Traverse Alaska - Private Hiking and Rafting Adventures

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907-903-0979 | info@traversealaska.com

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A Season to Remember!

September 20, 2018

There are fall colors in the tundra, the moose and caribou are scraping the velvet off their antlers, the fireweed has

One of our favorite scenes: fresh snow to fall colors.

gone to seed, and the sandhill cranes are migrating through.  There’s even fresh snow in the high country! Every year we look back on this time and think, how did this summer fly by so quickly? Summers in Denali are spectacular (just ask any of our clients), and the advent of fall means we have a bit of time to reflect on the height of the season and some of the people that we were lucky enough to spend time with.

This summer included more custom, multi-day adventures than any previous summer season.  From introducing folks to backpacking for the first time, to overnight river trips on remote rivers in the Talkeetna Mountains, we loved getting out and sharing Alaska with first-time visitors and seasoned outdoors-people alike.  We crafted multiple unique backpacking experiences in the Talkeetna Mountains and in Denali State Park, where as always, the views of Denali (“the mountain”) never got old! We also helped several groups plan their entire Alaskan vacation, where we gave recommendations and arrangements for our favorite places to play, stay, and eat across the state.

Stretching after a big day of backpacking with breathtaking views of Denali and the Alaska Range from a custom backpacking trip.

Many of our clients joined us for a single day of hiking and exploring the wilderness around Denali, and we enjoyed providing guests with the knowledge, confidence, and tools they need to hike off-trail.  Some of our day trips involved packrafting, which is such a unique and gratifying way to witness this country. In addition to packrafting rivers in the Alaska and Talkeetna Mountain Ranges, we also linked up custom adventures like fly fishing, bird watching, flight-seeing, river rafting, and private tours of a sled dog kennel to many of our guests. 

One of the most memorable aspects of the last few weeks is the excellent crop of blueberries this year! Everyone who joined us on our day hikes, from ages 7 months to 78 years, appreciated this wild bounty of the tundra. Some groups were lucky enough to spot grizzly bears (from a safe distance) enjoying the bumper crop as well, which is always a memorable experience.

But don’t take our word for it!  Check out our TripAdvisor page  to read reviews from our clients about how rewarding their visit to Alaska this summer has been.  To see photos from our summer adventures, like our Instagram and Facebook pages.

Although the summer visitation season is winding down, we aren’t done adventuring!  Winter in Alaska is phenomenal, and we’ll be announcing specialty winter trips, in addition to offering custom guiding and transportation all winter long.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’re planning to visit the Last Frontier this winter season! 

Enjoying the sunset during a custom, rafting/camping trip in the Talkeetna Mountains.

Filed Under: Blog

From the Blog

Hiring Guides for 2023 Summer

March 4, 2023

Denali-based guide position: Traverse Alaska seeks applicants for professional wilderness guide positions. We are looking Learn More

Trip Planning and Covid-19

January 1, 2022

Safety is our top priority and our team continues to monitor and evaluate best practices associated with the Covid-19 Learn More

Custom delivery service news story

May 29, 2020

Tourism business shifts to deliveries for locals: “We had to pivot.” So they created Traverse Alaska Logistics and Learn More

Traverse Alaska Philosophy

We are dedicated to providing experiences that build meaningful connections with Alaska. Our team works diligently to immerse clients in educational exploration. Each and every adventure is personalized to challenge clients while discovering the last frontier at their own unique pace.

Traverse Alaska

Human Powered Adventure

Phone
(907) 903-0979

Email
info@traversealaska.com

Mailing Address
PO Box 90875 | Anchorage, AK 99509

Testimonials

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Instagram

We’ve recruited Luc Mehl and the Swiftwater Safe We’ve recruited Luc Mehl and the Swiftwater Safety Institute for our 5th annual Packraft-specific certified Swift Water Rescue Training for our staff in Denali.
We have 1 spot left for the course this weekend! 

The certified training course is scheduled for May 27, 28, 29 (all day) in Denali. 
#cultureofsafety #thisispackrafting #swiftwatersafety
We are dedicated to supporting organizations that We are dedicated to supporting organizations that keep Alaska wild.
✨
We recently submitted donations to a few of our non-profit partners that are doing valuable work for Alaska lands, wildlife, and people.
Follow these organizations to stay connected on important Alaska issues:
@keepalaskawild
@thenortherncenter
@alaskatrails 
@greatlandtrust
NPS photo
We are so fortunate to have a wonderful team of pr We are so fortunate to have a wonderful team of professional, local guides. We’d like you to meet our team. We’ll kick it off with Justin La Vigne, who has been a guide with Traverse Alaska since 2021. @patricejustin 
🏔️
Where are you from? 
I was born in Fort Hood Texas, but grew up in northern New Jersey.  I went to college in Pennsylvania and graduate school in Arizona.  I have lived in 14 different states.  I have lived in 4 camper vans/subarus for about 10 years. 

How long have you been in Alaska? 
I came here in 2003 for my graduate research and worked in Kantishna.  Then back in 2006 to work in the cruise industry.  Then here in 2018 and 2019 working for Leave No Trace with the Zero Landfill Initiative.  Bought our cabin in 2019 and have lived here full time since. 

What do you love about guiding? 
I love introducing the guests to the wonders of Alaska.  I love meeting new people.  I love showing off my home.  Being outside and immersed in nature. 

What are you most passionate about sharing when it comes to Alaska?
Denali and climbing, the history of the NP, life in the winter, animals.

What type of trips are you looking forward to guiding this summer? 
I love all the various trips we offer.  Every day is something new with new people.
✨
#traversealaskaguides
Appreciation post: We want to recognize Joe for hi Appreciation post: We want to recognize Joe for his hard work and dedication to the Iditarod Sled Dog Race for the 5th year in a row. He operates all the checkpoint logistics for the race. 
✨
The Iditarod is a 1,000-mile sled dog race across Alaska, with 22 checkpoints traveling through extremely remote areas of the state. The logistics consistently present challenges, however he handles each obstacle in a calm, laid-back demeanor. 
✨
Needless to say, we are fortunate to have Joe’s expertise and dedication on the Traverse Alaska team!
(Swipe for videos/photos from the Iditarod trail…)
#workwiththosewhoinspireyou
We’re getting pumped for our summer season, and We’re getting pumped for our summer season, and going on day hikes with views like this. 😍
Are you excited for hiking season?
#traversealaska #privatepersonalcustom
Denali received another recent dumping of snow thi Denali received another recent dumping of snow this week. There’s a really good chance we will be able to get in great sliding on the snow, during our hikes in the early season!
🏔
This photo is from June a couple years ago, on a Private, Custom full-day hike. We had a blast hiking in the tundra, we were lucky not to see any other humans, and the main attraction—that big mountain in the background—Denali. 
😍
Second photo from this morning. 
#traversealaska #privatepersonalcustom #tagalaskaresponsibly

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