Source to Sea Alaska Rafting Adventure Tour: Alaska White Water Rafting, Hiking, Glaciers, Wildlife, and More!
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You will spend the first night in McCarthy or Kennecott (a number of accomodation options are available). In the morning you will board an even smaller bush plane for
the short trip to the Nizina river headwaters. We land on a gravel
bar near the glacier of the same name and explore this source of
the Nizina, Chitina, and ultimately Copper rivers. We spend today hiking on the broad river bars that surround us or up into the alpine peaks above.
The next day
we board rafts for the row across the Nizina glacier "pond" (Alaska
for sizeable lake). We float near translucent icebergs and then,
at the base of the lake where the quiet still water tips over the
nick point, begin our river journey.
After a day of rafting we hike up and into the Chitistone Valley,
an expansive alpine meadow with sky scraping peaks, cascading waterfalls,
wildlife viewing opportunities, and open range hiking. We spend
two days here exploring, relaxing, and revelling in the beauty.
The pure isolation and grand scale of Chitistone are indescribable and across the river we stare up in awe at the Mile High Cliffs, where
the Nizina stairsteps down a canyon with walls that literally reach
thousands of feet into the air.
We leave the Nizina the next day
after a running the sinewy and sneaky Nizina Canyon, where the river
is squeezed to its narrowest and hairpin turns demand precision
rowing and paddling. The Nizina merges with the Chitina river at
this point and we are blessed with big sky and hundred mile views
of the majestically tall mountains of the Wrangell, St. Elias, and
Chugach mountain ranges. Each of these ranges alone are mind-boggling
big and bountiful. Having the chance to experience all three at
once is absolutely awe-inspiring. We drift for three days in the
shadows of these mountains, as the Chitina winds its way west. Along
the way we stop at sparkling side-creeks (and maybe catch a salmon
or two for dinner), camp on large soft beaches, see sign after sign
of big brown bear and likely watch them amble along shore, and breathe
in deep the fresh air and peace and quiet.
We reach the confluence of the Copper and Chitina rivers ten days
into this grand Alaska eco tour. At this point we leave the river
for a night's sleep in cabins near the quiet town of Chitina. The
next day we head down south, down the mighty Copper. Soon we enter
Woods Canyon, where the Copper constricts and runs strong. Jagged
Spirit Mountain beckons us on, as hanging glaciers and waterfalls
begin to adorn the canyon walls. The Copper becomes increasingly
vegetated, with alder, spruce, and birch blanketing the hillsides.
Each
day we float largely rapid-free stretches of river and camp each
night next to a rushing river or on a soft riverside glade. We take
time during this portion of the Alaska eco tour to explore exotic
places like Bremner Dunes, where desert-like sand hills sit directly
across river from magnificent glaciers. We also hike to beautiful
waterfalls and up along salmon-rich streams.
After five days of this splendor we reach Abercrombie canyon, a
place of potential sensory overload. Here we are likely to spot
eagle soaring overhead, bear fishing for spawning salmon, seals
that have swam upriver from the sea in search of salmon as well,
and Abercrombie rapids, with 16-foot roller coaster waves.
We emerge from this canyon and float into a Miles Lake, a place
of equal grandeur. Huge Miles and Childs glaciers thunder and crack
as they calve monstrous chunks of ice into the river. After camping
here we row around icebergs across the lake and reach the trip's
end point at the edge of Child's Glacier. We are then shuttled to
the friendly and scenic town of Cordova where we celebrate fifteen
days of classic Alaska eco tour wilderness travel through one of
the world's most majestic places.
"We wanted to tell you straight away how much we have enjoyed the Source to the Sea trip. The trip was a tremendous success for us due to the skill, professionalism, knowledge, commitment and humor of Kevin and Carleton. We had a really fantastic time and learnt a great deal about the wilderness we travelled through from them both. We will remember them and the rest of the crew for a very long time. There were moments of seriousness and quietness which we enjoyed of course but it feels as if we laughed and sang our way down those marvelous rivers. Many many thanks."
