Fan Glacier Basecamp Hiking

DAY 0 Meet your guide in McCarthy the day before your trip for Orientation and Gear Shakedown. After making sure you are totally prepared for the adventure ahead, your guide will make sure to get you to your lodging that night and coordinate plans for tomorrow’s pick-up.

DAY 1 The long and scenic flight into the backcountry allows you to get a sense of scale for the vast landscapes of Wrangell – St. Elias. After landing on the sands, you’ll carry your gear a little way from the airstrip to set up your camp. Explore the clear, blue pools of the old moraine, bushwhacking to meander around the small hills, and walk down to the confluence of the turbulent glacial rivers. Getting the lay of the land, talks over dinner are inspired as you plan out tomorrow’s hikes.

DAY 2 Staged and ready, you can’t wait to get out of your tent in the morning! Every direction you look in, a spectacular view opens up, full of color and alpine drama. Today you have the full day to hike and explore this unspoiled wilderness. A climb up a nearby slope takes you closer to a family of smaller glaciers and along the high benches behind your camp you can get even more expansive views of this ethereal valley. It won’t be hard to find an epic lunch spot, and with the long sunlight hours, you’ll really have all day!

DAY 3 A hearty breakfast fuels you up for another full day of exploring this undeveloped wonderland. Perhaps you’ll travel up the rocky drainage to get up close and personal with the terminus of a nearby unnamed glacier! A creek crossing or two will allow you to round the corner for changing views of the larger Fan or Bremner Glaciers. Return to camp to enjoy a little walk around the sands while your guide prepares another outstanding wilderness recipe for dinner.

DAY 4 Today is all about soaking it in! Take your shoes off and walk barefoot along the river’s edge. Follow moose and bear tracks that tell the stories of their lives in the wilds. Set up on a grassy bank for lunch and channel beach vibes on the fine, white sands of glacial silt. The buzz of your bush plane pick-up will wake you up from your reverie and it’s time to return to the airstrip. Your long return flight to McCarthy will hold even more significance as your eye is now trained for Alaskan terrain – you’ll be looking for the next spot you want to visit on your return trip!

BASECAMP HIKING EQUIPMENT LIST The following is a complete list of personal equipment required for our basecamp hiking trips. If you need to purchase items on this list, please make those purchases well in advance. While Anchorage has quality gear shops, consider them only as a backup for emergencies or last-minute items (unless you are from Alaska), as they may not have the item you need in stock. There are no gear stores in McCarthy.

Rentals: We have a limited supply of rental equipment available. Please make arrangements with us in advance. REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

• DAY PACK - For Basecamp Trips, a small pack to carry lunch, binoculars, rain gear, etc. during your day hikesis a must. Many bigger backpacking packs have a removable day pack or torso pack, which is fine as long as it can hold what you need for an all-day hike. Some good stand-alone models are the REI Flash 20 or Mountain Hardwear Scrambler.
• ВАСКРАCK or DUFFEL BAG - A good external or internal frame pack OR duffle bag with easy-to-carry straps(backpack-style is preferred vs. a single shoulder sling) will hold most of your gear. You will need to carry your gear about 5-20min away from the airstrip to set up a comfortable camp. Something in the 70-95 liter range should fit your gear and food comfortably. We like Osprey's Aether and Ariel series but also really like packs made by Gregory, or Deuter too. The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel is a great example of the type of duffel bag we're looking for.
• PACK COVER - This is REQUIRED equipment. You should buy one made for your pack, or an extra-large packcover if you cannot find a custom fit. This will protect your pack from rain and wet brush, and at night you don't have to worry about your pack getting wet if a storm rolls in. For the hardcore minimalist, you can bring two extra-large trash bags.
• SLEEPING BAG - It has been known to snow during any month in Alaska. A good three-season sleeping bag rated to 10 degrees is a must. The question is down or synthetic? Down loses its insulating ability once wet, but if you are careful to keep the bag dry, down gives the best warmth-to-weight ratio. Our favorite sleeping bags are Marmot, Feathered Friends, and Western Mountaineering.
• SLEEPING PAD - A full-length pad is best. Therm-a-Rests are great, but remember they can get a small puncture and leak, so we recommend bringing a repair kit. Closed-cell foam pads (a.k.a. Ensolite pads) tend to keep you warmer, but are not as comfortable to sleep on. A small piece of ensolite can be nice to sit on around camp.

