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Copper River Expedition
offered by supplier M06982 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 6
day(s)
Group Size: 1
- 15
people
Destination(s):
Alaska
Specialty Categories:
Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting
Season: June - August
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 2600 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 2600 US Dollar (USD)
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This trip meets in Chitina, Alaska where we launch on the mighty Copper River. Six days are spent rafting through this unforgettable wilderness where the setting alternates from steep and deep canyons to broad expansive plains leading to towering peaks. Each day brings new topography and vistas, all spectacular and awe-inspiring. Glaciers crowd the river, trees pepper the hillsides, wildlife roams the shore, and side-canyon rivers spill crystal clear water into the glacially-silted Copper. The river grows and grows, eventually reaching flows up to ten times those regularly found in the Grand Canyon. Day after incredible day we are able to enjoy the power of the Copper and observe the wild nature of this region.
While the Copper can be run in fewer days, our six-day trips do justice to the Copper River and the incredible surroundings. Just a few hours into the trip you will realize the spectacular nature of this place and revel in a pace that allows for hikes up to glaciers, walks to towering waterfalls, fishing for tasty Salmon, relaxing next to a fire, spending an extra hour or extra day in a poetic place, or just plain sitting around on the edge of a river in the heart of pure Alaska wilderness. Our six-day format renders a complete Alaska river trip experience.
The trip concludes near Cordova and you fly or take the ferry from Cordova to Anchorage. For the most complete voyage through Wrangell-St. Elias this trip can be combined with the Grand Alaska Adventure, resulting in a eleven-day journey that overflows with scenery, adventure, and solitude. The Copper River Expedition includes all food, rafting gear, and the best Alaska guides in the business.
As with all of our Alaska trips, the Copper River Expedition provides a complete and unforgettable immersion into one of the grandest and most remote wilderness areas on earth. Witnessing first-hand the power of water and ice and the stunning panoramas of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park can be considered a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We invite you to see for yourself!
Your Itinerary
Day 1: We meet you in Valdez at 7:30 a.m. From Valdez, we travel by van approximately two hours to the town of Chitina, located on the western fringe of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Here along the banks of the Copper we transfer your trip gear from your luggage into the waterproof 'dry' bags we provide. We also outfit you with a waterproof suit and rubber boots. After a thorough orientation and safety presentation we head off down the river, typically around 11:00 a.m. This and each subsequent night we camp along the river.
Day 2 - Day 5: On these days we float through the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and the Copper river canyon. We float through calm stretches, take time to hike away from the river, and run class II and III whitewater such as Abercrombie Rapid which we typically encounter on day five. The days are filled with mesmerizing views and enchanting experiences such as watching brown bear catch salmon in a side stream and following a bald eagle as it soars above the mountain tops. We also float by immense glaciers that can calve right into the river. When this happens glacier waves rock the rafts from side to side and icebergs float downstream as do we. Because this trip takes place far up the latitude ladder, daylight lasts until after midnight. This allows for extended times to relax, fish, enjoy happy hour snacks and beverages, and savor the multi-course dinners presented with nightly flair. Once dark, provided the weather is good, stars blanket the sky and if all is right with the polar energy, northern lights may dance along the horizon. Each night's camp offers views of towering mountains, expansive glaciers, quiet side streams, and, of course views of the mighty Copper River.
Day 6: On the final day we row across Miles Lake and where we absorb the sights and sounds of Miles and Childs Glaciers as they calve huge icebergs into the river. We reach take-out, hike to the Childs Glacier observation point, and rendezvous with the shuttle van. After packing up we participate in a trip toast and head for the friendly fishing town of Cordova. En route we drive through the Copper River Delta which hosts a profusion of shorebirds. After the one-hour van ride we arrive in Cordova and enjoy a Dutch-treat celebration dinner at a local eatery. After dinner you head for your hotel room or for the plane or ferry that will take you to your next Alaska destination.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Youth is under 16; the minimum age is ten. 6-Day Trip (Price based on five or fewer total participants); Adult: $2600; Youth: $2400;
6-Day Trip (Price based on six or more total participants); Adult: $2350; Youth: $2200.
Also see tour packages in:
USA
Alaska
Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting
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