J. Kemp, Source to Sea, 2007
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Source to the Sea Overview
Our Source to the Sea Expeditions begin and end in Anchorage, Alaska. These
Alaska eco tours are sixteen days long (including one transportation day at the beginning of the trip) and include hiking, rafting,
exploring glaciers and waterfalls, flightseeing, and wildlife viewing in
the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. We spend nights camped
along the river. The trip ends near the charming coastal town of
Cordova. From there, you'll fly back to Anchorage or ferry
back to Valdez to continue your Alaska trip.
Optional add-on Alaska tours are available. These include trips
to Denali National Park, Katmai National Park,
and Kenai Fjords National Park, as well as other destinations throughout the state. We specialize in off-the-beaten-path adventures that show you the best of Alaska without any crowds. Please contact us for ideas - we're full of them!
Daily Itinerary
Travel Day: We meet you at your accomodations in Anchorage this morning, and head out on the highway through the Chugach Mountains and toward the Wrangell and St. Elias Ranges. We then
fly by small plane into McCarthy, where you will spend the night in local accomodations. Here, your guides meet you and
answer any last minute questions you may have about your upcoming adventure.
Day One: Early this morning we will board another bush plane for our flight out to the toe of the Nizina Glacier. This is a spectacular landscape of icebergs, high mountain peaks, and the sounds of the river heading off down valley. You will spend today exploring this marvelous area on foot and camp tonight next to the berg-filled lake. Your guides will prepare for you the first of many delicious meals the evening.
Day Two: Early in the morning we head across Nizina Lake and begin
the river trip. It is a fascinating feeling to row across still
water and then reach the point where the water spills over the lake's
lip shore on begins its trip to the sea. The river moves swiftly
in the upper reaches. We stop for a hike today a spectacular waterfall pouring from one of the riverside cliffs. We camp along the Nizina this night, below the mile-high cliffs..
Day Three: Today we explore by foot the Chitistone
area, where glaciers have scoured deep and easy valleys that are
ringed by jagged mountain ridges. The views are forever and the
hiking a pleasure. The hiking and sights on this day are uniquely
Alaska: plunging waterfalls, soft tundra underfooting, bear, wolf,
and moose tracks, and more are all encountered.
Day Four: On this day we reach and camp in the Nizina Canyon, after
negotiating tricky and tight hairpin turn whitewater. We camp near
where the Nizina spills into the Chitina river, and drift to sleep
with fresh memories of the treasures of the Nizina. This and every
night the light lasts until early in the morning and quickly returns
to announce another great day on this two week Alaska eco tour expedition.
Day Five: The topography changes significantly as we merge with and
float the Chitina, a broad, braided river. On the Chitina when skies
are clear you can see distant peaks that reach over three miles
into the sky. The Chugach mountains form the southern boundary and
the Wrangells form the north as the Chitina winds its way west.
The Chitina is blessed with fantastic sandy campsites that allow
classic Alaska panoramas.
Days Six and Seven: We continue down the Chitina, stopping along
the way for great side hikes, fishing clear side streams for salmon,
exploring historic sites, and so on. Each day distant peaks of the
St. Elias mountains fill the sky. The afternoon of day nine we reach
the Copper river and the town of Chitina. He we are shuttled to
nearby cabins for a night of showers and other creature comforts.
Day Eight: Late in the morning we shove off and head down the Copper.
We quickly enter Woods Canyon, where the river narrows and runs
swift and deep. The river here flows nearly ten times as strong
as the Colorado through the Grand Canyon. Simply put, the Copper
river is big. After exiting the canyon we camp along shore, and
marvel in the rich green Copper river corridor.
Days Ten-Thirteen:
On these days we float further and further down this grand river,
as it grows in size and spectacle with each mile. Glaciers begin
to appear around each corner. Tributary rivers serve as idyllic
lunch and camp stops. The river flows calm and wide and whispers
down braid channels. Brisk afternoon winds are likely on these days.
