We wrote the book!
Author of
Hiking Alaska's
Wrangell St
Elias Natlonal Park
Falcon Guides
Hiking Alaska's
Wrangell St
Elias Natlonal Park
Falcon Guides
This trip is all about exploring the high country in the Wolverine Mountain area. Amazing ridge walks and exploring opportunties. This is a combination of backpacking and base camping so the best of both allows for a lot of flexibility. Discovering the many fossils in the region is a bonus on this trip!
This trek composes Wolverine Mountain terminus of the famous Goat Trail route. But while the Goat Trail trek passes through the Grotto Creek and Wolverine area, we are always sad that we can’t linger longer in those spots.
So we put together a route that lets us do just that. Instead of landing at the Wolverine strip and lighting out for Grotto Creek, we spend the first day exploring up the ridge at the prime spot for fossil finding in the area. There are opportunities for spotting fossils though out this route but on this first slope we’ll be tripping over them.
Then we shoulder packs and make for Grotto Creek, an amazing spot that offers lots of options for exploring. What we do after that depends on the group.
We could spend a few days exploring Grotto Creek before returning to the Wolverine airstrip or we could continue on and do a circumnavigation of Wolverine Mesa to end up back at the airstrip. It will depend on the interests and abilities of the group which route we take. There is so much to like about this trip: ridge walking, summits, gorgeous campsites, hidden secrets waiting to be discovered like caves and arches... the route continues to delight. And of course the fossils are really just the cherry on top of this treat.
Please note that our fossil bagging is strictly catch and release. We want future explorers to have the same great experience.
| Day 0 | Depart from Anchorage early morning, arriving in McCarthy by late afternoon, around 5-5:30 pm. Your guide will meet you on arrival. Once you get checked in to your lodgings, the guide will meet with the group to review gear and distribute group gear and food. Dinner on your own. |
| Day 1 | Flights to Wolverine need to be done in the morning to avoid the winds that sometimes pick up later in the day. So we usually schedule an 8-8:30 flights out of McCarthy. It's about a 20 minute flight and a many consider the backcountry flight in a single engine bush plane to be a real highlight of the experience. By mid-morning the entire group will be assembled at the Wolverine airstrip. We hit the ground running and take off for the Grotto Creek area. We might get there on the first day or we might take two days. It depends on the group, weather, etc. |
| Day 2 | Today we either hike the rest of the way to Grotto or, if already arrive begin exploring the region. Grotto Creek is one of the nicest areas to camp that we visit. There are areas of flat, smooth ground with nearby water source that makes for sweet camping. |
| Day 2-4 | We spend a couple days exploring the Grotto Creek area, and there are a lot of great options. Opportunities for some great ridge walks abound or we might head down valley a bit and explore waterfalls, arches and caves. The guide presents options and the group weighs in. |
| Day 5 | It's back to Wolverine today. Keep an eye pealed for fossils along the route. There are also a lot of geodes in the region from tiny to pretty large. |
| Day 6 | We're up bright and early to catch the flight back to McCarthy. First stop is usually The Potato for an awesome late breakfast to celebrate the adventure. |
| Post Trip | Today it's back on the road to Anchorage to where ever your Alaska travels take you next. Or stay an extra day and take the tour of the Kennicott historical site and learn a bit of the local history. |
How Do We Get to McCarthy Alaska?
There are several options.
Car Rentals
If you have more than 2 in your group then renting a car out of Anchorage can be a good option.
Shuttle Van
Two shuttle services provides van transportation between Anchorage to McCarthy, Alaska. The shuttle departs Anchorage at 8:00 am arriving around 5-5:30 pm in McCarthy. This is the best, most economical way for one or two people to get to McCarthy and back.
If you are driving or taking the shuttle it takes about 8 hours to drive Anchorage to McCarthy.
Once you have a hotel reservation in Anchorage you will need to let them, as well as Trek Alaska, know where you will be staying. Also give them your cell phone number if you will have one with you. Please note that in McCarthy only Verizon has coverage.
Overflow Transit
Operates on a fixed schedule with two trips in each direction per week
https://overflowtransit.com/
Email: overflowtransit@gmail.com
Phone: (907)-707-9921
Copper Spike Transport
Operates “on demand” rather than set schedule
https://www.copperspiketransport.com/
jamie@copperspiketransport.com
Phone: 907.406.9599
Ride n Fly
The last 60 miles from Chitina to McCarthy is on the McCarthy road most of which is gravel. It's usualy in good shape and any vehicle can easily drive it. But some folks prefer not to.
An alternative is to drive to Chitina and from there take the Wrangell Mountain Air shuttle that flies three times daily to McCarthy.
Wrangell Mt. Air - http://www.wrangellmountainair.com/getting_to_alaska.htm
Wrangell Mt. Air can also arrange a charter flight just for your group. Contact them about current rates.
Mail Plane
There is a mail plane that flies between Anchorage and McCarthy twice a week - on Mondays and Thursdays. This is a good way for one or two people to get to and from McCarthy. Beautiful flight and no long drive in the car. With only two flights weekly you would likely need to arrive a few days early in McCarthy.
https://www.coppervalleyairservice.com/flights/flights-anchorage-gulkana-mccarthy
Where Do We Meet in McCarthy?
The shuttle vans usually arrives in McCarthy by 5:30 pm. If you are flying you will arrive earlier. The meeting begins when the whole group has arrived which is usually around 5:30-6:00 pm/ At this time you will meet your guide and the rest of the group in McCarthy for an orientation meeting the evening before the trip begins. We will meet up in front of Ma Johnsons Hotel in the middle of McCarthy. McCarthy is a very small town so don't worry, you'll have no problems finding your way around. We make every effort to be on hand with everyone upon arrival in McCarthy. You will be contacted approximately 2-3 weeks before your trip and we will confirm the exact location of the orientation meeting. The morning of departure it's a short walk down the street to Wrangell Mt. Air where we catch a shuttle van to the airstrip for our departure into the backcountry.
If you're on the Donoho trip the van to Kennicott departs right by Ma Johnsons. All those details will be covered at the meeting with the guide on arrival.
Drop Off/PickupTimes
We like to get an early start on the first day as it might take two flights to get everyone into the backcountry. Departure times of 8:30 a.m. are common. Our pickups on the last day are usualy around mid-day to allow us time to get back to McCarthy and get cleaned up and relax before dinner.
Safety Considerations
Your safety is our top priority. Our treks are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are certified wilderness first responders, each with years of wilderness experience. The guide carries a satellite phone on all trips. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 907.795.5252 or trips@trekalaska.com for more information.
Guides
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Forms/Policies
Here is a link to forms that you will need to complete and return to us before the trip. These include medical history, dietary restrictions, conditioning information as well as policies such as cancellations and refunds.
Group Size
We prefer to run small groups and our clients like it that way too. The standard group size on backpacking trips is 5 guests and 1 guide. Larger groups are possible for private trips. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 907.795.5252 and we'll answer all your questions.
Weather in the Wrangells
Alaska is pretty far north and like any mountain environment we are prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). See below for average summer temperatures in Wrangell-St. Elias. July is especialy variable and we have had temps hit the low 80s some summers. Mid August is when things start to cool down a bit but still great hiking weather.
What's Included
What's Not Included
Meals: What To Expect
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables. In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We try to accomodate restricted diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. It depends on the severity of the restrictions. Vegetarian diets are easy to accomodate but gluten-free for example is more challenging. Contact us to discuss your situation and needs.
