you&#8217;ve encountered with plentiful opportunities to get wet. You&#8217;ll feel more comfortable and have a better time if you don&#8217;t have to look down at your feet at every step, move slower to be more careful, and experience wet socks and joint pain after every hike. Waterproofing is a must, and breathable, transparent mesh is a no-go. Remember, the consequences of an ankle twist or sprain are magnified when you&#8217;re hundreds of miles away from civilization and proper medical care. Consider getting a sturdier boot for this trip than a simple trail running shoe &#8211; your ankles and knees will thank you for it!</p>
543. <p>We don&#8217;t have specific recommendations for basic hiking shoes and boots, since there are so many options out there and everyone&#8217;s feet are different. Check out your local outdoor gear store, like REI, to get a helpful recommendation from a pro to find what works best with your foot!</p>
544. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29354" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Hiking-Terrain-scaled.jpg" alt="Three pictures of Alaska hiking" width="2560" height="1024" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Hiking-Terrain-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Hiking-Terrain-300x120.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Hiking-Terrain-1024x410.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Hiking-Terrain-768x307.jpg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Hiking-Terrain-1536x614.jpg 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alaska-Hiking-Terrain-2048x819.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>
545. <div>
546. <div>
547. <p style="text-align: center;">Was this info helpful? Let us know in an email! Check out our other Tech Tips to learn how to prepare for your Alaskan trip!</p>
548. </div>
549. </div>
550. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/footwear-for-alaska-hiking-and-backpacking/">Tech Tip &#8211; Footwear for Alaska Hiking and Backpacking</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
551. ]]></content:encoded>
555. </item>
556. <item>
557. <title>Wilderness Recipe: Hot drinks for an Alaskan Autumn</title>
558. <link>https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/wilderness-recipe-hot-drinks-for-an-alaskan-autumn/</link>
560. <dc:creator><![CDATA[St. Elias Guides]]></dc:creator>
561. <pubDate>Sun, 08 Oct 2023 22:18:47 +0000</pubDate>
562. <category><![CDATA[Wilderness Cooking]]></category>
563. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.steliasguides.com/?p=27765</guid>
564.  
565. <description><![CDATA[<p>Wilderness Recipe: Hot drinks for an Alaskan Autumn      Nothing is more welcome than a warm and fragrant hot drink on a chilly backcountry day! Warm up with some of our favorite, lightweight, backcountry drink recipes!   BACKCOUNTRY BULLETPROOF COFFEE Start the day right with a little extra fuel! Add some coconut oil, coconut milk &#8230;</p>
566. <p class="read-more"> <a class="" href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/wilderness-recipe-hot-drinks-for-an-alaskan-autumn/"> <span class="screen-reader-text">Wilderness Recipe: Hot drinks for an Alaskan Autumn</span> Read More &#187;</a></p>
567. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/wilderness-recipe-hot-drinks-for-an-alaskan-autumn/">Wilderness Recipe: Hot drinks for an Alaskan Autumn</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
568. ]]></description>
569. <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <div data-elementor-type="wp-post" data-elementor-id="27765" class="elementor elementor-27765" data-elementor-post-type="post">
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575. <div class="elementor-widget-container">
576. <style>/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 20-12-2023 */
577. .elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}</style> <h1>Wilderness Recipe: Hot drinks for an Alaskan Autumn</h1><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><h6 style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-27769" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Fall-colors-in-the-Chugach-Tundra-1024x768.jpg" alt="A glacier and fall colors of the tundra seen from a bush plane with the wing overhead" width="1024" height="768" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Fall-colors-in-the-Chugach-Tundra-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Fall-colors-in-the-Chugach-Tundra-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Fall-colors-in-the-Chugach-Tundra-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Fall-colors-in-the-Chugach-Tundra-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Fall-colors-in-the-Chugach-Tundra-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></h6><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nothing is more welcome than a warm and fragrant hot drink on a chilly backcountry day! Warm up with some of our favorite, lightweight, backcountry drink recipes!</span></p><p> </p><h3><strong>BACKCOUNTRY BULLETPROOF COFFEE</strong></h3><p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Start the day right with a little extra fuel!</span></em></p><p>Add some coconut oil, coconut milk powder, butter, and/or protein powder to your favorite backcountry coffee. These extra calories will get your engine running a little extra hot for today&#8217;s cold activities!</p><p>Pro tip: if you&#8217;re looking for a really good cup of backcountry coffee, check out <a href="https://www.wildlandcoffee.co/">Wildland Coffee</a>&#8216;s grounds in a bag! If you&#8217;ve ever made tea before&#8230;same concept. Rich, tasty and done right!</p><p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-27770 size-large" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Wildland-Coffee-919x1024.jpg" alt="Wildland coffee and fuel canister and camping mug on the tundra" width="919" height="1024" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Wildland-Coffee-919x1024.jpg 919w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Wildland-Coffee-269x300.jpg 269w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Wildland-Coffee-768x856.jpg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Wildland-Coffee-1378x1536.jpg 1378w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Wildland-Coffee-1838x2048.jpg 1838w" sizes="(max-width: 919px) 100vw, 919px" /></p><h3><strong>MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE<br /></strong></h3><p><em>A spicy twist on an old favorite!</em></p><ul><li>1/4 tsp of cinnamon</li><li>1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper</li><li>1/4 tsp of chili powder</li><li>your favorite hot coco mix</li></ul><p>Amounts estimated per cup. Make a pre-made &#8220;Mexi Mix&#8221; and let everyone add as much or as little spice to their favorite hot cocoa mix in the field. Some like it mild, some like it hot!</p><p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-27771" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hot-drinks-in-the-Alaskan-backcountry-1024x768.jpg" alt="Cindy enjoys a warm cup of hot chocolate in the backcountry" width="1024" height="768" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hot-drinks-in-the-Alaskan-backcountry-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hot-drinks-in-the-Alaskan-backcountry-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hot-drinks-in-the-Alaskan-backcountry-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hot-drinks-in-the-Alaskan-backcountry-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hot-drinks-in-the-Alaskan-backcountry-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p><p>Booze is never lightweight, but with some extremely lightweight additions, you can make an argument for elevating your evenings with a backcountry cocktail!</p><h3><strong>MAPLE TODDY POWDER<br /></strong></h3><p><em>Equally delicious with whiskey, bourbon, or spiced rum!</em></p><ul><li>Powdered lemon &#8211; equivalent to 1 lemon wedge</li><li>Maple sugar &#8211; 1-2 tsp</li></ul><p>Add your liquor of choice and hot water and you&#8217;ve got yourself a warm and delicious mountain bevvy!</p><p>If you don&#8217;t have powdered lemon, try a Lemon Zinger tea, or even lemonade powder (though this is likely presweetened).</p><h3><strong>EASY MULLED WINE<br /></strong></h3><p><em>When your hands are too cold to play slap the bag&#8230;</em></p><ul><li>Boxed, canned, or bagged red wine (Cabernet works best)</li><li>Apple cider packet &#8211; 1 per every 3-4 drinks</li></ul><p>Warm up your wine (but do not boil!!) and add an apple cider packet to the pot. Depending on how much wine you have and how sweet you like it, consider another packet.</p><div data-wp-editing="1"> </div><div data-wp-editing="1">Enjoy these delicious warm beverages while you leaf peep in the golden colors of the Alaskan autumn!</div><div data-wp-editing="1"> </div><div data-wp-editing="1">Check out our other <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/category/wilderness-cooking/">wilderness recipes</a>!</div> </div>
578. </div>
579. </div>
580. </div>
581. </div>
582. </section>
583. </div>
584. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/wilderness-recipe-hot-drinks-for-an-alaskan-autumn/">Wilderness Recipe: Hot drinks for an Alaskan Autumn</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
585. ]]></content:encoded>
589. </item>
590. <item>
591. <title>2023 Summer Season Photo Recap</title>
592. <link>https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/2023-season-photo-recap/</link>
594. <dc:creator><![CDATA[St. Elias Guides]]></dc:creator>
595. <pubDate>Sun, 24 Sep 2023 02:11:33 +0000</pubDate>
596. <category><![CDATA[Spotlight on Adventure]]></category>
597. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.steliasguides.com/?p=27878</guid>
598.  
