Custom Backpacking, 8/19 Launch

AMS guides Deb Ajango and Aubrey Morrison set off today with longtime participant Roland Beyer who has been coming to enjoy Alaska's wilderness since 1999. The three went via helicopter to the Talkeetna Mountains, Disappointment Creek headwaters vicinity. The blueberries are prime right now and the Caribou are roaming. I am sure they will have a great time exploring the tundra.

AMS guide Deb, Roland, and Aubrey 

AMS guide Deb, Roland, and Aubrey 

AMS Backpack and Packraft Trip, Phelps 8/4

Denali National park backpacking via floatplane 

AMS guides Jeremiah Phelps, Forrest Young-Taft and a team of brothers and friends from the lower 48 are celebrating multiple birthdays (100 years between them all) by flying via floatplane to Backside Lake for some world class backpacking. The students are looking forward to venturing deep into the wilderness that holds high wildlife viewing potential. They move camp daily while tundra hiking with views of the Tokositna and Ruth glaciers, along with the big snowy mountains including Denali. The crew is hoping to score some fishing opportunities on some clear side channels as they travel by packraft along the 55 glaciated river miles back to Talkeetna townsite.

The takeout is located on the riverbanks of Talkeetna, which mean "where the 3 rivers meet". This crew will go from the glaciated source of the river directly back to town. What an awesome adventure!

Backside Lake landing zone. photo by Amanda Erickson

Whales Tail Ridgline, world class backpacking. Photo A. Erickson

Large packs and views of Denali when it is revealed; Photo A.Erickson

Packrafting glaciated rivers back to Talkeetna townsite. Photo A. Erickson