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Experience Denali’s wilderness up-close on a week-long backpacking tour of the legendary Whale’s Tail! Join your experienced guide for a 20-30 mile (30-50 km) journey across Alaska’s towering mountains and massive glaciers and spend your days traversing epic ridgelines, summiting peaks, and marveling at the wildlife. Re-energize with delicious food, enjoy the serene atmosphere and make memories with fellow adventurers!
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Arrive in Anchorage and check into your lakeside hotel anytime before 5 pm. Meet your guide to talk about your upcoming adventure, share goals for the trip, go over the gear, and enjoy a tasty dinner.
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After a filling breakfast, head over to the Lake Hood Seaplane Base. Experience Alaska’s stunning wilderness from the sky, before landing on a small lake tucked in the path of a receding glacier. Unload your gear on the beach, say goodbye to your pilots, and take in the silence and remoteness of the place! Set up camp and enjoy a good night’s sleep under the stars.
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Get ready for 4 days of hiking Denali’s magnificent Whale’s Tail! You’ll be wandering through high alpine meadows, climbing small peaks, crossing glaciers, spotting moose and bears, and marveling at the persistent alpenglow dance across the snowy Alaska Range. And when you’ve had your fill of walking, head back to the camp to tell stories, eat delicious meals, and connect with fellow adventurers.
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Spend your final morning in the backcountry relishing the memories, soaking in the atmosphere, and reflecting on your Denali experience. The floatplane will pick you up early in the morning. Enjoy a final flight over the majestic Ruth Gorge and Tokosha Mountains before returning to Anchorage and saying your goodbyes.
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Included:
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- A Whale’s Tail backpacking tour guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- 8 days of backpacking
- Accommodations in Talkeetna on Day 7
- Tents — your guides can equip you with tents free of charge
- All air and ground transportation for the duration of the tour
- All breakfasts and dinners in the field
- Denali National Park entrance fees
- All group supplies (cooking equipment, water treatment options, group shelters, bear canisters, toilet supplies, emergency communication devices, maps, GPS, first aid kit)
Not included:
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- Flights to Alaska and travel to Talkeetna
- In-town meals
- Airport transfers
- Personal gear (backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, layers, rain gear, personal bowl, personal eating utensils, headlamp, personal toiletries)
- Lunches and snacks
- Travel and medical insurance — recommended
- Guide gratuities — optional, 10-20% of the trip cost recommended
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Backpacking trip on Whale’s Tail can be quite challenging. You’ll be hiking 4-7 miles (6-11 km) per day off-trail across scree slopes, over mountain passes, and through the occasional thick Alaskan Alder, all while carrying a loaded backpack. That said, if you have previous backpacking experience and are in good physical shape, you’ll do fine. Keep in mind that you’ll also be expected to manage your pack, set up and break down your own tent, and carry a portion of the group equipment.
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
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- Backpack large enough to carry all the items listed
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Hiking poles — optional
- Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
- Warm backpacking clothes
- Spare clothes for layering
- Waterproof rain gear
- Sunhat
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Sleeping bag and sleeping pad
- Personal bowl
- Eating utensils
- Headlamp
- Lunches you can eat on-the-go
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional (but recommended)
Group supplies, such as first-aid kits, cooking equipment, emergency communication devices, and others will be provided by your guide.
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Group sizes and prices:
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- For this adventure, the max client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
- It takes a minimum of 3 people for this tour to run. If there are more than 6 participants, a second guide will join the party.
- Solo travelers are welcome, people come on these trips by themselves all the time! There’s nothing like travel through remote wilderness to build community.
Backpacking tour of Whale’s Tail can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the backpacking trip on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has backpackers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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To get to Talkeetna, the starting point of your Denali adventure, it’s best to fly into Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage. Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage is the closest major airport. From Anchorage it’s about a 2.5 hours drive to Talkeetna. You can also take the bus, or the Alaska Railroad.
You’ll meet your guide and your team in Talkeetna (near the downtown) at 9am to go through gear. It’s strongly suggested that you arrive in Talkeetna the day before the trip starts in case you experience any travel delays.
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We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
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