REQUIRED APPAREL

• HIKING PANTS - A light wool, synthetic (e.g. nylon, Schoeller), or fleece pant is required. The lightweight softshell pants such as Patagonia's Lightweight Guide Pants work very well too. You'll spend the majority of your time in these so make sure they fit well and are breathable enough to stay comfortable while you're active. Denim, canvas, or any type of cotton is NOT ACCEPTABLE so check the label to make sure before arrival.
• LONG UNDERWEAR SET - Long underwear must be polypro or wool. We recommend bringing a lightweight or midweight set of tops and bottoms such as Patagonia Capilene. Consider 2 sets so you can have a clean set to sleep in at night.
• MID LAYER TOP - Layers are the key to comfort and warmth while hiking and camping. This is the first layer over the polypro long underwear top. It can be wool, capilene, "expedition weight" long underwear, a light fleece, etc. Patagonia's R1 series is a good example of this.
• INSULATING LAYER - Another layer! This one is typically used for extra warmth during rest stops or around camp. One suggestion is a warm fleece jacket - "wind-resistant" fleece is great but tends to hold in your sweat while hiking. A lightweight down or synthetic jacket can be used here too, but remember that once down is wet, it loses all insulating ability, so fleece or synthetic insulation tends to work best in Alaska.
• RAIN JACKET - This is one of the most important items. Good rain gear will make your adventure much more enjoyable. We recommend bringing a high-quality non-insulated Gore-Tex jacket (not your 10-year-old standby-it's just too stormy in Alaska). Exceptional rain gear is made by Arc'teryx, Marmot, and Patagonia. Make sure it's got a comfortable hood that allows you to see and pit zips for ventilation. PONCHOS ARE NOT АССЕРTABLE. Wind and brush make them useless.
• RAIN PANTS - Again, we recommend a high-quality pair of Gore-Tex rain pants, preferably with a full side zipfor ventilation and easy on/off. You can bring a separate pair of uncoated nylon wind pants to wear through the brush and in a light drizzle, if you prefer. This gives your Gore-Tex pants a longer life.
• SOCKS - You should have at least 3 pairs of wool or synthetic socks. Sock selection varies on personal preference, but we recommend bringing two mid-weight socks for hiking and one heavyweight pair to sleep in. You may also want to bring a lightweight pair of neoprene socks specifically for river crossings, however, they are optional. Many guides and clients find lightweight liner socks a very comfortable addition that helps with blisters. SmartWool, Thorlo, and Dahlgren make excellent socks.
• CREEK CROSSING SHOES - A separate pair of footwear is necessary for creek crossings. A pair of lightweight running shoes work fine, or a technical sandal such as Tevas or Chacos (no flip-flops or Crocs please). To save weight, these can also be used as your camp shoes.
• HIKING BOOTS - These should be medium to heavy full leather boots. La Sportiva, Scarpa, Merrell, Montrail, Lowa, and Vasque make great boots - be sure to consider fit first, and fashion second. We highly recommend that all boots be waterproofed shortly before coming up to Alaska, and Nikwax makes excellent waterproofing products. YOUR BOOTS MUST BE WELL BROKEN IN BEFORE THE TRIP! Please do not let the enjoyment of your trip be severely compromised by blisters. *We strongly recommend that you keep your boots in your carry-on luggage for your flight to AK. In the event that your bags get lost or delayed, you'll have boots that fit and we can outfit you with the rest.
• WOOL or FLEECE HAT - Something to cover the ears and keep your head warm. A buff works well too!
• BASEBALL/SUN HAT - A hat with a bill keeps the rain out, too, and will pair nicely with a mosquito net!
• FLEECE GLOVES - A light pair of fleece gloves is a must for warm hands while hiking and around camp. Fleece gloves with WindStopper are best, but regular fleece or even wool gloves work fine as well.

