September 5th - 14, 2013, are the dates slated for this year’s trip. Why September? It’s beautiful! The fall colors are booming, the mosquitoes are long gone and there is a chance to see the northern lights. What’s more, Alaska’s tourism business is seasonally based, essentially from late May to mid September. For the most part, the crowds of summer tourists have subsided, leaving us with more inspiring Alaska wilderness to share with fewer people. For those of us who have lived in Alaska, this is one of our favorite times of the year.
The itinerary of the Great Alaska Adventure is a wonderful coast to interior snapshot, spread out over 9 nights and 10 days. We will assemble in Anchorage for the first night and then in the morning immediately take the train through the pristine wilderness of the Kenai Peninsula. Be prepared for alpine glaciers and spectacular mountains as we reach the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad and the quaint coastal town of Seward. Here we will spend two nights visiting the Exit Glacier and taking a boat tour of Kenai Fjords National Park, home of whales, sea otters, puffins and tidewater glaciers. From here we will take a motorcoach through the interior of the state to Denali National Park. We will spend 6 nights with the Denali Education Center at their 10 acre campus located on the banks of the Nenana River. Daily hiking opportunities, learning about the wildlife and natural history of Denali and evening programs from local explorers will highlight your experience. The bus trip into Denali National Park will provide an opportunity to search for grizzlies, dall sheep, caribou, moose, wolf and other residents of this subarctic ecosystem. The scenery is breathtaking and the people of the area are welcoming and friendly.
You will have your first opportunity to sign up for the trip on Thursday, January 17th from 7-8:00 pm at the Riverside Park location of the Urban Ecology Center. We will present a slideshow which will show highlights of the trip and answer questions about gear, logistics and itinerary. All sign ups for the Great Alaska Adventure will be on a first come, first served basis. A $200 nonrefundable deposit will be required upon sign up. If necessary, a second orientation will be held on January 31st, same times, also at the Riverside Park location. Program cost, including all lodging, transportation and most meals, for the Great Alaska Adventure is $2325. Program price does not include airline reservations.
We hope you can join us for this spectacular journey into the inspiring wilderness of Alaska.
