Chugach State Park Alpine Hiking Adventure in Anchorage

What We’ll Do:

Embark on an unforgettable Alaskan alpine hiking adventure! Join us for an exhilarating hike up to ridge lines and peaks for breathtaking 360-degree views in our beautiful and wild Chugach State Park. Our top-tier guides ensure both safety and an enriching experience. Book now to create lasting memories amidst stunning landscapes!

This tour operates from May-September. Please dress in layers as even our summer months can be chilly when we gain elevation.

Details:

→ Max Ratio - 6:1 (hiker:Guide) → Capacity - 12 → Minimum enrollment: 3 → 6 hours total: 4-5 hours total hiking time, 1-2 hours total driving time; → Trip Distance: up to 6 miles total; → Elevation gain: up to 3,500 feet → Hiker Requirements: must be comfortable hiking up to 6 miles and 3,000 feet of elevation gain on sometimes uneven terrain with a daypack up to 15 pounds; a regular fitness regime will make this experience more enjoyable! → Difficulty Level: Moderate - Challenging

Location:

Start/End: 1343 G St., Suite 104. Anchorage, AK 99501 We will transport to and from our HQ (the blue building on G st. and 14th ave.). Trail Location: Chugach State Park. For this tour, we choose the best trail option for the day within the Chugach State Park - a 495,000 acre park encompassing hundreds of mountain valleys and ridges. There are several great trails accessible from the road system that we may choose from, all of which have a similar distance, grade, trail type, and elevation gain. Our expert guides are tuned into weather patterns and will choose the best trail option for the day, where we are most likely to get the best weather and views!

Some of our trail options include: Bird Ridge, Baldy, Twin Peaks Saddle, Little O’Malley, Near Point.

What’s Included:

→ Lunch, Snacks, Hot Beverage (Please communicate if you have any allergies) → Van Transport to and from Trailhead → Lunch → Trekking Poles → Shoe microspikes (for potential ice on trail) → The Guide → Permits

What’s Not Included:

→ Gratuities to the guide → Travel Insurance → Your personal clothing and footwear.

Guide Gratuity: We love what we do and we love sharing our time and experience with you! Please consider leaving a 10-20% gratuity for our guides.

What to Pack:

This course is 100% outdoors! It is imperative to dress for the weather and understand that Alaska summers may be chilly when rainy and/or in an alpine environment. → outdoor hiking/trail shoes; → After registration is confirmed, your guide will send you a complete packing list for your daypack; → need help with daypacks and water bottles? We may be able to provide items for your use on a first-come, first-served, basis.

General Itinerary:

Join us on an exhilarating alpine hiking adventure! → 7:45am: Your day begins at our HQ at 7:45 AM, where you'll check in and we'll go over a comprehensive safety briefing and the trip plan for the day. Our experienced guides will discuss the day's plan, factoring in trail conditions in the park and weather to select the perfect hike for our group. With an array of incredible trails within 60 minutes of Anchorage, each promising a challenging ascent and a soul-satisfying panoramic view, you're in for an extraordinary experience. → 8:15am: depart for trailhead. → 9am-1pm: hiking adventure! After gearing up, we'll hop in the van and head to the trailhead, marking the start of our adventure. As we ascend towards our destination – whether it's the ridge line or the summit – your appetite for adventure will be met with a delicious lunch and hot beverages, all provided by us. Marvel at the awe-inspiring 360-degree vistas as you recharge. → 1:45pm: return to HQ. We'll return to our shop for a debriefing and gear return, where our journey ends at 2pm.

Please note that itineraries may change at the discretion of the guides to accommodate group needs and factors beyond our control, such as environmental conditions. Safety is always our top priority.

Who is this for?

This tour operates from May - September and is great for ages 16+; ages 10+ may attend with their parents/caregivers. A good attitude and overall stable/good physical fitness enhances the experience.

Participants should be comfortable hiking up to 6 miles and 3,000 feet of elevation gain on sometimes uneven terrain with a daypack up to 15 pounds; a regular fitness regime will make this experience more enjoyable!

Please review the difficulty description below to ensure it aligns with your expectations.

This experience is not ideal for: -people who do not regularly engage in a physical fitness routine; -people with medical conditions of cardiac or neurogenic nature; -people with joint issues, like previous knee or hip injuries, surgeries, and replacements; -women in any stage of pregnancy who have been advised by their doctor to not undertake strenuous physical activity; -individuals with vertigo, extreme fear of heights, history of narcolepsy, panic attacks

Difficulty description:

Each person has their own comfort level with risk and physical capabilities. The trails we will choose from on this tour in the Chugach State Park are typically rated as moderate-difficult,

Everyone in the group will carry their own daypack, which will hold: 2 liters water, lunch and snacks, and personal clothing layers like outer jacket, hats and gloves. Expect your daypack to weigh up to 15 pounds.

Consider the following risks that may arise during our hike:

• Be prepared for steep inclines, declines;
• Expect to navigate areas with smaller boulders and rocks, potentially requiring scrambling, and to navigate over terrain with loose gravel or rocks;
• Trails might be obscured by natural barriers like vegetation or washed out due to weather.
• At some points, we may need to bushwhack through vegetation away from main trails.
• Trails could be wet, icy, or muddy, depending on the season.

Conditions to anticipate include:

• Trails vary from smooth to rocky and uneven with roots.
• Weather changes from sunny to windy, rainy, or snowy.
• Steep trails with loose gravel or mud.
• Some areas may have unmaintained or overgrown trails.

Please note, we reserve the right to cancel or adjust the trip if we deem conditions too risky for the group's safety.

Participant Need-to-Read prior to Booking:

The Physical, Emotional, and Mental load of Field Courses and Wilderness Trips

ITWAK is not a wilderness therapy or rehabilitation program and is not suitable for addressing substance use nor for treating behavioral and psychological conditions. Prior physical and mental conditioning and a positive mindset are essential for the demanding experience of a wilderness field course. Our courses and trips are not suitable for participants who have struggled to maintain stability in normal daily activities like work or school due to psychological and/or behavioral health conditions within the last year, or have been in a residential treatment facility within the last 2 years.

Do NOT Bring - Prohibited on all of our tours, trips, and courses: alcohol, drugs, tobacco, e-cigarettes or vaping-type products, firearms or weapons of any kind.