Alsek River Expedition by Raft

World's Largest Bio Preserve and Dramatic Alpine Splendour

Renowned for large rapids, dramatic mountain valleys and glaciers, the Alsek is a wilderness treasure. The Alsek is extraordinarily different from the Tatshenshini which is only "one valley over". Glaciers, icebergs, wildlife, canyons and a helicopter portage around Turnback Canyon add to the adventure.

Rendezvous point: Whitehorse Yukon

Route Description: Coast Range River - Serpentine Creek, Kluane National Park, Yukon to Dry Bay, Alaska, 11 river days: 255 km (160 miles) with an approximate elevation drop of 555 m (approx. 1,800 ft). Region: Yukon, BC, Alaska

Craft Description: Raft.                                       Photo Credit:  Bruce Kirby

Prerequisite:
Our expedition rafts accommodate beginners. Experienced paddlers and beginners are welcome to participate by paddling. The guides are able to navigate by oars, so paddling is optional most of the time.

The following is a tentative itinerary and has been designed with much thought to capitalize on the most scenic and exciting parts of the river, while making time on other sections. Your guides will adjust the schedule to make the best use of river and weather conditions.

Day 1:  This is the arrival day and is the first day listed for your trip. Although it is not a river day, we list it as Day 1 to be consistent with our other scheduled trips. The scheduled flights arrive in Whitehorse throughout the day. Be sure you arrive by 6 p.m. The guides will be out of town at the river, rigging the rafts. Please make your way to your hotel and plan to rendezvous with your guides in the lobby of the Yukon Inn at 8 p.m. for an orientation meeting. There will be a chance for last-minute questions concerning clothing, gear, packing and other details. Whitehorse is a great place to spend a few extra days and there are local day hikes, goldpanning float trips through Miles Canyon and 4X4 outings in the region.

Day 2:  We will meet in the hotel lobby at 8 am following breakfast (not covered) and we will embark on the Alaska Highway. Along the way we will visit the Kluane National Park Interpretive Centre. (The bakery across the road is legendary for its goodies so keep your wallet handy.) We then drive a short distance to the Dezadeash River bridge, where the guides have already rigged the rafts and prepared a lunch.

With time to make final adjustments to your pack, the guides will introduce you to the finer points of the day's journey. Here on the edge of Kluane National Park you embark on a gentle piece of river, winding through the broad valley, as it flows into Alsek Pass. This region can be prone to strong upstream winds so camp location will be determined by the prevailing conditions. Keen eyes may spot Dall sheep and mountain goats grazing on the slopes.

Days 3 and 4:  Embarking early in the morning we will find that the river is very slow moving for the first few miles, but after the confluence with the swift Kaskawulsh River, the resulting swift moving river is named Alsek. A hike from the river yields a dramatic view and the evidence of recently spectacular historic geological events in the valley. In the late half of the 1800's the Alsek was entirely bridged by a sudden movement of the Lowell glacier. The resulting lake backed up over an area of hundreds of square miles, even flooding the current townsite of Haines Junction. The ice dam remained for a few years until it was finally broached by the river and in a cataclysmic event the valley below was flushed by a flow of gargantuan proportion. Native history tells of coastal villages that were decimated by the floodwaters. When we travel the river today we see scarring and other effluvial remains that tell the story of the monstrous hydrological event. If we watch the shoreline closely we may be rewarded with views of grizzlies and camp will afford a spectacular view of the valley.

Days 5 and 6:  The river continues to gain volume and speed and brings us to another visual treat. Camp will be on Lowell lake where we will see Lowell Glacier - the first of the many glaciers that come right down to the river. The face of the glacier actively "calves" huge bergs of ice into the lake with thunderous roars. Camping here for two nights we take the opportunity to hike up Goat Heard Mountain for panoramic views of the ice fields including some of the tallest peaks of the St Elias Range - Kennedy, Alverstone and Hubbard. Of course mountain goats, Dall sheep and other flora and fauna vie for our attention.
 
Days 7 and 8:  After crossing Lowell Lake the mountains crowd inward leaving narrow canyons. The water rushes through with several distinct rapids and an ever changing vista. There is never a dull moment for the next few days and in several spots we will stop to scout rapids and some may elect to walk around while the guides run the rafts through. As we approach Turnback Canyon we are confronted by the Tweedsmuir, the largest of all the glaciers on the trip. Acting like a huge funnel, it forces the river into a narrow confine crowding it into a deep gorge which is the actual canyon. Downstream the river plunges through a ten mile series of horrendous rapids. Though it has been kayaked several times, it is still considered to be unsafe for rafts. Camp is above Turnback Canyon, at the foot of the glacier.

Days 9 and 10:  The never ending drama of the trip continues to unfold as a helicopter arrives at our camp to begin ferrying us, and our equipment around Turnback canyon. On the short flight we are afforded a great view of the area and the famous rapids that few have seen. On the other side of the Canyon we will inflate and re- rig the boats and continue downstream a distance. The following day we pass the Vern Ritchie and Battle Glaciers, and camp at the confluence of the Tatshenshini and Alsek Rivers. At this point the two rivers swell to stretch nearly three miles wide, surging through braided channels that criss-cross the valley. The resulting union bears the name Alsek River and soon enters the State of Alaska and Glacier Bay National Park.

Day 11: On a giant bend that can be seen from space, we are encircled by peaks in a stunning amphitheater of glacial ice and rock. From this point we view the crystal blue hues of Walker Glacier, a place where we actually hike on the surface of this ancient ice and experience the unique environment of deep crevasses and jagged seracs and ice falls. Camp will be downstream in a campsite surrounded by lush wild flowers.

Day 12: Floating downstream we have a view of more than 20 glaciers as we make our way down to the place where the Alsek and Grand Plateau Glaciers come together at the river to form an eight mile wide face of ice. We camp at Alsek Lake which was formed by the gouging action of the glaciers resulting in the largest lake found anywhere in Glacier Bay Park. The only thing breaking the mystical spell of the iceberg filled lake with the mountain backdrop is the frequent explosive crescendos of calving glaciers spawning multi ton icebergs. Overseeing the phenomenon is Mt. Fairweather whose ice clad summit soars over 15,000 feet above our camp. Enjoying and exploring the lake is a delight to all of the senses.

Day 13: The final leg of our memorable trip is from Alsek Lake to Dry Bay on the Gulf of Alaska. At the tiny commercial fishing enclave we are met by small charter planes for the flight back to Whitehorse with a plane load of memories. The Alsek now passes through a transition from the tallest peaks on the continent to the broad flat Pacific coastline. In this valley we have a vertical distance of over 15,000 feet between us and the highest peaks, an overall elevation difference greater than that of the Himalayas. In all but the worst weather, the aircraft will pick us up and fly us back through the Coast and St. Elias ranges to Whitehorse. Following showers, the group may want to gather at a local eating establishment (not included). Whitehorse is a lively town and it will not be difficult to find a way to enjoy the evening!

Day 14: After goodbyes and a last look around Whitehorse, it is departure time.