OPTIONAL ITEMS

• BUG NET - Lightweight and teeny tiny, this little item can save the day if your camp ends up getting swarmed. A head net paired with a brimmed hat will keep the net out of your face. Full body net suit not required.
• HIKING/RUNNING SHORTS - Lightweight nylon shorts are quick-drying and easy to carry. Recommended for swimming and/or river crossings or for the occasional super hot day with no bushwhacking.
• PUFFY JACKET - An additional layer for people who are often cold, this is a lightweight but warm layer to wear in camp at night. Synthetic works best when wet, but down provides the most insulation for the weight. For folks from warmer climates, cold days and evenings can feel like "winter" so be prepared to stay warm.
• FLEECE OR PUFFY PANTS - Those wishing to be super warm and toasty around camp, and don't mind carrying a little extra weight, can bring a pair of fleece or puffy pants. Great if you "sleep cold."
• OVERMITTS - These should be a lightweight pair of nylon or Gore-Tex shells that protect the hand from wind and keep your gloves dry in the rain. A good example of this is the OR Revel Shell Mitts. These can save the day if it's particularly blistery out.
• GAITERS - This is an optional but highly recommended item but can help protect your pants from crampons, brush, mud, and keep the water out of your boots on shallow river crossings.
• RUNNING SHOES - If you are OK with the extra weight, a pair of running shoes are good to wear around camp, or for a day hike if your heavy hiking boots are bothering you. Some folks carry sandals, such as Tevas or Chacos, which are great for river crossings but are not good for hiking and not as warm around camp.
• STUFF SACKS - Optional according to preference, but very handy. Bring an assortment of sizes for separating different clothing items. We strongly recommend that you keep your clothing, sleeping bag, and anything else you don't want to get wet in waterproof stuff sacks. A large trash compactor bag (with a couple of backups) can be used to line the entire inside of your pack for a cheap alternative.
• BOOK - Bring something to read just before dozing off or for rest days. Small, light paperbacks are best but if you're careful an e-reader will work well too!
• DECK OF CARDS - Our guides are always up for a game of Cribbage or Hearts before heading off to bed, or if the weather is sour.
• BINOCULARS - Nice to have for animal sightings and views of the distant peaks.
• COMPASS - An option for you (not for us!), but if you don't know how to use one, here's a great chance to learn! A compass such as the Silva Ranger with compensation for declination is very handy.

GROUP EQUIPMENT

• TENTS - We will provide tents for you or you can bring your own. If you plan to use our tents, be aware that you will likely be paired up with another group participant. If you'd like to bring your own tent, it needs to be a 3-season tent with a vestibule - the MSR Copper Spur is a popular model.
• CHAIRS - Your guide will have a Crazy Creek foldable backpacking "chair" per participant. These chairs are quite simple and can be paired with a bear canister or a tall rock for height and additional comfort.
• BEAR CANISTER - Each participant will be given a full bear canister at the start of the trip. It will be full of food and other group items like stoves or the cook tent. The bear canisters are full-sized and the exact dimensions depend on the brand (we use several interchangeably). A good estimate of space is two basketballs stacked on top of each other. A full bear can will weigh about 11lbs, and will become emptier as the days progress, giving you the chance to put your own stuff in there as space opens up.
• AN OCCASIONAL ITEM - You may also be asked to carry a small additional item such as a fuel canister or tent pole.
• FOOD - We supply all the food on our backpacking trips and most of it will already be prepacked in the bear cans we give you. You will be given the chance to pick out snacks for yourself during orientation and you'll want these easily accessible during the day. Depending on the length of your trip you can expect to fill a halffull gallon zip lock bag with snacks.
• COOKING EQUIPMENT + FUEL- We'll bring everything we need for cooking delicious meals in the backcountry. For backpacking trips we use lightweight gear and pack just enough fuel to last the trip (plus a little extra for emergencies). All this stuff will already be in the bear cans you receive, but occasionally a fuel bottle won't fit and will be loose.
• TOILET SUPPLIES - We will provide you with toilet paper and some ziplock bags for your dirty paper (which gets packed out). Your guide will bring a trowel or their ice axe for the group to share to dig catholes as needed. You may choose to bring additional wet wipes if you want to.
• SAT PHONE/INREACH - Your guide will have a satellite communication device for coordinating bush flights and to use in emergencies. You do not need to bring your own emergency location device but can if you want to. We highly encourage you to disconnect as much as possible when you're out in the backcountry and often find that folks underestimate the strong tether they feel to the outside world when they know they can or are expected to send a daily text to their fan club back home.