599. <description><![CDATA[<p>They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here&#8217;s a hefty novel of our summer highlights from Summer 2023 in image form!  Let&#8217;s relive some of the best moments of last summer and get inspired for the next! You get the picture&#8230; &#160; The season started off without a hitch! With our eyes &#8230;</p>
600. <p class="read-more"> <a class="" href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/2023-season-photo-recap/"> <span class="screen-reader-text">2023 Summer Season Photo Recap</span> Read More &#187;</a></p>
601. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/2023-season-photo-recap/">2023 Summer Season Photo Recap</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
602. ]]></description>
603. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here&#8217;s a hefty novel of our summer highlights from Summer 2023 in image form!  Let&#8217;s relive some of the best moments of last summer and get inspired for the next!</p>
604. <p>You get the picture&#8230;</p>
605. <p>&nbsp;</p>
606. <p><span id="more-27878"></span><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28109 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Jim-looking-over-the-pond-at-McCarthy-Peak.jpg" alt="Husky looks over a snowy pond with swans at a mountain beyond" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Jim-looking-over-the-pond-at-McCarthy-Peak.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Jim-looking-over-the-pond-at-McCarthy-Peak-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Jim-looking-over-the-pond-at-McCarthy-Peak-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
607. <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The season started off without a hitch! With our eyes on the prize and the snow melting quickly, we were able to open up our HQ in time for early-season trips.</span></p>
608. <p>&nbsp;</p>
609. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28110 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/St.-Elias-Alpine-Guides-on-summit-in-Alaska.jpg" alt="Eight excited climbers in colorful jackets on a summit in Alaska" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/St.-Elias-Alpine-Guides-on-summit-in-Alaska.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/St.-Elias-Alpine-Guides-on-summit-in-Alaska-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/St.-Elias-Alpine-Guides-on-summit-in-Alaska-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
610. <p style="text-align: center;">Our <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/guides/">guides</a> enjoyed a couple of fun and productful training expeditions in return for coming up early to help us open up shop.</p>
611. <p>&nbsp;</p>
612. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28111 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Climbing-Mt.-Steller-in-the-Chugach-Mountains.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Climbing-Mt.-Steller-in-the-Chugach-Mountains.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Climbing-Mt.-Steller-in-the-Chugach-Mountains-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Climbing-Mt.-Steller-in-the-Chugach-Mountains-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
613. <p style="text-align: center;">The mountaineering season was off to an epic start with a <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/alaska-mountaineering/">Custom Mountaineering Trip</a>  &#8211; a third ascent attempt on Mount Steller!</p>
614. <p>&nbsp;</p>
615. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28115 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Clouds-at-play-on-Mt.-Bear.jpg" alt="Clouds and snow create optical illusions in the St. Elias Mountains" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Clouds-at-play-on-Mt.-Bear.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Clouds-at-play-on-Mt.-Bear-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Clouds-at-play-on-Mt.-Bear-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
616. <p style="text-align: center;">We continued with successful ascents of <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/mt-bear-expedition/">Mt. Bear</a> and Mt. Sanford! <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/guides/">Guide Harrison</a> captured a confusing moment of the clouds at play at high altitude in the St. Elias Range.</p>
617. <p>&nbsp;</p>
618. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28116 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Olga-loves-camping-under-the-Stairway-Icefall.jpg" alt="Camper smiles as she emerges out of a grey tent on rocks in front of an icefall" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Olga-loves-camping-under-the-Stairway-Icefall.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Olga-loves-camping-under-the-Stairway-Icefall-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Olga-loves-camping-under-the-Stairway-Icefall-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
619. <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our new guides loved exploring the <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/root-glacier-overnight-adventure/">Root</a> and <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/donoho-peak-wilderness-backpacking/">Kennicott Glaciers</a>.  On a day off, these <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/guides/">guides</a> hiked out and set up camp at the edge of the Stairway Icefall!</span></p>
620. <p>&nbsp;</p>
621. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28117 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ice-climbing-on-the-Root-Glacier.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ice-climbing-on-the-Root-Glacier.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ice-climbing-on-the-Root-Glacier-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ice-climbing-on-the-Root-Glacier-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
622. <p style="text-align: center;">The<a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/ice-climbing/"> ice climbing</a> out on the Root Glacier was epic and we hosted an <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/three-day-ice-climbing-camp/">Ice Climbing Camp</a> in each of the 3 summer months!</p>
623. <p>&nbsp;</p>
624. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28118 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/High-on-a-mountain-pass-in-the-Wrangells.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/High-on-a-mountain-pass-in-the-Wrangells.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/High-on-a-mountain-pass-in-the-Wrangells-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/High-on-a-mountain-pass-in-the-Wrangells-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
625. <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our<a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/alaska-backpacking-hiking/"> backpacking trips</a> took us all over the Park to some really spectacular napping spots, er, I mean, mountain vistas!</span></p>
626. <p>&nbsp;</p>
627. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28119 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Full-double-rainbow-on-the-Goat-Trail.jpg" alt="Double rainbow over a mountain in Wrangell - St. Elias National Park" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Full-double-rainbow-on-the-Goat-Trail.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Full-double-rainbow-on-the-Goat-Trail-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Full-double-rainbow-on-the-Goat-Trail-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
628. <p style="text-align: center;">We got to see some pretty amazing sights, like this double rainbow on the <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/upper-chitistone-goat-trail/">Goat Trail</a>! We consider ourselves pretty lucky&#8230;</p>
629. <p>&nbsp;</p>
630. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28121 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Source-to-Sea-River-Trip.jpg" alt="Two full rafts float on the Copper River under the Million Dollar Bridge" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Source-to-Sea-River-Trip.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Source-to-Sea-River-Trip-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Source-to-Sea-River-Trip-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
631. <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We got to float the <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/copper-river-rafting/">Copper River</a> 3 times this season! We got to see so much incredible natural scenery as well as historical, human-made relics like the Million Dollar Bridge.</span></p>
632. <p>&nbsp;</p>
633. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28122 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Guides-frolicking-under-a-waterfall.jpg" alt="Three guides splashing around under a huge waterfall" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Guides-frolicking-under-a-waterfall.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Guides-frolicking-under-a-waterfall-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Guides-frolicking-under-a-waterfall-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
