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Share the feeling of discovery and adventure
Referring to any backcountry trek in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park as remote is in some ways redundant. The entire park is one of the most remote in the National Park system. Most trekking routes here require fly-in access from the bush community of McCarthy and just getting to McCarthy can be an adventure in itself. But even by St. Elias standards this route is off the beaten track and travels through country so wild that it defines remote wilderness in Alaska. The journey begins on Mt. Wrangell plateau which offers stunning views of Mt. Drum, Mt. Wrangell and Mt. Blackburn.
We start with an easy day on the plateau and stick around for the night in the hopes of capturing some sunset photos as the last rays rake across the peaks.
The next day our adventure begins in earnest as we make our way down the steep edge of the plateau and out across Long Glacier. Obviously there are no trails on the ice, but also no trails on the entire 8 day trek. In Alaska we have to find our own way.
Soak Up the Views from High Mountain Passes
Over the next 8 days our route takes us up and over three high passes, each offering fantastic views of the Wrangell range. None of these passes have names that appear on any map. Our first pass requires some hard work as we take a sloping traverse up to the top. The last bit requires attention to footing at times but the view looking back makes it worth the effort.
After a mostly pleasant hike down Fall Creek we come to one of our first real challenges – a steep descent down a brush choked slope. When we finally arrive at the banks of the Kluvesna River we’ll be more than ready for a well earned break. The route up the second pass seems never to end as we huff and puff our way tot he top. But end it does and what a view! From this lofty pass above Surprise Creek we can still see massive Mt. Wrangell behind us and mighty Blackburn in the other direction beckoning us onward. We’ll camp at this pass to enjoy the views in every direction.
But it’s not all bushwhacking and steep slopes. The hike along the Kluvesna River is a very pleasant hike over fairly easy terrain. Later in the summer the Dryas is all fluffed out along the gravel bars lining the river. Our riverside campsite offers the opportunity for something that is rare in Alaska - a campfire. Usually we’re above tree-line but at our river campsites we are down among the spruce and aspen. And so the journey goes as we make our way through untouched wilderness for 8 days of never to be forgotten adventure. We conclude our trek at Nugget Creek and spend the night in the relative comfort of an old mining cabin before flying out the next day.
Challenges on this trip include river crossings, route finding and some serious bushwhacking. This is not a trek for the timid. But the reward for all the hard work is the opportunity to experience ruggedly beautiful country that few have ever seen.
As of 2009, this route has only been completed by several small groups. So this is not dialled-in adventure where the guide knows every twist and turn – this is a journey where you will share the sense of exploration.
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