The Alsek River trip begins in Kluane National Park in Canada's Yukon, winds through the Tatshenshini-Alsek Wilderness Provincial Park in British Columbia, and ends in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park.  It is protected within a UNESCO World Heritage Site which encompasses all of the Parks, the largest in the world.  Alsek and Tatshenshini Rivers ranked #1 for Top 10 white-water rafting adventures in the World by National Geographic.

Photos across top of page & above: Robert Carlson

Photo: Kate McSpadden

 Day Before  Arrive Haines, Alaska.  Fly commercial airline to Juneau, then fly with Wing of Alaska (907 789-0790) or LAB Flying Service (907 766-2222) to Haines.  Make your reservation at the Hotel Halsingland Hotel in Haines ( 800 542-6363)

 Day 1  Early on the first day we will drive up the Chilkat River Valley to Haines Junction and then onto Kluane Park.  Here we will get an introduction to the natural history of the Park.  We will head to the banks of the Dezadeash River to begin the trip.  We will hike to the river put in on the first day with a very scenic introduction to Kluane.  Depending on the weather, especially the wind, we may camp at the put in or head down river a short distance.  We will have lunch and the lead guide will present a river orientation and safety talk.  We will set up our first camp after a short float down the river.

 Day 2 Today we will encounter our first minor rapids and probably camp around Lowell Lake. 

 Day 3  For those that want we’ll offer a hike up Goat Herd Mountain or walk along the shore of Lowell Lake.  Guides will accompany each group activity.

 Day 4 & 5  We row through the Lake’s maze of icebergs and on down to the first set of major rapids camping somewhere below Bates River. We will probably lay over here because of the proximity of great hiking opportunities.

 Day 6 Today we will pass from the Yukon’s Territory’s Kluane National Park and enter British Columbia’s Tatshenshini Alsek Wilderness Park camping just upstream of Tweedsmuir Glacier

 Day 7 We will head downstream to our rendezvous spot with the helicopters, explore upper Turnback Canyon that afternoon and evening.

 Day 8  Right after breakfast we will begin the heli-portage over the canyon.  This is often the highlight of the trip.  We should finish the portage at lunchtime and head down the river.  We hope to camp right at the confluence of the Tatshenshini and Alsek Rivers.

Day 9,10,11  We’ll float the spectacular 50+ miles of the lower Alsek  River to Dry Bay with opportunities for glacier walks and hike to The Knob. Depending on availability, we hope to camp at Walker Glacier and Alsek Lake with spectacular views of Mt Fairweather and the St. Elias Range.  Day 12  After breakfast and a few hours on the river we arrive Dry Bay.  We provide the flight from DryBay to Yakutat, Alaska.  Then you will catch your Alaska Airlines back to Juneau for the evening.  Make your reservations into Juneau and out of Yakutat.  We will have your gear you didn’t take on the river waiting for you at your hotel in Juneau.  Make reservations in Juneau at the Aspen Hotel  (888 559-9846)

Photo: Robert Carlson

Your guides will carry a small reference library.  Following are some suggested books for winter reading.

• Tatshenshini River Wild, edited by Budd and Careless. Raincoast Books, Vancouver.

•  Naturalists Guide to the Tatshenshini-Alsek, by Heather Hamilton. Sierra Club of Canada.

• The Complete Guide to the Tatshenshini River  by Russ Lymann, Joe Ordonez & Mike Speaks.

• After the Ice Age – The Return of the Life to Glaciated North by E.C. Pielou.

• A Naturalist Guide to the Artic by E.C. Pielou.

• Coming into the Country by John McPhee.  The is a wonderful portrayal of frontier life in Alaska  around the mid 1970s – fun characters and informative on environmental issues.