Natural Features such as Bremner Dunes and Whiting Falls leave us
impressed with the power and uniqueness of Alaska. Typically, bear,
eagle and salmon are spotted on this stretch, as well as a wayward
seal in search of a far upriver salmon dinner. Each night we camp
along the Copper and are blessed with unreal views of skyscraping
mountains, hanging glaciers, and more.
Day Fourteen: On this day we typically raft through Abercrombie
canyon, a place of whitewater, wildlife, and wonder. We emerge from
Abercrombie and enter broad and beautiful Miles Lake, which is actually
where the Copper simply spreads out wide and thin. The lake is spangled
with icebergs that have calved from two-mile wide Miles Glacier.
We camp near the glacier and witness time and again the power of
natural Alaska, as giant ice chunks break crash into the river.
Our last night of this unmatched adventure is filled with thunderous
explosions of calving icebergs and quiet moments of reflection on
Miles Lake.
Day Fifteen: This morning we row across Miles Lake and sachet our
way around the icebergs large and small that pepper this stretch
of the river. We then raft past the towering face of the Child's Glacier and into the vast Copper River Delta. This is a wildlife rich area and we keep our eyes peeled for bears, eagles, seals and many other animals. After a couple of hours we reach our take out point, unpack the rafts and board
the van for the one-hour drive to Cordova. On this drive we travel
over the Copper river delta, where the river reaches the Gulf of
Alaska, and are generally able to spot Trumpeter Swans, Canadian
Geese, and other birds. We arrive in Cordova late this afternoon,
enjoy a tasty Alaska dinner at a local eatery, and toast a great
Alaska eco tour adventure and great land. Those flying on to Anchorage
do so this evening, while ferry riders spend the night on their
own in Cordova and catch the ferry the next day.
Optional add-on Alaska tours are available. These include trips
to Denali National Park, Katmai National Park,
and Kenai Fjords National Park, as well as other destinations throughout the state. We specialize in off-the-beaten-path adventures that show you the best of Alaska without any crowds. Please contact us for ideas - we're full of them!
Click here to book this trip now!
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Rendezvous
Meeting Time and Place
Our guide will meet you at your accomodations in Anchorage the morning of the first day of your trip.
Off-River Transportation Copper Oar provides all transportation
from Anchorage to McCarthy at the beginning of the trip via small
bush plane or van as well as transportation from Cordova to Anchorage
or Valdez after the trip.
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Additional
Information
Experience Required
The Source to the Sea Expedition is an absolute wilderness journey.
It is an ideal Alaska eco tour for those seeking an extended journey
through the heart of Alaskan backcountry. First time adventurers
are welcome and our minimum age is 12. While not strenuous or filled
with difficult whitewater we do travel through extensive pure wilderness.
Participants should be prepared for changes in weather and other
possible experiences associated with wilderness travel. Your guides
will gladly help with any aspect of our trip that is new for you,
whether that means setting up a new tent or learning to paddle.
Weather
Wrangell St. Elias National Park is located in southcentral Alaska.
It is subject to both coastal and interior weather patterns. Typically,
July and August are the warmest and among the driest months. Often,
days are filled with sun and temperatures range from the low 50's
to the mid 80's. Nights are cooler, with lows typically in the high
40's and 50's.
Equipment
Copper Oar provides life jackets, waterproof river suits, rubber
boots, waterproof bags, tents, sleeping pads, camp chairs and eating
utensils, all the specialized adventure gear you need. A complete
list of what you should bring will be included in your confirmation
packet. Each person will have one waterproof ("dry") bag (about
the size of a large Hefty trash bag) in which clothing, toiletries,
sleeping bag, camp chair and other personal items will be kept.
In addition, we have available additional dry bags for tents and
sleeping pads, and special day bags and boxes for cameras, binoculars,
etc. Do keep in mind that, although slight, there is always a chance
that any of your gear could get wet.
