Alsek River; Rafting Expedition
The Grand Canyon of the North
Many river running professionals list the Alsek River as World Class. From the big drop at "Lava North," to the class-5 helicopter portage at Turnback Canyon, this river expedition leaves a lasting impression of the ruggedness of the north. Experience the largest contiguous protected park in the world...Kluane Nat'l Park, B.C. Tat Alsek Provincial Park, and Glacier Bay National Park. Check out the map A rainbow lands in Dry Bay Photo: Bart Henderson |
The Alsek River Rafting Experience
The Alsek and Tatshenshini Rivers pour out of the Canadian interior to the Gulf of Alaska. They follow though two of the world’s most spectacular national parks, Kluane Park in Canada, and the Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska. Following the paths of ancient glaciers, the river carrys us into the heart of the world’s largest non polar ice fields. It is a place still caught in the clutch of the last ice age, a place where the awesome forces of glaciation are still at work. It is one of the world’s most beautiful alpine regions.Today, most of the glaciers of the Alsek valley are retreating. In their wake has sprung a wide variety of life. Wild flowers bloom all summer, berries carpet the hillsides and mushrooms abound in the forests of alder, birch, evergreens, and cottonwood. On the steep hillsides, mountain goat and dall sheep feed on lush grass. Brown bear, wolves, lynx, wolverine, and black bear flourish in the pristine valley. Moose, ducks, geese, and swans, share marshes and ponds. Eagles, falcons, and a variety of hawks, soar in search of small prey. Kingfishers, jeagers, and arctic terns hover and dive for fingerlings in the river. Salmon battle the swift current of the river to return to the same spawning grounds in which they were born.
The trips reach their full crescendo at Alsek Lake, where the Grand Plateau and Alsek Glaciers create a face of ice nearly 8 miles wide, encircling a deep lake filled with huge icebergs. To see a massive piece of the glacier break off and thunder into the lake is one of those sights you will never forget. To top it all off, towering 15,000 feet above our camp, is the ice capped summit of Mt. Fairweather, the crown jewel of the Alaska coast.
 High above the Walker Glacier Photo: Bart Henderson |
ALSEK RIVER RAFTING TRIP ITINERARY
This is an abridged version, view full itinerary hereDay 1-4
Our Alsek River adventure begins in Haines Alaska, a small town located 100 miles north of Juneau on the Lynn Canal. From Haines, we will drive 165 miles to Haines Junction in Canada's Yukon territory the drive follows the Chilkat River, home of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, the drive then climbs out of the coastal valley into the high alpine region, a wonderland of wild flowers, glaciers and incredible vistas. We will arrange hotel accommodations in Haines Junction.
Day 5-11
From the Lowell Glacier we will wind our way downstream, through deep canyons with steep mountains on either side. There are several large rapids to negotiate and we will stop to scout several of them to be sure we pick the safest way through their rolling waves and crashing holes. On the eighth day we will arrive at the largest of all the glaciers on the trip, the Tweedsmuir.
Day 12-13
On the river again, more glaciers, at one point you can count over twenty glaciers in a spectacular panorama. The Alsek and Grand Plateau Glaciers come together at the river to form an eight mile wide face of ice arcing around a beautiful blue lake filled with icebergs, the largest found anywhere in Glacier Bay Park.
