Wilderness Expedition

Alaska Mountaineering School
Talkeetna, AK, United States

Course Format: Classroom | E-learning | Virtual Class | Online | On-site | Blended | Self-paced

Course Description:

'' Alaska Mountaineering School¡¯s wilderness backpacking expedition explores a remote region of the Talkeetna Mountains with expert instructors who teach a full backcountry curriculum. Participants take a 40 minute flight by float plane from Talkeetna and land on a remote lake in the Talkeetna Mountains. The goal of the expedition is to learn wilderness skills while exploring a vast and scenic alpine environment. AMS instructors teach classes related to backcountry travel in Alaska in the areas of safety and judgment, leadership and teamwork, camping and travel skills, and the natural history of the area. The 12-day course format allows time to learn and apply backcountry skills while seeing some amazing country. This is a hands on expedition and you will be involved in all aspects of the trip. The Talkeetna Mountains offer some of the best vantage points for seeing Alaskan wildlife and the glaciated mountains of Denali National Park & Preserve. The course finishes in a roadless area north of Talkeetna and uses the Alaska Railroad flag train to return.
Features of This Course

Hiking route approximately 50-60 miles
Elevations 2,000 to 4,200 feet
Natural history: geology and alpine ecology
Non-technical peak ascents
Excellent opportunities to fly-fish for Dolley Varden and Grayling, and occasional Rainbow Trout
Excellent opportunities to view eagles, caribou, moose, sheep, wolf, and brown bear
Classes on safe and environmentally sound back country travel and camping techniques
1:4 instructor/student ratio

Expedition Style & Remoteness
AMS courses are self-reliant backpacking expeditions that travel in remote mountainous regions of Alaska. Throughout the course, students learn how to live in the outdoors, prepare tasty meals, and care for themselves. Course format emphasizes hands-on learning and the application of new skills in a variety of situations. From these areas, evacuation to modern medical facilities can be difficult.
Students are divided into tent groups of two to three people and learn cooking and camp tasks with instructors. These groups may be co-ed. All members of the group help to carry group equipment and rations.
Environment
The Wilderness Expedition takes place in the Talkeetna Mountain Range which is known for its spectacular views of Mount McKinley, the Alaska Range, and wildlife. The majority of the route is above treeline, 3000¡¯, and crosses Alaska¡¯s unique Tundra ecosystem. The Wilderness Expedition is a point to point journey that flies in to an alpine lake and ends at a designated mile marker on the Alaska Railroad track north of Talkeetna. The expedition will be in a trail-less area giving you a unique experience of freedom, beauty, and connection to nature. Our camps each night will be near small alpine lakes or creeks that provide drinking and cooking water. You will hike each day, with time worked into the schedule for exploration, wildlife viewing, and peak ascents. At times, the route will descend into valleys filled with Alder and Birch and you will learn first hand why Alaska bush whacking has a difficulty grade. Alaska is well known for it¡¯s vistas, wilderness, and it¡¯s mosquitoes - the Talkeetna mountains are no exception. We use repellant and head nets to protect ourselves from the bugs. We can look forward to sunny weather, but rain will most likely occur at some point during the hike and explains why Alaska is so green and lush during the summer. Temperatures range from high 30¡¯s to high 60¡¯s. Expect to encounter a variety of terrain in the Talkeetnas requiring river crossings, talus and boulder field traverses, and bush whacking, but most of the time you will be in open tundra.

The First Day
We meet for orientation at AMS in Talkeetna at 9:00 a.m. on the first day of the course. If you choose to drive to Talkeetna, you can park your car at our office. After a course orientation, we¡¯ll check personal equipment and issue any needed items, change into our hiking clothes, store personal gear, load the van, and drive to Alaska Bush flight service. We will help load the float plane with our gear and fly about 30 minutes to a high alpine lake. This is a busy day, so please take care of personal business before meeting at 9:00.

Course Progression
At first, hiking distances will be short to grow accustomed to carrying packs and allowing time to learn basic travel skills, such as the rest step, and the use of a map and compass. As the course progresses, longer travel days of five to eight miles can be expected. Evenings and mornings will include classes and natural history walks. On occasion, we will not move camp and instead climb a small peak or spend time watching wildlife, fly fishing, photographing, or identifying species of wild flowers. The day to day route is not pre-determined, but decided upon in the field in order to maximize flexibility and participant involvement. The last day is spent hiking down a creek made famous in the 1950¡¯s for gold panning and boarding the last flag train (possibly in the world) back to Talkeetna. Once in Talkeetna, we de-issue rental equipment and clean any group gear.

Course Objectives
Wilderness courses varies in route, group dynamics, and environmental conditions. Working with these variables, it is our intent to strive for the following goals for each student:


Safety & Judgment
AMS teaches back country skills which promote the health and safety of all expedition members. Each graduate is expected to:
demonstrate knowledge of the hazards in a wilderness environment, especially as it relates to bears
participate in making sound decisions affecting the health and safety of the expedition
display knowledge of personal limitations, and the judgment to stay within them

Leadership & Teamwork
Students are exposed to theory and practice of outdoor leadership, teamwork and expedition behavior. Each graduate is expected to:
work effectively as a team member
demonstrate sound expedition behavior: commitment to the group, a positive attitude, and cooperation to achieve group goals
effectively communicate ideas and concerns with individuals and within a group
use decision-making and planning skills to participate fully in a safe, environmentally sound expedition

Environmental
An integral part of every course is to raise students’ understanding of the natural ecosystem in which they are traveling. Each graduate is expected to:
consistently perform minimum impact living and traveling skills
show an understanding, appreciation, and respect for the local natural history
develop natural history and interpretive skills

Outdoor Living Skills: Camping & Traveling
AMS courses focus on learning and practicing back country skills which are safe for the individual and environment. Each graduate is expected to:
live comfortably and efficiently in a mountain environment, learning to camp, cook, and dress for a variety of conditions
travel competently using appropriate map and compass skills, off-trail navigation, and route-finding techniques
consistently use appropriate bear camping and travel techniques
demonstrate a good understanding of river crossing techniques
take responsibility for the organization, maintenance and repair of group and personal equipment
...''

Phone:(907)733-1016

School Address:

Alaska Mountaineering School
PO BOX 566, 3rd Street, Talkeetna, AK 99676, United States
phone: (907)733-1016
fax: (907)733-1362
email: info@climbalaska.org

Jobs & Resumes: Talkeetna
Houses & Roommates: Talkeetna

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