Participant Fitness
and Activity Levels
Copper Oar eco tours are created with active, curious, go-with-the-flow,
and nature-loving Alaska adventurers in mind. Our Source to the
Sea Expedition is designed for those with a zest for remote wilderness,
moderate adventures, active participation and extensive time in
the backcountry. While you should be fit and in good health for
this trip, you need not be a honed athlete. Participants on this
trip should be fit, able to swim, and may need to play a part in
self-rescue should you fall out of the raft.
Wildlife and Wild Plants
Among other animals, we may encounter bear, sheep, and moose. It
is important to follow your guides instruction to prevent or reduce
the likelihood of unwelcome wild animal encounters and to understand
what to do in the case of an encounter. Also, while they are generally
not a major problem on this trip, those sensitive to mosquitoes
may want to bring along a mosquito net hat. There are, in places,
thorny bushes (known as Devil's Club) or others that can cause skin
rashes. Please listen closely to your guides' instructions on how
to recognize these plants and what to do if you touch them.
Camps
We camp along the river in pristine wilderness, usually on a sandy
beach. In the case of rain, tarps are set up over communal eating
and sitting areas. We proudly practice minimum-impact camping and
carry out all trash. We carry a portable metal box chemical toilet
(similar to motorhome toilets) that is set up each evening in a
private and scenic spot away from the heart of the camping area.
A system that will be explained by your guides allows for all campers
to know when the toilet is in use.
Fishing
Alaska requires you to have a fishing license if you intend to fish
during your visit. Your guide can help you obtain a license at the
rendezvous. You are welcome to bring your rod on your rafting trip, but know that the fishing on our rivers is usually not as good as that found elsewhere in Alaska. The salmon swimming upriver are deep in the silty river and generally don't bite. Your guide may use a net to dip one out however, and there is nothing like Copper River Red Salmon fresh from the river!
Meals and Beverages
We serve hearty Alaska style meals prepared with fresh ingredients.
We also provide a variety of beverages with each meal. Each afternoon
we set up happy hour snacks and beverages. Please let us know if
you have special dietary needs or wants!
Charter
Trips
We are able and happy to offer special private Alaska rafting charter
trips for groups. For groups of five or more we may be able to run
trips on dates other than those listed in this packet. Please contact
our office for details.
Gratuities
It is common to tip wilderness guides on adventure trips. It is
not expected, but always appreciated. If you are happy with your
trip please let us and your guide(s) know. Thanks!
Itinerary Changes
While we do everything possible to follow the itineraries in this
packet we may be forced to adjust trips due to reasons beyond our
control. Therefore, these itineraries are subject to change.
References
Many of our past trip members have offered to speak with folks who
are considering our trips. We know we could blow our own horn until
we are blue in the face about the great time we feel you would have
on our trips. So, we invite you to contact us for a list of clients
who have participated on Copper Oar trips and we'll let them do
the talking!
Copper Oar Guides
The pride of our outfit, our guides bring a wealth of talent and
experience to each trip we run. Copper Oar guides (and they are
our guides, not subcontracted outfitters) have years and years of
experience leading trips in Alaska, the U.S. and abroad. Each is licensed
in Wilderness First Aid and CPR. Furthermore, they create an environment that
fosters camaraderie and positive experiences. They care
about what it is that YOU want from YOUR TRIP and do everything
possible to make that happen! We are confident that you will find
your guides to be one of the highlights of this Alaska adventure.
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2010 Trip
Cost
$4950/person pluse a 6% government/land use fee.
Start Dates: June 28th, July 30th.
Other dates may be available. Please
call for details.
Click here to book this trip now!
Prices include guides, all rafting equipment,
meals, waterproof rafting suits, and rubber boots. Also includes
transportation from Anchorage, flightseeing and transportation the
the put-in, and a flight or ferry ride back to Anchorage at the end of
the trip. Participants must bring adequate rain and thermal wear
for on water and land and must be able to fit all personal and camping
gear in a waterproof bag the size of a large garbage bag. Copper Oar provides tents and sleeping pads, and we have sleeping bags available to rent if you do not have your own to bring.
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Kennicott River, McCarthy, Alaska 99588 |
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