Nizina River Packrafting Trip

There are a few features in the upper river that require your attention. We can also walk this section if need be.

The lower canyon, just before the takeout, can be a bit squirly.

You definitely need some whitewater boating experience.

I’ve done this paddle in a single day. Water levels can affect the time drastically.

I think it’s best as an overnight packraft, and even better with a day on Nizina Lake and Nizina Glacier before hand.

Or, backpack down from Skolai on The Goat Trail, we’ll pick up our boats at Nizina, and start the trip there.

Then swim hard.

Packrafting is all about self-rescue. Yes your guide is there with a throw bag and safety line. But packrafting requires you to be competent at some degree of self-rescue. Hold on to your paddle, grab your boat, flip it up the right way, and climb back in.

Quickly.

No, we’ll cover all that.

Packrafts, paddles, PFDs, helmets, booties, drysuit, etc.

Dry bags and safety gear.

All included.

We have a couple of backpacking options. One is to hike down the Goat Trail. Allow 5-6 days for that.  shorter hike is to hike down from Wolverine (the west end of the Goat Trail). Allow 1-2 days for that.

For the Goat Trail I recommend having the packrafting gear flown in when we get to Nizina.

I’d suggest carrying packraft gear if you hike from Wolverine. It’s not that far, will lower the cost significantly over having it flown in and is logistically much easier.

There certainly is.

Avoid the hassles of carrying a heavy backpack. As an example, travel to our jumping-off destination, overnight, fly into the backcountry, camp and explore the area via day hikes and packrafts (* option on some trips), fly back, overnight and return travel to Fairbanks/Anchorage. Trip logistics and itinerary will vary with the specific trip. Fully-outfitted or do it yourself.

These trips are extremely flexible, wonderfully fun and a whole lot easier on your body than a backpacking trip is.

Looking for something “in the middle”? Sure, we can do that too. Fly in and out of the same location, and make a smaller backpacking loop or out and back, combining a few days camping and a few days of backpacking. Contact me via email or call 1-770-952-4549 and we’ll set it up.

That is trip dependent.

For backpacking trips, a fully outfitted option includes your tent (one or two person tent), all your kitchenware, food and cooking by Expeditions Alaska. A typical trip, up to 12 days long, costs an additional $450.00 per person for the fully outfitted option ($350 for 4 day trips or shorter).

Available “á la carte” options are (per person)

Tent $50.00/tent
Food/cooking $325.00 (up to 4 day trip duration)
Food/cooking $425 (any trip 5 days or longer)

For personal items such as a backpack, or sleeping pad, talk to me prior to your trip and we’ll see if we can possibly arrange something. If you need a pack I recommend you rent a backpack from a reputable local outfitter. They can find and fit a pack to you rather than “making do” with one of mine that may or may not be a good fit for you.

Items such as BRFC, bear spray, fuel, hiking poles are included gratis with Expeditions Alaska trips. See What’s Included? for more info.

If you’d like, Expeditions Alaska can handle your backcountry food for the trip. Cost depends on trip length, but it’s typically $325 for a 2-4 day trip, and $425 for a trip 5 days or longer (backcountry days).

We will organize and pack the food, handle all backcountry prep, as well as pots and pans, the stove/s, fuel and your mess kit. Assistance for cleanup and dishes is always appreciated, but not requisite.

NB: this means, if we’re doing food for your trip, you must arrive with requisite space in your backpack for your share of the food. This typically means a BV500, sized 8.7 in. diameter. (22.1cm) x 12.7 in. (32.3cm) height. There’ll also be your mess kit (cup, bowl, cutlery, etc) and maybe some additional group gear, whether it’s a fuel bottle, stove or pan or skillet. In general your guide will carry the bulk of this stuff, but we certainly can’t and don’t intend to carry all of it. So don’t arrive with a backpack packed full, no space left in it, if we’re doing your food for you. Your food goes in your pack.

More info linked on the page below.

All your questions about our backcountry food answered right here.

Very briefly

Day 1 – We pick you up and drive to McCarthy, overnight there, and fly in to the backcountry the next morning. … hike … 2nd Last day – We fly back to McCarthy, overnight there.

Last Day – We take you back to Anchorage and drop you at your hotel.

For a much more comprehensive outline and schedule of this, see this page

McCarthy, AK is such a cool place. You’ll love it.

Typically we’ll stay across the river from the small town of McCarthy in a small cabin or lodge. The lodge backs against Kennicott Glacier. The awesome Stairway Icefall sits just beyond. A 7000′ vertical wall of ice.

So beyond the astonishing mountain views, McCarthy is a small rustic town in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Originally a feeder town to the nearby Kennicott Copper Mines, McCarthy is now the hub of the park.

It’s a short 1/2 mile walk into town from Nik’s Lodge (Kennicott Glacier Cabins). We walk because the public bridge across the Kennicott River is a small bridge for foot traffic only. The vehicle will stay on the lodge side of the river.

A 10 minute walk will pretty much cover the entire town. There are a couple of small air taxi services, a hotel and hostel, a bar/restaurant, a souvenir store and another newer eatery/bar called the Potato. Good food, fun folks, and a wonderful charming environment.

A 5 mile jaunt up the road from McCarthy is Kennicott (there is a shuttle service available and included to get us up and back; or walk the wagon trail). In Kennicott you’re free to wander the town and look at the historic mill building (schedules private tours available), poke your head in the door of the various establishments (guide services, restaurant/lodge, stores, the National Park Service Visitor Center, etc).

Just remember a lot of the buildings ARE private residences so don’t intrude.

A couple of hiking trails out of Kennicott can take you out to the Kennicott Glacier or up to the old mines (Bonanza, Jumbo and Erie).

An afternoon in Kennicott is a ton of fun and a great way to wind down after your backcountry expedition.

We require a conversation before confirming any backcountry trip.

You should as well.

Alaska wilderness travel isn’t like booking a hotel. The terrain is demanding, the conditions are unpredictable, and there’s no bailout option once you’re flown in. We need to understand your experience level, fitness, and what you’re hoping to get from the trip. You need to understand what you’re actually signing up for.

This isn’t gatekeeping. It’s matching. We want to put you on a trip where you’ll thrive, not survive. Some folks are ready for the Seven Pass Route. Others should start with a basecamp trip or something more moderate. A ten-minute conversation helps us figure that out.

Nobody benefits when someone gets in over their head. Not you, not the other clients, not us.

Call or email. We’ll find the right fit.

I know you do. I do as well.

I recommend starting with the General Trip FAQ page

More questions? Email me or call me  and we’ll go through them.

Upon your reservation I’ll also send out a comprehensive trip information packet that covers just about everything and more you might imagine about your trip.