634. <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Secret caves, hidden waterfalls, enormous sand dunes, and even bigger glaciers &#8211; we got to explore ALL the epic side hikes on our 15-day <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/source-to-sea/">Source to Sea</a> trip!<br />
635. </span></p>
636. <p>&nbsp;</p>
637. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28125 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Floating-the-Charley-River.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Floating-the-Charley-River.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Floating-the-Charley-River-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Floating-the-Charley-River-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
638. <p style="text-align: center;">We returned to the Charley and Yukon Rivers to the north on a <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/custom-trips/">Custom Rafting Trip</a> and got to explore another wild and infrequently-traveled area!</p>
639. <p>&nbsp;</p>
640. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28120 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sunset-at-camp-on-an-Alaskan-river.jpg" alt="Camp chairs set up around a guitar near the Copper River in Alaska" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sunset-at-camp-on-an-Alaskan-river.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sunset-at-camp-on-an-Alaskan-river-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sunset-at-camp-on-an-Alaskan-river-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
641. <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/custom-trips/">Large Group wilderness tours</a> got to learn, team-build, and relax all the way from <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/kennecott-mill-town-tour/">Kennecott</a> to the <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/alaska-rafting-trips/">river</a>.</span></p>
642. <p>&nbsp;</p>
643. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28126 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Camping-near-Mt.-Sanford.jpg" alt="Small hiker in red jacket against the enormous snowy massif of Mount Sanford" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Camping-near-Mt.-Sanford.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Camping-near-Mt.-Sanford-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Camping-near-Mt.-Sanford-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
644. <p style="text-align: center;">This summer we got to do two of our favorite things! We got to explore new places in the vast wilderness of our beloved home, <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/about-the-area/">Wrangell-St. Elias National Park</a>!<br />
645. (Look out for new <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/multi-day-trips/">multi-day trips</a> coming soon!)</p>
646. <p>&nbsp;</p>
647. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28127 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Just-married-on-the-Root-Glacier.jpg" alt="A couple with backpacks hike on the Root Glacier Trail with &quot;just married&quot; decorations" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Just-married-on-the-Root-Glacier.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Just-married-on-the-Root-Glacier-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Just-married-on-the-Root-Glacier-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
648. <p style="text-align: center;">And we got to make some really special moments happen with YOU! Thank you for joining us on an adventure of a lifetime!</p>
649. <p>&nbsp;</p>
650. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28128 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sunset-on-the-McCarthy-Road.jpg" alt="Purple and sunset over a lake with fog and the Wrangell Mountains" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sunset-on-the-McCarthy-Road.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sunset-on-the-McCarthy-Road-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sunset-on-the-McCarthy-Road-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
651. <p style="text-align: center;">After a summer of bright nights under the midnight sun, we welcome the dark night and the season closure that comes with seasonal living.</p>
652. <p>&nbsp;</p>
653. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-28129 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mountain-reflection-in-guide-sunglasses.jpg" alt="Alaskan mountains reflect in the sunglasses of a bearded Alaskan guide in orange cap." width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mountain-reflection-in-guide-sunglasses.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mountain-reflection-in-guide-sunglasses-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mountain-reflection-in-guide-sunglasses-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
654. <p style="text-align: center;">And when the sun rises, the next adventure is right on the horizon&#8230;</p>
655. <p>&nbsp;</p>
656. <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/">Back to the Blog.</a></p>
657. <p>&nbsp;</p>
658. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/2023-season-photo-recap/">2023 Summer Season Photo Recap</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
659. ]]></content:encoded>
663. </item>
664. <item>
665. <title>Why it takes two weeks to climb an Alaskan 14er</title>
666. <link>https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/why-it-takes-2-weeks-to-climb-an-alaska-14er/</link>
668. <dc:creator><![CDATA[St. Elias Guides]]></dc:creator>
669. <pubDate>Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:39:02 +0000</pubDate>
670. <category><![CDATA[Spotlight on Adventure]]></category>
671. <category><![CDATA[Staff Adventures]]></category>
672. <category><![CDATA[Trip Reports]]></category>
673. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.steliasguides.com/?p=27716</guid>
674.  
675. <description><![CDATA[<p>Why it takes two weeks to climb an Alaskan 14er      No, this is not an Alaskan 14er&#8230;this is Mt Rainier (Tahoma) in WA   Aspiring and experienced American mountaineers alike, have all at least heard of, if not summited the great Mt. Rainier of the Pacific Northwest &#8211; a classic climb in a climber’s &#8230;</p>
676. <p class="read-more"> <a class="" href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/why-it-takes-2-weeks-to-climb-an-alaska-14er/"> <span class="screen-reader-text">Why it takes two weeks to climb an Alaskan 14er</span> Read More &#187;</a></p>
677. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/why-it-takes-2-weeks-to-climb-an-alaska-14er/">Why it takes two weeks to climb an Alaskan 14er</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
678. ]]></description>
679. <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <div data-elementor-type="wp-post" data-elementor-id="27716" class="elementor elementor-27716" data-elementor-post-type="post">
680. <section class="elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1d7552bd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default" data-id="1d7552bd" data-element_type="section">
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684. <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-1265caa5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="1265caa5" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default">
685. <div class="elementor-widget-container">
686. <h1>Why it takes two weeks to climb an Alaskan 14er</h1><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Mt.-Rainier-by-Caleb-Riston-1024x683.jpg" alt="Mt Rainier at dawn by Caleb Riston" width="1024" height="683" /></p><h6 style="text-align: center;">No, this is not an Alaskan 14er&#8230;this is Mt Rainier (Tahoma) in WA</h6><h6 style="text-align: center;"> </h6><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aspiring and experienced American mountaineers alike, have all at least heard of, if not summited the great Mt. Rainier of the Pacific Northwest &#8211; a classic climb in a climber’s mountaineering career.</span></p><p>“Mount Rainier, the most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous United States, offers an exciting challenge to the mountaineer. Each year thousands of people successfully climb this 14,410 foot active volcano. There is access to over twenty different climbing routes and ski descents via four main trailheads to approach the mountain…” <br /><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-text-letter-spacing );">&#8211; </span><a style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-text-letter-spacing ); background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/climbing.htm">National Park Service</a></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With roughly 10 miles of travel and more than 9,000’ of elevation gain, the classic route up Rainier takes most climbers about 3 days to approach, ascend, summit, descend, and make their way back to their car. For most there are a few extra days of travel, prep, and logistics but for a well-prepped climber, Rainer could be a weekend trip.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So why does <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/mt-bear-expedition/">Mt. Bear</a> out here in the St. Elias Mountains, a remote peak of similar elevation (14,831’) with an even shorter route take a full 10 days to climb? And an additional 3-5 days of travel and logistics??