HARDING ICEFIELD TRAVERSE | SUMMER EXPEDITION
World-Renowned Glacier Mountaineering Traverse of the Harding Icefield
Harding Icefield Traverse | Summer Expedition
From: $2,997 per person
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- Cancellation up to 60 days in advance
- Trusted Brand with 5-star reviews
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PLEASE NOTE: This tour regularly sells out… We highly recommend booking as soon as possible to avoid missing out!
Details
Price
$2,997 per person, plus tax
Duration
6 Days / 5 Nights
Meeting/End Location
11724 Seward Hwy, Suite A, Seward, AK 99664
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Max Group Size
8 guests / expedition
*4 person minimum is required per tour
Ages
Minimum age requirement of 14 years old
Tour Location
Harding Icefield – Kenai National Wildlife Refuge & Kenai Fjords National Park
Highlights
- Epic 6-day glacier mountaineering expedition traversing a portion of the Harding Icefield
- Feel the thrill of flying in a floatplane while you enter the pristine mountain environment
- Experience a glacier mountaineering expedition deep in the backcountry
- Trek all the way from the Kenai NWR across the Harding Icefield to Kenai Fjords NP in Seward
- World-class glacier mountaineering, and backcountry camping
Difficulty
This tour is rated as Strenuous to Extreme
*No prior mountaineering experience needed
What’s Included
- Accommodations – 5 nights tent accommodations
- Professional Mountaineering Guide
- Ground transportation from Seward to our Kenai flight office
- Floatplane flight from Kenai to Kenai NWR
- Ground transportation from Kenai Fjords NP to our Seward office
- Glacier equipment – crampons, harness, helmet, snowshoes, trekking poles
- Expedition-grade tents
- Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and pillow
- Gathering tent
- All meals
- Cooking equipment, eating utensils, food bowl, and hot drink mug
- Water filtration equipment and storage
- Beverages – water, tea, coffee, hot cocoa, apple cider, lemonade
- Guides prepare and cook all meals
- Packing list
What’s Not Included
- Personal gear, and clothing
- Backpack (rental backpacks available)
- Gratuities for your guide
- Travel Insurance is *Required* for this tour
Important Notes
- Please arrive on time to check-in and get set up
- There are no bathrooms in the backcountry, so bathroom breaks are done nature-style
- You must be able to walk on uneven, soft, steep, rocky, and slippery terrain for up to 8+ miles per day
- Under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult
What to Bring
- Bring snacks, and a water bottle (water can be refilled at camp)
- Backpack size 85-105 liters (rental packs available at checkout)
- Sturdy well broken-in mountaineering boots
- Waterproof rain jacket & rain pants required
- Bring layers – dress for current weather conditions
- Camera, sunglasses, sunscreen, and any personal items
- Cash or Venmo for guide gratuities (recommended)
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation up to 60 days in advance
- Tours run rain or shine
Important…
While we do accept last-minute bookings, our tours regularly sell out. To get your preferred choice and to avoid missing out, we highly recommend booking as soon as possible.
Overview
This is one of the most Epic traverses in glaciated terrain in Alaska! There is just no other way to say it… you haven’t truly experienced living until you’ve traversed the Harding Icefield. This place is like another world, and you won’t believe what you will see. We designed this 6-day glacier mountaineering experience to fully immerse you into the world of an intense glacier mountaineering expedition. Stare in wonder across the Harding Icefield with views that go on for hundreds of miles. Check. Feel the crunch of a glacier under your crampons as traverse across one glacier after another. Check. A friendly, local guide to guide you through your mountaineering expedition. Check, check, and check. With a fully immersive glacier mountaineering experience and an unbeatable price – it’s time you knocked this iconic Alaskan experience off your bucket list.
Small Groups & Mountaineering Camps
In contrast to crowded roadside tours in Alaska, our expeditions get way out there, and are limited to only 8 guests. Bottom line? A more intimate experience with everything from mountains, glaciers, and amazing vistas.
See What Most Are Missing
While the majority of visitors stay on the pavement and pathways, you’ll get to experience the picturesque backcountry, an array of wildlife, and stunning vistas completely inaccessible by car.
Award-Winning Guides
Beyond the jaw-dropping scenery, your experienced and friendly guide will teach you glacier mountaineering, share stories, Harding Icefield history, and answer any questions you have throughout the expedition.
For Visitors & Locals Alike
Whether you’re here for the first time, hosting visitors, or looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, our backcountry adventures are thrilling, exhilarating, and offer unforgettable experiences of our beautiful backyard.
Itinerary
DAY 1:
- 7:00am check-in and get set up at our Seward office
- Breakfast snacks and refreshments at our office
- 9:00am transport to our Kenai flight office
- 12:00pm flight deep into the backcountry of Kenai NWR
- Hiking approx 3 miles to the first camp, lunch in the tundra
- Set up camp and get situated
- Dinner and revelry
DAY 2:
- Coffee is up at 6:15am
- Breakfast in the gathering tent 7-8am
- Pack up camp, glacier mountaineering segment across a massive glacier from the Harding Icefield
- Hiking all day to a new camp location, lunch on the glacier
- Set up camp and get situated
- Dinner and revelry
- Evening hike to catch a great view or rest up
DAY 3:
- Coffee is up at 6:15am
- Breakfast in the gathering tent 7-8am
- Pack up camp, glacier mountaineering, trekking all day to a new camp location, lunch on the glacier
- Set up camp and get situated
- Dinner and revelry
- Evening hike to bag a peak, wait till you see the views
DAY 4:
- Coffee is up at 6:15am
- Breakfast in the gathering tent 7-8am
- Pack up camp, glacier mountaineering, trekking all day to a new camp location, lunch on a mountain
- Set up camp and get situated
- Dinner and revelry
- Evening hike or rest up
DAY 5:
- Coffee is up at 6:15am
- Breakfast in the gathering tent 7-8am
- Pack up camp, glacier mountaineering, trekking all day to a new camp location, lunch on a glacier
- Set up camp and get situated
- Dinner and revelry
- Evening hike or rest up
DAY 6:
- Coffee is up at 6:15am
- Breakfast in the gathering tent 7-8am
- Pack up camp, last chance to soak in the mountain and glacier vibes
- Hike down the mountain to civilization on the world-famous Harding Icefield Trail, lunch on the trail
- Conditions dependent – there may be an option to trek down Exit Glacier then on to the Harding Icefield Trail
- 5pm transport back to our office in Seward
*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.
Why Kenai Backcountry Adventures
Fast & Easy Booking. Period.
Book directly on KenaiBackcountryAdventures.com or call our office to get the best price on our tours.
Priority Booking & Instant Confirmations
Don’t see the date you need? Call our office for priority scheduling. Receive instant confirmations when you book your tour directly on KenaiBackcountryAdventuers.com or when you call our office.
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