Preparation... 4 days and counting....
For those of you that don't know yet, I've taken a job as a driver and leader for a tour company, Midnight Sun Tours, based out of Victoria for the summer. The company specializes in "Soft Adventure Tourism" in the Rockies, Yukon, Alaska, and on Vancouver Island. I have been posted to Alaska for the summer and begin MY adventure June 9. Our goal is to get people out into parks and protected areas to experience nature. To do this, we spend as much time out of cities and in parks- hiking, kayaking, camping. Most accomadation will be in tents that are carried in the 15 passenger van- with most tours carrying 11 people plus me. For those of you wanting more info on the company, you can check it out at www.midnightsuntravel.com I will be updating this page as often as I can while on the road. Ill tell you about my trip and hope to read some comments from you about your lives. I'll be posting pictures on this site as well, so check back often.
My first 20 days (aside from my travel time) will be on a training trip with a senior guide, Brian. I will be picking him up in Prince George. I wont bore you with the trip details of my training trip now, instead I will provide you with My tour itinerary. I will be conducting three 20 day Alaska Circle tours over the summer starting in Anchorage on July 11.
Anchorage, AK return
Day 1 & 2: Anchorage, AK. (day trip to Girdwood) Airport pick-up and check into hotel. The tour leader will take the group on a city tour of Anchorage including, Ship Creek, Lake Hood and Cook Inlet lookout. In the evening there is a group presentation and tour orientation. On Day 2 we travel to the historic village of Girdwood where we board a tramway to that takes us 2300 feet above the valley floor where we have fantastic views of the rugged Chugach Range. Upon our return from the mountain top we visit the Big Game Alaska Wildlife Centre where we can photograph and learn about Alaskan wildlife, the park and the history of the Portage Valley area. We return to Anchorage in the late afternoon. Later in the evening the group has the opportunity to sample some Alaskan nightlife at "Chilkoot Charlies"
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 3, 4 & 5: Denali National Park, AK. Denali National Park & Preserve features North America's highest mountain, 20,320-foot tall Mount McKinley. The Alaska Range also includes countless other spectacular mountains and many large glaciers. Denali's more than 6 million acres also encompass a complete sub-arctic eco-system with large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep, and moose. Upon arrival in the park your tour leader orientates the group to the park area. On Day 4 we take the entire day to explore the vastness and true wilderness of Denali National Park (bus tickets into the park are included). On Day 5 travellers have the option to go white water rafting on one of the areas great rivers such as Nennana or take glacier flights to Mount McKinley.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 6 & 7: Valdez, AK. Valdez is located on the north shore of Port Valdez, a deepwater fjord in Prince William Sound. It is the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline. The Richardson Highway, Alaska's first road, passes through the magnificent scenery of the Chugach Mountains. On route we visit Keystone Canyon. On Day 7 travellers have the opportunity to do a cruise out into Prince William Sound or to try some great sea kayaking among the glaciers and "iceberg bits" known as "burgies".
Accommodation: Camping
Day 8, 9 & 10: McCarthy, AK. We reach the town of McCarthy via a gravel road that was once an old railway bed. Along route we make a number of picture stops including the abandoned super structures of railway bridges. After we set up camp we head out to explore the village of McCarthy. On Day 9 travellers have the option to go for a guided glacier ice-walk on the Root Glacier. The more adventurous may want to try ice climbing. On Day 10 we explore the old copper mine of Kennicott and go for a hike on one of the numerous trails in the Wrangell-St.Elias Preserve. Grizzly bears are often seen in this area.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 11: Tok, AK. Today we travel from McCarthy to Tok.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 12, 13 & 14: Dawson City, YT. After the descent from the Top of the World Highway we reach the Klondike gold rush boomtown of Dawson City. Our camp overlooks the Yukon River and Dawson City. In Dawson City passengers have the option to visit the abandoned Gold Dredge #4, pan for gold and enjoy the nightlife at Diamond Tooth Gertie's Gambling Saloon. Free time is given to explore local hiking trails, a sternwheeler graveyard, the Palace Grand Hotel, Gaslight Follies and the Klondike Goldrush Museum.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 15 & 16: Whitehorse, YT. We leave Dawson City to make our way south to Whitehorse. At Moose Creek Lodge, an original roadhouse built during the gold rush years, we visit an authentic trapper's cabin. We also stop at Five Finger Rapids for a short hike down to the Yukon River, where dangerous rapids made it difficult for the sternwheelers to plough the waters. On Day 16 travellers are given free time to explore the town of Whitehorse. Optional activities include a tour of SS Klondike or sunset horseback riding.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 17, 18 & 19: Kluane, YT. Kluane National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is home to Canada's highest peak, Mount Logan, and the most extensive polar icefield in the world. On Day 18 we make our way to the Sheep Mountain trailhead. Here your tour leader will lead you on a day hike up Sheep Mountain, which provides great views of the area and is often a place for spotting wildlife such as Dall Sheep and Grizzly Bears. On Day 19 travellers have the option to go on glacier flights, go whitewater rafting or do some trout fishing on Kluane Lake.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 20: Anchorage Airport via shuttle from Beaver Creek Overnight in Anchorage, AK. We make our way to Beaver Creek and transfer to a coach to drive back to Anchorage. The bus will drop the group off at a hotel in Anchorage. The group will be on their own for the last evening of the tour, but group dinner arrangements can be made by our office.
Please note that the group will be unaccompanied by our tour leader for the shuttle to the hotel and airport the next day.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 21: Fly out. A reserved shuttle bus will take the group from the hotel lobby to the airport in Anchorage
So that's my summer in a nutshell. From June 9 until September 14 I will only have one official day off... I know, Im a glutton for punishment, but, after all, I do get a total of FOUR all expense paid vacations of the Yukon and Alaska.
Hope to be cyber chatting with you all soon!
Dave