</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Similar to Rainier, Mt. Bear’s classic route does not require great technicality and is a great training expedition for other, bigger adventures at high elevations. There&#8217;s a reason this spectacular summit sees only about .2% of the traffic than its southerly sister. In short, it’s the Alaska Factor &#8211; a combination of dynamics that makes Mt. Bear a longer but also much wilder climb!</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p><h6 style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/dsc_7308-scaled-1.webp" alt="Mount Bear sceen from the air" width="1024" height="681" /></h6><h6> </h6><h6 style="text-align: center;">Mt. Bear&#8217;s summit rises out of a sea of ice</h6><h2><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong> </strong></span></h2><h2> </h2><h2><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>REMOTENESS</strong></span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first major factor here is the remoteness. Five miles away from the Canadian border and deep in the Alaskan backcountry, Mt. Bear towers over the far Eastern reaches of the vast wilderness of Wrangell &#8211; St. Elias National Park. Staging, prep, and packing all happen in McCarthy, AK, an hour-long bush flight away from the start of the approach. Where’s McCarthy? Oh about 300 mi East of Anchorage- that’s an 8hr drive just to get started! (The common starting point for a Mt. Rainier climb, for contrast, is a trailhead about a 2hr drive from Seattle.)</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Flying bush planes around these mountains is extremely weather-dependent, so drop-offs and pick-ups don’t always happen on a climber’s preferred schedule. Extra itinerary days are built in as a buffer for icy, foggy, or otherwise non-flyable conditions.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And although the remoteness of Mt. Bear adds additional travel time and logistics, it also means that you’re really out there in the wilderness. No other tourists, crowded trails, or camps &#8211; the remoteness means only the most adventurous travelers make it out this way and the brave souls to stand on the summit number under 100.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The remoteness also means that Wrangells climbers are further away from helpful resources like weather stations or rescue resources. With that in mind, climbers need to prep differently and be much more self-sufficient on a Mt. Bear climb. Slower expedition-style climbing with additional redundancies produces better results than the fast-and-light approach when scaling these remote giants.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p><h6 style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Moving-through-a-storm-in-the-St.-Elias-Mountains-1024x768.jpg" alt="Mountaineers pushing through a blizzard and whiteout" width="1024" height="768" /></h6><h6> </h6><h6 style="text-align: center;">Moving through a storm&#8230;not ideal</h6><h6 style="text-align: center;"> </h6><h2> </h2><h2><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>WEATHER</strong></span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The weather in the mountains dictates everything about the climb and as all mountaineers know it can change in a snap. Alaska’s high-altitude summits are big enough to create their own micro weather systems to add to the fray of meteorological factors brought in from the nearby coast, the ocean of other huge mountains all around, and the largest glaciers on the continent.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While sunny weather can delight even the most crusty mountaineer with a t-shirt day at elevation, it can also bring about slushy snow, avalanches, and rather serious sunburn under the nose. Sometimes climbers may opt to climb at night when the snow is firmer &#8211; a tip from Dora Keen’s historic Mt. Blackburn expedition!</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Blizzards with fierce winds and absurd amounts of snowfall are ideally taken on at camp, not on the go. This means that sometimes climbers must wait out several days of a mighty storm before it’s safe to move again.</span></p><p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Guide-Stephen-standing-by-a-buried-tent-1024x768.jpg" alt="Guide Stephen holding a shovel and standing next to a tent burried under snow" width="1024" height="768" /></p><h6 style="text-align: center;">Stephen is ready to dig out his tent</h6><h2> </h2><h2><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>ELEVATION</strong></span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Altitude sickness can hit when your body changes elevation dramatically and isn’t given enough time to acclimatize. Up North in Alaska, because of our high latitudes, the atmosphere is naturally thinner than at the equator, so the effects of altitude are significantly amplified. A changing pressure system can change your body’s perceived elevation even if you haven’t moved up or down the mountain. Climbers in Alaska can experience similar elevation effects to those climbing at higher elevations in the Himalayas or the Andes.</span></p><p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Eli-pulling-a-sled-on-Mt.-Bear-1024x768.jpg" alt="A guide in a red jacket pulls an orange sled on the slopes of Mt. Bear with a n epic mountain backdrop" width="1024" height="768" /></p><h6 style="text-align: center;">The views up high pretty much outweigh your backpack</h6><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />To give ourselves time to properly acclimatize and give us the best chance of a successful summit, we take a “climb high-sleep low approach”. During the day we’ll bring gear up the mountain with us, wanding a route through crevasse fields for the next day. Then we’ll return to our lower camp to sleep and let our bodies adjust to the altitude. This “two steps forward, one step back” technique definitely boosts our success rate but does take some extra time in the field. </span></p><h6><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Expedition-style-climbing-on-Mt.-Bear-1024x768.jpg" alt="Climbers with sleds move through the snow on a rope team into high elevation" width="1024" height="768" /></h6><h6> </h6><h6 style="text-align: center;">Macro navigation is pretty straight-forward on a clear day</h6><h2> </h2><h2><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>WILDERNESS NAVIGATION</strong></span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Being remote and rarely climbed can prove to be a logistical challenge for climbers attempting Mt. Bear, but the wilderness factor also means that there isn’t a lot of good beta, there are no fixed ropes and no one has left a skin track to follow. Mountaineers must navigate heavily glaciated terrain with house-swallowing crevasses and an ever-changing landscape of snow and ice. Fresh tracks are there for those who are bold to go first and step out into the unknown. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although the general route is familiar to us and our waypoints tell of preferred camping areas, each guide must route find this dynamic mountain for their team and no ascent will ever follow the exact same path. A trailless, undeveloped, and raw experience allows us to engage with the wilderness on another level. This makes the journey to the summit a little longer but just as rewarding as the view from the top!</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Climbers-move-through-a-crevasse-field-1024x768.jpg" alt="Climbers on several rope teams move through cracked up glacier with rocky mountains in the distance" width="1024" height="768" /></span></p><h6 style="text-align: center;">&#8220;Micro-navigation&#8221; involves weaving through hundred-foot-wide crevasses</h6><h6 style="text-align: center;"> </h6><div data-wp-editing="1"> </div><div data-wp-editing="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">So now you know what to say when your boss asks you why you need to take 2 weeks off to climb a mountain &#8211; it’s the Alaska Factor!</span></div><div data-wp-editing="1"> </div><div data-wp-editing="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Check out our <a href="/trips/mt-bear-expedition/">Mt. Bear Expedition</a> if you think you&#8217;re ready to take on this grizzly Alaska 14er</span></div> </div>
687. </div>
688. </div>
689. </div>
690. </div>
691. </section>
692. </div>
693. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/why-it-takes-2-weeks-to-climb-an-alaska-14er/">Why it takes two weeks to climb an Alaskan 14er</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
694. ]]></content:encoded>
698. </item>
699. <item>
700. <title>Root Glacier Day Spa Package Trip</title>
701. <link>https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/root-glacier-day-spa-package-trip/</link>
703. <dc:creator><![CDATA[St. Elias Guides]]></dc:creator>
704. <pubDate>Sat, 01 Apr 2023 12:36:47 +0000</pubDate>
705. <category><![CDATA[Spotlight on Adventure]]></category>
706. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.steliasguides.com/?p=26306</guid>
707.  
