Alaska Wildland

21 Day Adventure Education Course II

Expeditionary and Technical Skills

This is an intermediate level course designed to equip aspiring wilderness travelers with the skills and proficiencies needed to safely travel in backcountry and on remote and wild rivers.  This course requires extensive wilderness travel. While in rigorous backcountry settings, students will cultivate proficiency in outdoor technical skills congruent with hiking in a wilderness area with no established trails, kayaking in marine waters, and paddling down remote Alaskan Rivers.  Students will assist in helping organize and lead the three week expeditionary trip through Alaska with instructional staff maintaining close supervision.  Interrelationships between landscapes, ecological systems, and human cultures, past and present, will be explored.

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Highlights

• Seek out wildlife like Sea Otters, Seals, Whales as well as Bear, Moose, Dahl Sheep, Caribou, Eagles and Porcupine.
• Kayak the mystical iceberg strewn lakes at Shoup and Nizina glacier.
• Take your kayaking to the next level on an eight- day, self supported wilderness river expedition.
• Discover remote cabins, historic mines, lifelong Alaskan residents and frontier culture.
• Pitch in on an Environmental Service Project with Wrangell Mountain Center and the National Park Service.
• Flightsee on bush flights amongst some of America’s tallest glacial peaks.

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Destinations

Chugach National Forest; Prince William Sound; Wrangell-St. Elias National Park; Shoup Bay State Marine Park; Crow Creek Pass and Historic Mine; Anchorage, Girdwood, McCarthy and Valdez, Alaska; The Historic Hotel Chitna; Kennicott Mines National Historic Landmark; Wrangell Mountain Center; Nizina Glacier and Lake Nizina; Nizina, Kennicott, Chitna and Copper Rivers; Numerous Wilderness Regions.

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Trip Description 

During the three weeks you spend with CASCADIA SCHOOL on the Alaska Wildland Adenture Education Course II you will gain skills and knowledge unattainable anywhere else and with no other school.  Hiking in the high-country of the Chugach Mountains and panning the mines of Crow Creek Pass sets the stage for our Alaskan water adventure.  We will use IK’s, inflatable expedition kayaks, to get face to face with some of Alaska’s spectacular calving glaciers. This is a perfect introduction into the dynamic geology that makes Alaska's rugged landscape so attractive. 

After exploring the unique setting and history of McCarthy, AK and completing our two day service project we will take bush flights into the wild and remote Nizina River basiin of the Wrangell-St.Elias National Park.  Three nights amongst some of America’s largest mountains and vibrant blue icebergs floating on Lake Nizina will get us ready for a five day (class I, II, and III) float trip on three remote and wild Alaska Rivers – the Nizina, Kennicott and Chitna.

What You Get!   ... On the water

You will learn to read whitewater and navigate self-supported inflatable kayaks on dynamic river channels in the shadow of the Wrangell-St. Elias Mountains.  You will get up close with majestic blue icebergs floating around in a glacier formed lake.  You will feel the thrill of paddling amongst Kittiwake rookeries, alongside seals and sea otters.  You will remember forever boating in Alaska as a highlight of your life . . .

What You Get!   ... Off the water

You will gain hands-on experience with cooking camp meals for fellow students and invited guests and setting up safe, durable wilderness camps.  You will gain leadership skills that reach far beyond CASCADIA SCHOOL.  You will receive personal hand-made leather journals to document your experiences and learning.  You will participate in a two-day service project to enhance the environment of fragile ecosystems in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.  You will get all your in-state travel taken care of including a cruise across Prince William Sound and a scenic bush flight into our remote camp at the head the Nizina Glacier.  You will make friends and have experiences that last a lifetime. 

At the end of it all, you will get a celebration dinner at the Sheep Mountain Lodge overlooking the Chugach Mountains, then be awarded your graduation certificate for successfully completing your CASCADIA course and its requirements.

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Prerequisites

• Students need to demonstrate maturity, initiative and proficiency in foundational outdoor skills.
• Ages 16 to 19.
• Graduate of Cascadia Kayak School
  or
• Background in river running, general backcountry skills and consent of instructor prior to registration.

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Itinerary at Glance:

[Note: each day includes interactive classes, presentations or guests speakers.]

Day One   Meet fellow students and instructors at Anchorage International Airport; Overnight at historic Crow Creek Gold Mine Site; Course orientation and equipment issue.

Day Two   Backcountry hiking in the Chugach National Forest; Explore Crow Creek Alpine Pass; Overnight Crow Creek Gold Mine Site.

Day Three   Board the 235’ Chenega and cruise across scenic Prince William Sound to the Port of Valdez.  Water taxi on freight boat to Shoup Bay State Marine Park; Overnight in rustic bayside cabins.  Evening paddle to the Kittiwake Rookery.

Day Four   Explore by boat and land in Shoup Bay Marine Park.  Search for marine wildlife as well as bears and moose.  Seafood Feast.  Overnight in Shoup Cabins.

Day Five  Return water transport to Port of Valdez. Visit the famous Alaska Pipeline while driving the scenic Richardson and Edgerton Highways north to the Copper River.  Fish wheels, fresh salmon, and a little known historic hotel await your arrival.

Day Six to Eight   Follow the one track road to the isolated and remote town of McCarthy.  The road ends at the river so actual access to the town is by foot bridge.  Meet the staff of the Wrangell Mountain Center for several days of programming and fun.  Overnight at our McCarthy base camp.

Day Nine and Ten   Roll up your sleeves and participate in an environmental service project with our partners -- Wrangell St. Elias National Park and the Wrangell Mountain Center (a local educational non-profit organization). Overnight McCarthy Base Camp.

Day Eleven  After morning class concludes, relax, catch up on correspondence, read a good book or set off on a hike, mountain bike ride or take an optional flightseeing trip with Wrangell Mountain Air. Overnight at McCarthy Base Camp.

Day Twelve to Fourteen  Prepare gear for a true Alaska wilderness immersion and adventure.  We’ll load all our gear and each other in planes for a bush flight into a remote airstrip.  Upon arriving we’ll set up a base camp and explore the wild reaches of the Upper Nizina River Headwaters – a destination seldom visited by people, but home to bears, other Alaskan wildlife and "over-the-top" beauty like you have never seen before.

Day Fifteen to Nineteen Pack your kayak for an 80-mile wilderness float through Alaska’s most awe-inspiring wilderness. Camp beneath the mile high cliffs with 500 ft. waterfalls – truly one of the earth’s  geologic wonders. Navigate and float down three rivers to our take out point in Chitna, Alaska.

Day Twenty Travel overland along scenic highways to Anchorage where nearby we will enjoy our celebration dinner. Overnight Anchorage.

Day Twenty One   Farewell to Alaska as we board the jets back to our hometowns.

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Registration Information

Tuition Includes: All accommodations, transportation and meals; instruction; pre and post course preparation/communication; permits and entry fees; equipment and gear; airport transfers. 
Not Included:  Air transportation to Anchorage, Alaska; travel insurance; pocket cash for items of a personal nature (souvenirs, hats, shirts, toiletries, etc).
Start and End Location:  Anchorage, Alaska  USA

Important Notice:  Day 1 is the day you should plan to arrive in Anchorage, Alaska for your course. This may require departing your hometown or country one or more days in advance and possibly traveling on an overnight flight.  Please consult our admissions office for air travel recommendations.

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We look forward to having you join us on this course – an experience of a lifetime!   

Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

Enrollment Application

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