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Logistics and Safety

May 17, 2016

Sitting at my desk, looking through the photos from our most recent adventure in the Eastern Alaska Range some feelings arise.  Normally, at least for me, it’s tough to look at photos right away.  They seem small.  The colors aren’t right and the scale isn’t true.  They lack the smell and feel that is still fresh within.  As the time passes emotions start to arise and it’s funny to notice the photos that say the most at first.  It’s not the epic shot of powder flying over the skiers head as he carves turns down a no-named peak above thousands of years of flowing ice in a place that might get a few more visitors than the moon.  It’s shots like this:

When I see this photo, I remember all of the questions that this moment held that I now have the answers to – Yes, there is enough fuel for the plane.  Yes, the light was a little flat on the glacier,  but we were still able to land.  Yes, we have enough food.  Yes, I brought all the necessary equipment, had the right layers and my sleeping bag was warm enough.  Yes, we should have more beer (the temps could accommodate the right kind of canned beverages without freezing).  Yes, we will have good flying weather on the day we want to fly out. And most importantly, yes, it’s all still here, the world didn’t end without me and my wifi connection.

The things things that are impossible to think about when preparing to leave are what one ends up with at the end of a successful adventure.  Intangible feelings that can only be stirred by setting off into the unknown without the illusion of security our modern world provides.  Digging holes in snow on top of a moving, frozen, block of ancient ice and calling it home.  The way that it starts to feel like home with furniture carved out of snow.  Getting comfortable with the fact that “going inside” means a snow hole covered by a thin piece of nylon and reminded of this by a 60 mph wind and snow storm.

When we leave camp we travel on a rope securely attached to each member of the party.  We bring bamboo sticks with brightly colored, orange flags attached to mark our way.  We proceed with caution, pausing at times to probe the ground in our path.  Always, listening, trying to feel beneath our skis for hints of unstable ground.  Letting go of the things we can’t control and prudently attending to the things we can. Traveling only when the weather and land invite us. Safety first, always, and for real up here. 

As we move into the busy summer season of adventure at lower altitudes in Alaska with alpine wildflowers, wildlife, more liquid forms of precipitation and solid ground, it is important to remember to travel safely, be prepared, listen to the land, be flexible and have a positive attitude.

Here’s to another great year in Alaska!

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

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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

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Q: Will we see bears on our trip to Denali? A: We Q: Will we see bears on our trip to Denali? 
A: We can’t guarantee seeing bears during your visit to the Denali area. Your best opportunity for viewing wildlife is going on a bus trip on the Denali Park Road, or going deep into the backcountry in the Denali area. 
Another option is to include a bear viewing specific trip on your Alaska itinerary, flying into an area where there are a high concentration of bears. These fly-in day trips leave from Anchorage, Homer, and other areas, and have a very high probability of viewing bears. 
🐻 
A number of our clients this summer went on bear viewing specific trips and were 100% successful in viewing bears in their natural habitat. Contact us to learn more. 
📸 @mollieofdenali 
#traversealaska
We’re continuing with our guide introductions. N We’re continuing with our guide introductions. Next up, Bill “Buckwheat” Overington, who has been involved with Traverse Alaska for a number of years. 
Buckwheat wears multiple hats including raft guide and manager of our entire river rafting department of the business (in addition to many other talents he brings to the team). 
We are so fortunate to have his expertise, dedication, attention to detail, and fun, laid-back attitude on our team. 
🌊 
Where are you from? 
Originally from Florida, which seems kind of strange, but I moved to Colorado when I was 12. I split my time between Colorado and Alaska. 

How long have you been in Alaska? 
I came to AK in 1989, so it’s been 35 years now.

What do you love about guiding? 
Being outside everyday is important to me, so I apparently made a career out of it. Making outdoor experiences accessible to a broad range of individuals, in both age and background, is incredibly rewarding on a daily basis. 

What are you most passionate about sharing when it comes to Alaska? 
I love sharing river time with visitors to the Denali area. The Nenana is a free-flowing, glacial river and the eastern boundary of Denali National Park. The dynamic nature of changing water levels, a diverse range of old, young and even currently active geological features combined with a perfect progression of whitewater, scenery and lighting all makes for a very exciting, fun and memorable event on any Alaska vacation. The Nenana River is an amazing resource to have so easily accessible in our backyards. You can float for almost 40 miles where the Denali National Park boundary is the river and guests really appreciate that experience.

What type of trips are you looking forward to guiding this summer? 
Warm and sunny!
#traversealaskaguides
Dynamic fall weather this weekend. 😍 Sunshine, Dynamic fall weather this weekend. 😍
Sunshine, rain, clouds, rainbows, and then snow flurries this morning. 
✨
September weather can be full of surprises.
Views of Denali, from the Wonder Lake area, near t Views of Denali, from the Wonder Lake area, near the West End of the Denali Park Road. 
🏔️ 
Want to visit the Denali area, but aren’t sure what to do with the Park Road being partially closed?
There are still ample options of activities and places to explore in the Denali area, beyond the Park Road. 
🏔️
Our recommendation is to come out with our team toward the beginning of your trip. 
You’ll learn from your local, professional guide, who can get you set up for success for the remainder of your trip in Denali, and Alaska. 
#traversealaska 
NPS photo
We’re continuing with our guide introductions. N We’re continuing with our guide introductions. Next up, Patrice La Vigne, who joined the Traverse Alaska team last year. @patricejustin 
🏔️
Where are you from? 
I was born and raised in New Jersey. 

How long have you been in Alaska?
Year-round since 2019

What do you love about guiding? 
I love enabling people to experience wilderness and foster a connection to the natural world. Also, I’m still a “newbie” to Alaska in some sense. So I am constantly learning along with guests. 

What are you most passionate about sharing when it comes to Alaska? 
Everything about Alaska feels like a foreign country. Seeing someone else’s eyes light up, and ooh and ahh at all the wonders of Alaska, never gets old. I love being an authentic storyteller sharing my personal experiences. 

What type of trips are you looking forward to guiding this summer?
Day trips … I adored the half-day trips, but I’m looking forward to longer trips this summer. 
✨
#traversealaskaguides
Early morning light in the mountains. ✨ Photo fr Early morning light in the mountains.
✨
Photo from a Private and Custom 3-day backpacking trip with a family of 8 in the Denali area. 
#traversealaska

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