708. <description><![CDATA[<p>A pleasure-filled day of pampering and relaxation for mind and body. Join us for our latest Day Trip offering, the Full-Day Kennicott Glacier Day Spa Package Trip! &#160; Full-Day Root Glacier Day Spa Package Trip &#160; We&#8217;ve created a special alpine spa package featuring local and uniquely Alaskan treatments sure to delight and leave you &#8230;</p>
709. <p class="read-more"> <a class="" href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/root-glacier-day-spa-package-trip/"> <span class="screen-reader-text">Root Glacier Day Spa Package Trip</span> Read More &#187;</a></p>
710. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/root-glacier-day-spa-package-trip/">Root Glacier Day Spa Package Trip</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
711. ]]></description>
712. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A pleasure-filled day of pampering and relaxation for mind and body. Join us for our latest <a tabindex="-1" href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/alaska-day-hikes-adventures/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Day Trip</a> offering, the Full-Day Kennicott Glacier Day Spa Package Trip!</p>
713. <h1><span id="more-26306"></span></h1>
714. <p>&nbsp;</p>
715. <h2 data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Full-Day Root Glacier Day Spa Package Trip</h2>
716. <p>&nbsp;</p>
717. <p data-wp-editing="1"><span style="font-size: 16px;">We&#8217;ve created a special alpine spa package featuring local and uniquely Alaskan treatments sure to delight and leave you feeling 5 years younger (at least!).</span></p>
718. <div data-wp-editing="1"></div>
719. <div data-wp-editing="1">
720. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-26310 size-large" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/SEAG-Sauna-1024x986.jpg" alt="SEAG sauna" width="1024" height="986" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/SEAG-Sauna-1024x986.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/SEAG-Sauna-300x289.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/SEAG-Sauna-768x739.jpg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/SEAG-Sauna-1536x1478.jpg 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/SEAG-Sauna-2048x1971.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>
721. <p>The day begins at our headquarters in McCarthy where your guide will have our wood-fired dry sauna hot and ready for you. Soak your tired feet in an Epsom salts foot bath featuring fragrant local botanicals. Traditional birch branch bundles are provided for optional full-body deep exfoliation. Sweat out your mosquito bites and emerge, warmed up, cleansed, and refreshed.</p>
722. <p>Hop into our 15-passenger van for a short ride to the glacial lake and its sensational <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cd95UuqxrE">thixotropic mud</a>! Detox with a 20min full-body cool mud bath. Soak and scrub the skin with the rich minerals of ancient glacial silt. Rinse off in the pure, clear waters of the swimming hole to find your skin angel soft and glowing. Towels and robes provided.</p>
723. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-26321 aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Glacial-mud-bath-1024x768.png" alt="Guides play in thixotropic mud" width="1024" height="768" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Glacial-mud-bath-1024x768.png 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Glacial-mud-bath-300x225.png 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Glacial-mud-bath-768x576.png 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Glacial-mud-bath-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Glacial-mud-bath.png 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>
724. <p>Next, we focus on unwinding the mind and nurturing a state of completely relaxed bliss. Once you&#8217;re dry and comfortably seated back in the van, your guide begins a monotone recital of the fascinating local history and your eyes slowly glaze over as you lose yourself in dates and impressive figures. Enjoy a complimentary 20min gluteal and occasional cranial massage from the uneven bumps and rumbles of the historic road on your peaceful drive up to Kennecott.</p>
725. <p>Upon arrival in the abandoned mining town, we&#8217;ll bypass our busy office and head straight to National Creek where we&#8217;ll post up near the babbling stream and just under the 14-story <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/kennecott-mill-town-tour/">Concentration Mill</a>. Here, we&#8217;ll concentrate on the crushing, sorting, and eventually bagging processes that moved high-grade copper oar through the mill so many years ago to reach a deep, meditative trance&#8230;Once full zen is achieved, we&#8217;ll reinvigorate the body with a 2mi hike toward the <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/full-day-root-glacier-hike/">Root Glacier</a>. If you hear a rustling in the bushes, close your eyes and walk toward the noise with open arms for a wonderfully healing self-administered porcupine quill acupuncture treatment.</p>
726. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-26316 aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Alaska-Porcupine-1024x768.jpg" alt="A porcupine in the fall leaves" width="1024" height="768" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Alaska-Porcupine-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Alaska-Porcupine-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Alaska-Porcupine-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Alaska-Porcupine-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Alaska-Porcupine.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>
727. <p>Don crampons and make your way onto the gleaming white ice and strip down to your bare essentials and sunglasses &#8211; remember that even on an overcast day, the sun&#8217;s UV rays are reflected off of the ice and if they are strong enough to potentially blind you, they will certainly get you tan! Lather up in our house-made, organic tanning oil to get the most out of this speed-tan procedure. Explore the beautiful glacial features as your guide leads you to a nearby blue pool &#8211; deep, pristine, and clear. Here, your guide will set you up for your final treatment &#8211; our world-famous, full-body cryogenic glacial pool immersion! Practice deep breathing as your sore muscles scream and tighten from the cold shock, tingle with pins and needles, and eventually become completely numb. Ah, what a feeling! When you&#8217;re ready to get out, your guide will haul you out onto a prepared blue pad and have a steaming cup of hot cocoa ready for you to begin the rewarming process. We recommend &#8220;flushing&#8221; the body through several cycles of cooling and rewarming for maximum benefit!</p>
728. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-26309 size-full aligncenter" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Glacial-Blue-Pool-Jump.jpg" alt="A swimmer in the crystal blue waters of a glacial blue pool" width="1000" height="750" srcset="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Glacial-Blue-Pool-Jump.jpg 1000w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Glacial-Blue-Pool-Jump-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Glacial-Blue-Pool-Jump-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></p>
729. <p>&nbsp;</p>
730. <p>Now that you are fully cleansed, refreshed, and rejuvenated, put your hiking clothes back on and head back to Kennecott. Experience immediate relief and float up the rocky steps of the trail, skipping into town, reinvigorated and inspired for more adventure!</p>
731. <p>Unlimited artisinal glacial water is included in the cost of your trip. Ask us about our popular &#8220;Royal Couples Deluxe Spa Package&#8221; upgrade for sparkling wine, cheese plate, and chocolate-covered strawberries.</p>
732. <p>This trip is a highly recommended supplement to any <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/multi-day-trips/">Multi-Day Adventure</a>.</p>
733. </div>
734. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/root-glacier-day-spa-package-trip/">Root Glacier Day Spa Package Trip</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
735. ]]></content:encoded>
739. </item>
740. <item>
741. <title>Photographer&#8217;s Wrangells Big 8</title>
742. <link>https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/photographers-wrangells-big-8/</link>
744. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Trent Blizzard]]></dc:creator>
745. <pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2023 02:13:54 +0000</pubDate>
746. <category><![CDATA[Tech Tips]]></category>
747. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.steliasguides.com/?p=25290</guid>
748.  
