Eco-Explorations
Alaska
Introduction
Talkeetna, defined by the Tanaina Indians as “where rivers meet,” is the convergence point of three significant river systems: Talkeetna, Chulitna and Susitna. The power of this converge leads many to conclude that the area is not just special, but spiritual.
Float Trip / Fishing
An hour and a half from Anchorage we will stop at ? to for our first raft adventure. A feeder stream into the larger Susitna River, the ? provides an up close and personal look into the Alaskan forest. Along the way, look for bald eagles, brown and black bears, kingfishers, and the occasional river otters. Fishermen. Man your poles. The ? is one of the great accessible salmon streams in the world. Pinks, chum, silver and king salmon enter the stream in such numbers that you could skip rocks across their backs. Rainbow trout grow fat on salmon eggs and can be tempted with just the right presentation. Success will depend on the day’s run and the angler’s skill. Amidst this backdrop of Alaska’s we will discuss the origin of Alaska’s wild streams. The periods of glaciation that helped shaped the landscape.
ATV Tour or Jet Boat Tour
The Talkeetna area has some of the premier off-road trails for exploration. We will team up two persons per ATV as we wind through a drainage of rivers, swamps, and wild Alaska. En-route, keep your eyes out for moose wading knee-deep in bogs and swamps. Weather permitting some of the great vistas of Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range can be had from the trails we will follow. Our discussion will center on the boreal forest, the tree species common to the area, bird species of the deep forest and typical weather patterns of the area.
We will have ATV’s delivered to our riding site and from there we will wind through a collage of rivers and kettle lakes shaped by the last glacial period. Riding two persons per ATV, we travel an easy to moderate trail chosen for the diversity of landscape it affords.
For those preferring a more leisurely pace, the ATV tour can be replaced by a three-hour jetboat tour. In a comfortable and covered boat, navigate the rapids of the Susitna and experience the power of the glacier’s run-off firsthand. See the effects that the spring ice sheets have on the riverbank forest. Look for some of the largest beaver anywhere in America.
Whistle stop Train/Raft Adventure
Board the last whistle stop train in the United States for a thirty-mile journey up the Talkeetna River. A whistle-stop train is one that can be flagged down by workers or wayward travelers by raising one's hand to alert the conductor. We will debark and load our gear into our boats and prepare for our float. The swift flowing river will do most of the work allowing us to focus on the natural history of the area. En-route, we will talk about the pioneer history of the area and the confluence of settlers that that provides a sinuos journey through a floodplain populated by grizzly bears, moose, and grey wolves. Magnificent views of Mt. McKinley, highlight the trip. We will pull out at nearby tributaries in search of salmon. The fishermen and women among us will try their luck at landing salmon, or searching deep pools in search of trout.
Denali National Park
In Denali National Park, strap on your walking shoes in preparation for a stroll through one of America’s great parks.
This will be your best opportunity to spot a grizzly bear (from a distance, hopefully). Cross a variety of eco-tones—arctic tundra, sub-alpine, and boreal forest. Keep on the lookout for bald eagles, red fox, river otters among others players and rainbow trout.
Denali Float Trip
The Nenana River offers Denali’s premier float trip. The 150 mile river drains an area on the north slope of the Alaska Range and issues off the Nenana Glacier. Pausing at tributary streams along the way, fishermen can try their luck for arctic grayling and rainbow trout. The meandering stream and inspiring scenery lends itself to a comparison of Alaska past and present. Along the way, review some of the journal entries of explorers that passed through the same country we will be traversing. Discuss which aspects of the landscape have changed over time versus what has remained wild.
Denali Wilderness Tour
Bikes or bus. Take your pick. Journey into the heart of Denali wilderness on two wheels or four. The bicycle enthusiasts will set a pace that. Our focus will be on glaciers.