GLACIER MOUNTAINEERING

Alaska glacier mountaineering and exploration at its finest! Explore a massive glacier system, and surrounding mountains. This is an exclusive KBA Adventure!

KBA pioneered the routes you will take on this trip, and we have to tell you, this trip is just purely EPIC! The majority of this trip takes place in Lake Clark National Park, but there are some areas that are outside the park boundaries. This is one of the places that we truly call home due to how much time we spend in the area.

During your trip, you will venture through parts of Alaska that very few people have ever set foot in. You will do this while trekking across multiple glaciers, scaling peaks, and exploring ice caves, all with a technical aspect that puts this in a top spot on our mountaineering trip list.

Here’s a quick overview… We leave Kenai aboard a bush plane headed for a remote mountain area near one of three glaciers you will trek on. From the drop off point we will trek up a glacier several miles, then onto another glacier, traversing a huge nunatak, then eventually onto yet another glacier. Finally, we’ll end up at a completely different glacial zone where our bush plane will pick us up at. Of course, this won’t all be in the same day due to how massive this zone is – this is a huge trek!

That might sound really simple and straightforward, but we promise you, this won’t be easy. This is legit Alaska glacier mountaineering at its finest. Glacier trekking is technical by default, but there are many times where we will need to technically ascend and rappel while on our routes.

It’s okay if you have zero mountaineering experience, our guides will teach you everything you need to know, and we’re there every step of the way, guiding you through your adventure. What you do need is a determination to push through no matter how tough it gets, and a positive attitude; show up with that and some technical gear, and we’ll show you a good time!

PLEASE NOTE: We have a numerous zones that we are able to operate this trip. Therefore, the final zone we go to may change dependent on overall conditions at the time of your trip. Either way, we promise every zone we go to is purely EPIC!

DAY 1: ARRIVAL > KENAI > BACKCOUNTRY
Today you’ll arrive in Kenai by plane or car. Arrival can be anytime before 10:00am. Your KBA guide will greet you at the Kenai Airport (if flying), or at our Kenai flight office (if driving). At 11:00am we begin with a group orientation meeting, gear check, weights & measures, safety briefing, and discussion of our overall trip plan – lunch will be hosted by KBA during the meeting. Between 3:30-4:00pm we begin staging our gear to be loaded on the bush plane. When ready to take flight, we’ll load all of our gear for the trip, and fly out around 4:30pm. Arrival in the backcountry is welcomed with a sense of awe and wonder as you gaze upon the magnificent mountains towering above, and surrounding you. Our first objective will be to get camp set up and squared away, and following this we’ll head out for an evening hike and give you a glimpse of your backcountry playground for the next few days. Depending on the zone, and overall route, we may backpack a short segment this day. 
Meals Included: Welcome lunch, and backcountry dinner
Accommodation: Under tent

DAY 2 to 5:  GLACIER MOUNTAINEERING
These days will be spent glacier mountaineering and exploring our way through this massive glacier system. We’ll cross glaciers, ascend nunataks, and check out mountain peaks. Our route options are endless, but we’ll be covering some serious ground. Each day is extremely challenging, but we take our time and maintain the highest levels of safety. Camp is in a new location each night, unless contingency plans have been enacted.
All meals included (B, L, D)
Distance: Average is 8-10 miles, upwards of 15 miles (per day)
Accommodation: Under tent

DAY 6: BACKCOUNTRY > KENAI
After a morning of more exploring and trekking, the group will eventually reach the last glacier area of the trip. We’ll gather lakeside, awaiting our afternoon bush plane pick-up. The flight is exhilarating and you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the massive landscape which you’ve just trekked. This will really put your accomplishment into perspective. We generally arrive back to the mainland around late-afternoon, and upon arrival, we’ll exchange some high-fives and goodbyes. If you’re leaving Kenai this evening, we’ll transport you to the Kenai Airport. If you are returning home this evening, please be sure to schedule your Kenai flight for after 10:00pm.
Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 5-10+ miles

*The accompanying itinerary is the schedule we intend to follow. However, this is Alaska, and our trips may deviate as written on this page or in any documentation we publish. This can be as a result of weather conditions, group preference, safety considerations, or unforeseeable circumstances. Therefore expect the unexpected, and prepare to be flexible. 

This is an all-inclusive adventure, meaning everything is included in your price apart from your flights to and from Alaska, personal gear, gratuities for guides, and voluntary expenditures. You trip package includes:

LOGISTICS & FAQ

What is the best way to get to Kenai?
Plan to fly into the Anchorage International Airport (ANC), and then take a 25 minute flight from ANC to Kenai Airport (ENA). Or you can rent a car in Anchorage and then drive to Kenai (~3 hours). Either way you will need to be in Kenai by 10:00am on Day 1. Kenai Airport also has rental cars should you decide to turn your car in before your trip, or rent a car after your trip. KBA will provide transportation between the Kenai Airport and our flight office.

What are the accommodations like?
Accommodations on day 1 thru 6 is double occupancy tent camping in the backcountry.

Can solo travelers get their own tent? Is there an optional or forced supplement, and how much is it?
As a solo traveler, a single supplement of $150 per person applies to tent camping Day 1 to 6.

What is the food like?
Proper nutrition in the backcountry is paramount for stamina and recovery. We create gourmet masterpieces from scratch that are healthy, filling, and delicious leaving your palate (and belly!) satisfied.

What should people bring? Do you have a packing list?
A detailed backpacking gear list will be provided with your booking confirmation. Or you can view the GEAR LIST now (select “Base Camp Trips”).

Is travel insurance required?
Travel insurance is required for this trip. Review our Travel Insurance page for more info.

Additional frequently asked questions and answers:

Are bears and other wildlife going to be a problem?
Bears are virtually everywhere in Alaska, and therefore one should anticipate and be prepared for a possible encounter or sighting of a bear. Moose are a common sighting on the Kenai Peninsula but generally they keep their distance. Kenai Backcountry Adventures takes wildlife safety very seriously and therefore take precautions to keep you safe in the wilderness. In addition, you will learn the necessary safety procedures regarding Alaska wildlife in your pre-backcountry safety orientation.

Will there be bugs?
The most common nuisance bugs are mosquitoes and no-see-ums. However, based on the time of year and current weather conditions insects may or may not present an issue. Generally, there are only a few areas we tend to encounter mosquitoes along our route. Come prepared with insect repellant and a high quality head net.

What will the weather be like?
Weather in this part of Alaska is highly variable and unpredictable. It could be in the 70s or 80s one day and in the 50s and raining the next (or in the same day!). We may encounter snow at higher elevations. High winds can be frequent and may impede travel at times.

Contingency
It’s best to plan a buffer day at the end of the trip in the event of a weather delay departing the backcountry on the last day, however if you must make flight arrangements to depart Kenai on the last day of the itinerary, please make your flight departure for after 10:00 pm.