749. <description><![CDATA[<p>It’s easy to see why Alaska captures the hearts and lenses of photographers! Wrangell &#8211; St. Elias National Park in particular has always had a special draw for those fascinated by raw and wild places. Unique landscapes, breathtaking vistas, and surreal wildlife encounters provide endless inspiration to photographers who love the wilderness. Engaging and dynamic, &#8230;</p>
750. <p class="read-more"> <a class="" href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/photographers-wrangells-big-8/"> <span class="screen-reader-text">Photographer&#8217;s Wrangells Big 8</span> Read More &#187;</a></p>
751. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/photographers-wrangells-big-8/">Photographer&#8217;s Wrangells Big 8</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
752. ]]></description>
753. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s easy to see why Alaska captures the hearts and lenses of photographers! Wrangell &#8211; St. Elias National Park in particular has always had a special draw for those fascinated by raw and wild places. Unique landscapes, breathtaking vistas, and surreal wildlife encounters provide endless inspiration to photographers who love the wilderness. Engaging and dynamic, the Wrangells also bring their own set of challenges even to experienced photographers &#8211; wet and wild weather conditions, mountains so big they’re hard to fit them in one shot, or a camouflaged animal, there one minute and gone the next!</span></p>
754. <h1><span id="more-25290"></span></h1>
755. <p>&nbsp;</p>
756. <div data-wp-editing="1">
757. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are our Wrangell &#8211; St. Elias Big 8 &#8211; the top 8 shots that every photographer needs to get while they’re visiting Wrangell &#8211; St. Elias National Park!</span></p>
758. <p><b><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-15458" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/copy-of-blackburn-reflection-md20.webp" alt="Glacier hiker steps over reflective pool with Mt. Blackburn in the background" width="300" height="186" />1. <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/mt-blackburn-expedition/">Mt. Blackburn summit</a></b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &#8211; The epic massif of Mt. Blackburn (16,390’) towers over the Kennicott Glacier valley. The 5th tallest peak in the country, Mt. Blackburn creates its own weather and can often be skirted by clouds. The dedicated photographer will wait for the clearest view of this mountain majesty.</span></p>
759. </div>
760. <p>&nbsp;</p>
761. <p>&nbsp;</p>
762. <p>&nbsp;</p>
763. <div data-wp-editing="1">
764. <p><b><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-15457" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/alaska-bushplane-views.webp" alt="Wrangell and St. Elias Mountains views from Alaskan bush plane" width="300" height="169" /> 2. View from a bush plane</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &#8211; Aerial photography is a skillset of its own, but every photographer can take a try at it on a flightsee of the Park! You’ll be able to fly by terrain you could never access otherwise and be privy to a birds-eye view of some of the biggest geological formations on the globe!</span></p>
765. </div>
766. <p>&nbsp;</p>
767. <p>&nbsp;</p>
768. <p>&nbsp;</p>
769. <div data-wp-editing="1">
770. <p><b><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-15459 alignleft" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/hikers-on-reflective-glacial-silt-pool.webp" alt="Glacier hikers step out onto a reflective pool" width="300" height="225" />3. “Walking on water” on the <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/full-day-root-glacier-hike/">Root Glacier </a></b><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8211; A classic shot you should be able to pull off with a Full Day on the glacier. Ask your guide to help you find the perfect glacial puddle to help you recreate this quintessential shot.</span></p>
771. </div>
772. <p>&nbsp;</p>
773. <p>&nbsp;</p>
774. <p>&nbsp;</p>
775. <p>&nbsp;</p>
776. <p>&nbsp;</p>
777. <div data-wp-editing="1">
778. <p><b><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-15461" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/inside-an-ice-cave.webp" alt="Inside an Alaska ice cave" width="300" height="200" />4. Inside an <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/ice-cave-exploration/">ice cave</a></b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &#8211; Venture deep below the glacier into the blue world of frozen ice. Create optical illusions in the warped ice walls and play around with a headlamp to get your lighting down for the perfect shot.</span></p>
779. </div>
780. <p>&nbsp;</p>
781. <p>&nbsp;</p>
782. <p>&nbsp;</p>
783. <p>&nbsp;</p>
784. <div data-wp-editing="1">
785. <p><b><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-15463" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/moose-scaled-1.webp" alt="Alaskan moose in thick greenery" width="300" height="225" />5. Wildlife</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &#8211; Weather it’s a big animal like a moose or a bear or a smaller critter like a porcupine or hare, you get points either way. Have your camera ready at all times because there is no line between backcountry and front and it’s not uncommon to see wildlife right in town! You’ll want a telescopic lens for goats and sheep that live high up on the cliffs, and you’ll need to train your eye to spot the elusive lynx or camouflaged ptarmigan.</span></p>
786. </div>
787. <p>&nbsp;</p>
788. <p>&nbsp;</p>
789. <p>&nbsp;</p>
790. <p>&nbsp;</p>
791. <div data-wp-editing="1">
792. <p><b><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-15460" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/img_0438-scaled-1.webp" alt="Kennecott Mill Building" width="300" height="225" />6. The Mill Building</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &#8211; Standing tall and proud, the<a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/kennecott-mill-town-tour/"> Concentration Mill of Kennecott</a> is the largest free-standing wooden structure in North America. Rising above the trees, you can see the Mill from almost anywhere in Kennecott, so it’s up to you to get the best view.</span></p>
793. </div>
794. <p>&nbsp;</p>
795. <p>&nbsp;</p>
796. <p>&nbsp;</p>
797. <p>&nbsp;</p>
798. <p>&nbsp;</p>
799. <div data-wp-editing="1">
800. <p><b><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-15462" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/mccarthy-charm.webp" alt="McCarthy charm - an old vehicle in overgrown bushes" width="300" height="225" />7. McCarthy bush-life charm</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &#8211; Capturing the spirit of McCarthy can look a little different depending on the eye of the artist &#8211; for some people, it’s the old vehicles or the antiques-turned-planters that capture the vibe of our little community. For others, it’s the dog pack, running the town and living their best lives.</span></p>
801. </div>
802. <p>&nbsp;</p>
803. <p>&nbsp;</p>
804. <p>&nbsp;</p>
805. <p>&nbsp;</p>
806. <div data-wp-editing="1">
807. <p><b><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-15464" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/northern-lights-1.webp" alt="Norther lights over brushy trees" width="300" height="201" />8. Northern lights</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &#8211; Arguably one of the most challenging shots on the list, the aurora takes a little more effort to document. It only starts getting dark enough at night to see them at the end of August and then you need the forecast to be just right. And when it is, it is an unbelievable and other-worldly sight!</span></p>
808. <p>&nbsp;</p>
809. <p>&nbsp;</p>
810. <p>&nbsp;</p>
811. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Feeling inspired and want to learn more about photography? Join us for our annual <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/backcountry-photography-backpacking-trip/">Backcountry Photography Backpacking Trip</a>!</span></p>
812. </div>
813. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/photographers-wrangells-big-8/">Photographer&#8217;s Wrangells Big 8</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
814. ]]></content:encoded>
818. </item>
819. <item>
820. <title>Trip Report: Mount Bear 2022</title>
821. <link>https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/mount-bear-2022-trip-report/</link>
823. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Trent Blizzard]]></dc:creator>
824. <pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2023 01:35:22 +0000</pubDate>
825. <category><![CDATA[Spotlight on Adventure]]></category>
826. <category><![CDATA[Staff Adventures]]></category>
827. <category><![CDATA[Trip Reports]]></category>
828. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.steliasguides.com/?p=25277</guid>
829.  
