Summary

Backpacking Alaska's Turquoise Glacier High Route

Prices From	USD$ $3,450.00
1st Departure	06.25.2009
Provider	Alaska Alpine Adventures
Destination	Alaska
Duration	10 days
Challenge	Difficult
Avg Rating	Not Rated

We pioneered this route in 2006 and found it to be perhaps Alaska's most quintessential backpacking traverse. In addition the magical solitude and intimate beauty of Lake Clark National Park, this journey also gives a comprehensive introduction to Alaska backcountry travel - float plane only access, wide open tundra ridge hiking, icy river crossings, trekking on glaciers, and navigating through trail-less wilderness. The route meanders southward through alpine regions of the Lake Clark Wilderness; from Telaquana Lake, past the rugged splendor of Turquoise Lake, and 10-days later to a finish at Dick Proenneke's log cabin on Twin Lakes.

Our route will allow us to connect three of Lake Clark National Park's most spectacular watersheds - Telaquana Lake, Turquoise Lake, and the famed Twin Lakes. This backpacking trip will take us up and over glaciers, through spectacularly vertical canyons, past huge waterfalls, and across some of the most stunning alpine tundra in Alaska.

If you dream of hiking through remote mountain ranges on ribbons of ice, connecting high alpine valleys laced with tumbling creeks, and trekking across miles of trail-less tundra, then this adventure will satisfy your yearning. This 10-day backpacking and hiking trip will take us from the remote Telaquana Lake, around the Trail Creek highlands, beneath the glaciated 8000' Telaquana Mountain, under the hanging glaciers surrounding Turquoise Lake, through the tundra of the Emerson Creek valley, and finally to Twin Lakes and our float plane pick-up at Hope Creek near Dick Proenneke's log cabin.

While the mountains present to us exciting route-finding challenges, the tundra allows the opportunity to hike easily and glass the horizons for Dall sheep, grizzly bears, caribou, moose, migratory foul, and birds of prey.

Itinerary

Day 1

Fly from Anchorage through the stunning Lake Clark Pass to Port Alsworth (on Lake Clark). Meet your guides, and check into a lakeside cabin at our comfortable lodge. Sfter dinner, we'll have anorientation and equipment check.

Day 2

A hearty breakfast followed by early AM float plane flight to Telaquana Lake. Hoist packs and begin backpacking to our first camp in the tundra carpeted headwaters of Trail Creek.

Day 3

We’ll spend the next 7 full days moving from Trail Creek (our first camp) to Twin Lakes. We’ll likely have at least 2 layover days during which we’ll explore glaciers and valleys with light day packs. On the afternoon of day 9, after setting up our final camp at Hope Creek, we’ll pay a visit to Dick Proenneke’s log cabin.

Day 10

After a leisurely morning, we’ll pack up our gear, and wait on the beach of Twin Lakes for our float plane. We’ll return to Port Alsworth by noon, enjoy lunch, and pay a final visit to the Lake Clark National Park visitor center. You’ll then be whisked through Lake Clark Pass by airplane and can expect to be back in Anchorage by 6pm at the latest. Please schedule all homebound flights for after 8pm.

Gear List

Alpine Backpacking Gear List



Backpack - 4500 cu. Inches or larger



Waterproof Pack Cover



Water Bottle - Wide mouth Nalgene water bottle



Hiking Boots - Quality medium/heavy duty boots



* It is very critical that you break in your boots BEFORE you arrive, as traveling with blisters is a painful way to enjoy Alaska!



Waterproof Gaiters - They keep the brush and moisture out of your boots



Core Clothing:



Raingear - Gore-Tex or similar quality waterproof/breathable jacket & pants



Layers



1 Mid-weight long sleeve synthetic top



1 Mid-wieght synthetic bottom



1 pair synthetic hiking pants



1 pair lightweight synthetic shorts



Convertible hiking pant/shorts O.K.



The Extremities:



2 pair synthetic liner socks



4 pair synthetic/wool mid-weight socks



1 warm hat synthetic/wool



1 billed hat



Mosquito Head Net



Fleece or wool gloves



Sunglasses



Around Camp:



Sleeping Bag - Synthetic or Down sleeping bag rated to 30°F



Sleeping Pad - Closed cell foam (Ridgerest) or self-inflating type mattress ( Therm-A-Rest)



Camp Chair - Crazy-Creek style soft, folding camp chair or Therma-Rester Ultimate chair kit to fit self inflating mattress



Headlamp - For trips departing after August 1



Extra Layers



Expedition weight synthetic top



Expedition weight synthetic bottoms



Fleece or synthetic fill jacket



Camp Shoes - Light weight Crocs or sport sandals (for around camp and crossing streams and rivers



Personal Effects:



Toiletries



Personal medications



Sun Screen/Lip Protection



Book/Reading Materials



Camera/Film



Journal and pen



Binoculars



Other Recommended Items:



Light weight synthetic glove liners



Bandana



2 Carabiner(s) (For clipping clothes/footwear - see:Sandals post water crossing - to a pack)



Gore-Tex Socks (Protect your weary feet from marauding insects)

Travel Information

Is This Trip For You? Level 3: Physical conditioning and consistent exercise prior to these trips is mandatory. These are expedition-style treks and you will be expected carry a backpack weighing roughly one third of your body weight (but no heavier than 60 pounds) over mountainous and inconsistent terrain for many days. Previous backpacking experience may be required. Pre-trip physical conditioning should begin no later than 3 months prior to departure and must include hiking or walking with at least 45 lbs. in your backpack. Food Our Food: For ten years Alaska Alpine Adventures has worked to perfect wilderness cuisine. Instead of the usual camp fare, we’ve created some of the most original recipes you’ll ever eat around the campfire. The healthy, flavorful, filling, and nutritious meals we serve always pleasantly surprise our clients. After a day in the backcountry, sit back in your camp chair and enjoy steaming chicken satay over a bed of udon noodles followed by a homemade coffee toffee brownie. Start the morning with a chorizo-scramble breakfast burrito or a stack of hot blueberry flapjacks. Wherever you go and whatever you do, we’re committed to fueling you up for your Alaska Alpine Adventure in the tastiest way possible. Guide(s) Our Guides: It takes a talented individual to be able to lead an Alaska expedition, and our lead guides are true outdoor multi-sport professionals. We hand-select each guide based on their ability to deliver an unparalleled level of customer service, a strong wilderness skill set and background, and an insatiable passion for Alaska’s wild spaces. Each is medically certified as a Wilderness First Responder and carries the necessary qualifications to competently backpack, hike, kayak, canoe, and climb throughout Alaska’s vast wilderness. Transportation Getting to Anchorage or Fairbanks* is a snap. Alaska Airlines, your travel agent, or the carrier of your choice can easily arrange roundtrip airfare from the lower 48. All of our adventures include internal flights and transportation beyond these originating cities. Once you land in Anchorage or Fairbanks, your adventure really begins. For our wilderness-based trips, you’ll find that the areas we visit won’t be found on any road map; our there aren’t any roads! Access to these areas is limited to air travel. When flying within Alaska, be sure to have your camera ready, as all of our flights provide passage into and over vast and magnificent wilderness. Call us for details. *Fairbanks is the originating city for our trips into Gates of the Arctic National Park, The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. All other trips originate in Anchorage.