830. <description><![CDATA[<p>Mount Bear, Wrangell &#8211; St. Elias National Park, Alaska Written by Tristan McCutcheon &#8211; Mountain Guide and Suffering Enthusiast Photography by guides Jake Rehm, Tristan McCutcheon and Harrison Koontz &#160; The stillness of camp in the early morning. We awoke to a tent filled with sparkling condensation in the morning light. Feeling our efforts from &#8230;</p>
831. <p class="read-more"> <a class="" href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/mount-bear-2022-trip-report/"> <span class="screen-reader-text">Trip Report: Mount Bear 2022</span> Read More &#187;</a></p>
832. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/mount-bear-2022-trip-report/">Trip Report: Mount Bear 2022</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
833. ]]></description>
834. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Mount Bear, Wrangell &#8211; St. Elias National Park, Alaska</h2>
835. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written by Tristan McCutcheon &#8211; Mountain Guide and Suffering Enthusiast<br />
836. Photography by guides <a href="/guides/">Jake Rehm,</a> <a href="/team/tristan/">Tristan McCutcheon</a> and <a href="/guides/">Harrison Koontz</a></span></p>
837. <p>&nbsp;</p>
838. <h6 style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-15450" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/morning-at-camp-scaled-1.webp" alt="Sunrise at a big mountain camp with huge white mountains" width="1024" height="768" />The stillness of camp in the early morning.</h6>
839. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We awoke to a tent filled with sparkling condensation in the morning light. Feeling our efforts from the day prior, movements were initially slow. Every bump and jostle propagated a shower of frost from the tent walls, so we were careful to be delicate as we geared up for the day ahead. Perched at 12,500 feet high on the side of Mount Bear, we were awaiting an opportunity to push for the summit. A brief head poke out the rear vestibule revealed cold and clear conditions, just as the forecast predicted.</span></p>
840. <h2><span id="more-25277"></span></h2>
841. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I was sharing a tent with Harrison, the lead guide on our expedition. We were two of a party of ten, all fellow guides at SEAG, some in the role of guides for this trip, and others there to learn and participate in an epic adventure. Every year, SEAG returning guides have the opportunity to tackle a large summit in our backyard. This spring, we found ourselves on Mount Bear, a surprisingly obscure peak considering it’s the 9th tallest mountain in the country!</span></p>
842. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Located in the Eastern reaches of the Park, just shy of the Canadian border, <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/mt-bear-expedition/">Mount Bear</a> truly defines a remote and isolated setting. Surrounded by the ice-clad summits of the Saint Elias Range, the only evidence of human civilization is the occasional tiny contrail from a commercial jet passing far overhead. At 14,829 feet tall, Mount Bear is big in every way &#8211; a heavily glaciated, high-altitude peak with big mountain weather and the Alaska factor to boot! The non-technical route is perfect for a first Alaskan expedition and the possibility of a 6,000ft ski from the summit makes it a dream <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/trips/chugach-backcountry-ski-expedition/">ski-mountaineering</a> objective.</span></p>
843. <p>&nbsp;</p>
844. <h6 style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-15441 size-large" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/dsc_7308-scaled-1.webp" alt="Mount Bear sceen from the air" width="1024" height="681" />Mt. Bear&#8217;s massif as seen from the air.</h6>
845. <p>&nbsp;</p>
846. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Having spent the prior months pouring over maps of the Mount Bear massif and imagining the awesome ski turns along the way, it was surreal and also a relief to finally start packing food and gear on May 7</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">th</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The day went by quickly, with more experienced guides walking our less experienced compatriots through the whirlwind that is a Pack Day. Moving efficiently, our tent groups packed 11 days of food and fuel, inspected ropes, tents, stoves, sleds, skis, snowshoes etc., and filled personal bags and duffels with the essentials. By the evening, we were packed and ready for our flight with legendary pilot Paul Claus of Ultima Thule Lodge the following morning.</span></p>
847. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The flight was about 45min of continuous mountain glory &#8211; knife-edge ridges splitting the sky, enormous cornices creaking over the edges of thousand-foot faces, endless needles, spines, and spires of snow, ice, and rock. As Paul confidently weaved us through high passes and right up close to all this mountain drama, I took about 100 photos, getting beta for future objectives and trip ideas.</span></p>
848. <p>&nbsp;</p>
849. <h6 style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-15449 size-large" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/views-of-st.-elias-range-scaled-1.webp" alt="Views of mountains from the air" width="1024" height="681" />Views from the plane window.</h6>
850. <p>&nbsp;</p>
851. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our team flew in two flights due to our large number. Arriving with the first group, I quickly got to work preparing for an afternoon of moving. By the time the second flight arrived, ropes were laid out, and sled rigging had begun. Our first afternoon of movement was short, in order to allow our bodies to adjust coming up to 8,800ft from about 1,400ft in McCarthy. After a few hours of getting acquainted with our heavy loads and rope teams, we moved to and pitched Camp 1 around 9,100 feet.</span></p>
852. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> We were climbing in “expedition style”, which means moving up the mountain over multiple camps, caching gear up high up each day, and returning to sleep low. Although a heavier setup, expedition-style climbing allows us to sit out storms and acclimatize progressively, significantly reducing the chances of altitude sickness affecting the climb. In Alaska, the atmosphere is thinner so the effects of altitude are magnified significantly and this can be very serious concern.</span></p>
853. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On day two we awoke to stormy conditions with low visibility. Although frustrating to forgo upward progress in favor of listening to the sound of nylon flapping in the wind, the weather warranted us staying put, and it was another opportunity for acclimatization.</span></p>
854. <p>&nbsp;</p>
855. <h6 style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-15442 size-large" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/snow-camping-in-a-whiteout-scaled-1.webp" alt="Tents and guides in the snow in a whiteout" width="1024" height="768" />The team stretching their legs after some serious tent time.</h6>
856. <p>&nbsp;</p>
857. <p>The following morning, visibility improved and we determined conditions good enough to move. We packed up camp, eager to continue taking bites out of the elephant. Outside of causing discomfort, the cold winds funneling down the glacier did little to hamper our upward progress. With heavy packs and fully laden orange companions (sleds) in tow, we steadily progressed to 10,200 feet for Camp 2.</p>
858. <p>With clear skies overhead once more, it was a great opportunity to soak up our surroundings! To our South, the view was dominated by a foreboding peak crowned with an immense hanging glacier and a debris field that was ample warning to steer clear. Hemmed in by a ridge to our North, our view to the East was filled with glaciers, peaks, and icefalls. To the West, our route continued to wind up the mountain through a heavily crevassed slope. To be the only party present in such an awe-inspiring environment truly felt like a privilege. No other ski tracks, camps, or fellow mountaineers in sight, not a single foot of rope fixed on our route, and no lines to wait in at the summit.</p>
859. <p>&nbsp;</p>
860. <h6 style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-15444 size-large" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/hanging-glacier-scaled-1.webp" alt="Tent in front of hanging glacier in Alaska" width="1024" height="768" />The cook tent in the foreground with an immense hanging glacier catching sunlight behind.</h6>
861. <p>&nbsp;</p>
862. <p>After breaking down camp the following day, we buried some gear at Camp 2 for later and continued up the mountain. Our plan was to end up at 12,500 feet, within striking distance of the summit. It was steep and more technical here but we hauled our sleds up with 4 days of food and fuel to maximize our opportunity for a summit bid. A full day of enjoyable route finding with one unplanned detour through some crevasses brought us to Camp 3. Unyielding loads, increasing altitude, and days of cumulative hard work were starting to take their toll, but everyone did their part to set up camp without complaint.</p>
863. <p>&nbsp;</p>
864. <h6 style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-15445 size-large" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/moving-from-10-12-scaled-1.webp" alt="Rope teams of guides with sleds move through sastrugi" width="1024" height="768" />All three rope teams on the move between camps two and three. About 20mi away from us, Mount Bona, Churchill, and University tower over the other summits.</h6>
865. <p>&nbsp;</p>
866. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To our delight, an evening weather check-in with our home base revealed a full day of good weather to follow, the perfect opportunity to try for the summit! We arrived at camp relatively late in the evening but still planned a wake-up time of 4:30 am for the next morning to maximize our chances of success. With the summit in reach and clear weather predicted, excitement was too high for a good REM cycle anyways.</span></p>
867. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Emerging from our tents to temperatures hovering around -15°f, the mood was subdued, to say the least. Down was in abundance, and fingers were clumsy and stiff. At those temperatures, even stoves have a hard time coping. For our summit bid, we planned to leave camp pitched, with each rope team carrying a single sleep system and a stove for emergencies. With breakfast complete and bags packed, our rope teams lined up, eager to depart before our toes and fingers started to go numb. Moving in our down parkas in the shade of the upper mountain, I added leg swings and lunges into my shuffling gait, doing my best to maintain feeling in my lower extremities.</span></p>
868. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the base of a short headwall, we switched from skinning to crampons. Some team members opted to ditch skis to save weight, as the snow we had seen most of the trip was very wind-affected or “sastrugi” and didn’t inspire everyone. Wanting to make turns from the summit, my skis remained A-framed on my pack. Climbing over a mellow ridge and descending a short slope, we found ourselves on a glacier leading to the summit plateau. One of our three rope teams had paused to rewarm a team member having issues with cold digits, but they were once more on the move slightly behind our two lead teams.</span></p>
869. <p>&nbsp;</p>
870. <h6 style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-15446 size-large" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/short-break-scaled-1.webp" alt="Two rope teams catching a quick break on the final push to the summit" width="1024" height="768" />Two rope teams catching a quick break on the final push to the summit!</h6>
871. <p>&nbsp;</p>
872. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stomping our crampons into the neve, we ascended the last few steps to what we perceived as the summit and emotions began to well up to the surface. How lucky to be allowed passage to the summit by Mount Bear, and in conditions that could not be clearer! This was my third attempt at a large mountain objective in the Wrangell and St. Elias Ranges and to achieve what I perceived as success after so much hard work, suffering, and sacrifice was an incredible feeling!</span></p>
873. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, anticlimax was soon to follow, as the high point on the map was clearly not the highest point on the mountain anymore. With glaciated peaks, high points move around with heavy precipitation and the moving ice, so we spent the next twenty minutes tramping about attempting to find the actual highest point. Finally picking our spot, we soaked up the pleasant weather and reveled in our achievement. The views from high on a remote Alaskan summit and the company I was with couldn’t have been more inspiring!</span></p>
874. <p>&nbsp;</p>
875. <h6 style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-15447 size-large" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/summit_photo-scaled-1.webp" alt="Six guides stand on the summit of Mount Bear in Alaska" width="1024" height="768" />Summit Photo captured by Harrison’s extra-long arm!</h6>
876. <p>&nbsp;</p>
877. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Four of our group of ten had opted to carry their skis to the summit. Preparing for the way down, we coiled our rope, ripped our skins, and clicked in. Our three fellow guides on rope team two began their own descent to be reunited with their skis, which were stashed lower on the mountain. Outside of walking 50 vertical feet of sastrugi, we were able to link 2000ft of turns from the summit of the 9th highest peak in the US!</span></p>
878. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Careful not to fall into a state of complacency, we understood that the summit had only been our halfway point. On the descent back to camp, we passed our third rope team, all of whom were in good spirits on their way to the top. We noticed some weather quickly moving in so we kept an eye on it and before descending the headwall, and Harrison made contact with group three via radio &#8211; they were near the summit! With seven of us back in camp, we awaited the return of our third team as visibility came in and out. At 6:30pm they finally returned, elated by their experience of a successful summit and a just-in-time descent!</span></p>
879. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We spent Day 6 of our trip descending from Camp 3 to the Landing Zone (LZ). At around 11,000 feet, we were able to point our sleds towards our cache at Camp 2 and release them to the fall line, an incredibly cathartic experience having hauled them 4,000ft up the mountain! Arriving at the LZ without incident, we spent the next two days waiting for the weather to clear for a pickup.</span></p>
880. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While a little claustrophobic in the tent, those 48 hours provided ample time for reflection. Expeditionary climbing is a difficult activity to label. While undoubtedly a team sport, the rope joining you to your partners represents a life and death bond, it is also an incredibly personal act. The intensity of the experience and challenges of such a wild and hostile environment reveal a lot about personal character and distill the important things in our increasingly complex and cluttered lives. To have the opportunity to experience discomfort, problem-solve, and ultimately succeed in our goal, while being the only 10 people on the mountain, is something I will never forget and will always cherish.</span></p>
881. <p>&nbsp;</p>
882. <h6 style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-15448 size-large" src="https://www.steliasguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/waiting_for_pickup_with_bear_in_the_background-scaled-1.webp" alt="Guides waiting for pick up with Mount Bear in the background" width="1024" height="768" />Guides waiting for pickup with Mount Bear in the background.</h6>
883. <p>&nbsp;</p>
884. <p>&nbsp;</p>
885. <div data-wp-editing="1">
886. <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Inspired by the tale? Check out our <a href="/trips/mt-bear-expedition/">Mt. Bear Expedition</a>! </span><a href="/contact-us/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Get in touch</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with any questions &#8211; we can’t wait to see you in the Wrangells this summer and are happy to help you get out here by answering any questions you have!</span></p>
887. </div>
888. <p>The post <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com/blog/mount-bear-2022-trip-report/">Trip Report: Mount Bear 2022</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.steliasguides.com">St. Elias Guides</a>.</p>
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