There is a reason Alaska has such a rugged allure for the lower 48 and beyond: it is still wild! This raw and untamed landscape offers our clients the opportunity to authentically pioneer new territory and have real adventures. Part of embracing the “Alaska Factor” is understanding that things may not always go as planned and expecting the unexpected. Water levels might rise, snow might fall, glaciers may shift and move – the landscape is dynamic and unpredictable is what makes Alaska, Alaska! All of our trips are customized as they unfold and your guide will fluidly make decisions based on weather, logistics, and group dynamics to maximize each day’s experience. There can be quite a bit of variation in the itinerary, but on each trip we promise a big slice of the real Alaska and authentic adventure!

This is a Moderate Basecamp Hiking Trip.

Please keep in mind that there is no truly “easy” hiking terrain in the Wrangells and often the coolest places require a little extra effort to get to. On our Moderate Trips, you will be off-trail trail for the majority of the trip, traversing some combination of rocky slopes, squishy and spongey tundra, and/or slick glacial ice in crampons – all of it uneven, most of it hilly and some of it brushy. On these trips, you will cover 5-8mi/day with up to 1500’ of elevation gain/loss while carrying your own gear along with a portion of the group gear. You will be camping in the rugged wilderness with no manmade shelters, toilets, or really any type of development. We recommend physical training in preparation for Moderate trips These trips are great options for experienced car campers and beginner backpackers, although we always recommend as much prior experience as possible.

The benefit of a base camp hiking trip, compared to a traditional backpacking trip, is the ability to explore deep wilderness without carrying a heavy pack each day. Instead of packing up camp every morning, you can settle into a scenic location and venture out on day hikes with only the essentials. This lighter approach allows for more flexibility, better rest, and a greater focus on enjoying the landscape around you—whether that’s hiking ridgelines, spotting wildlife, or simply relaxing and taking in the views. It’s an ideal way to experience remote Alaska with more comfort and less strain.

Basceamp Hiking Trips are recommended for:

• Avid hikers looking for an immersive wilderness experience
• Beginner backcountry campers
• Families with younger children
• Groups with mixed abilities and interests
• Hikers looking for a more relaxing experience.

Please note that all the terrain in the Wrangells is quite rugged so some level of athleticism and a sense of adventure is always required to get around the wilderness.

You’ll need to be in McCarthy the day before your trip begins for an Orientation and Gear Shakedown. You’ll meet your guide, grab group gear and make sure you are fully prepared to go into the backcountry.

Please account for a full day for travel both to and from McCarthy and the next Alaskan destination. We don’t recommend leaving McCarthy the last day of your trip as this cuts significantly into your last backcountry day and usually makes for a very hectic drive.

If you're driving into McCarthy, use our headquarters location for planning purposes:

St. Elias Alpine Guides

12 Kennicott Millsite, McCarthy, AK 99588, United States

Please note that Copper Center is a 3-4 hour drive and Glennallen is a 4-5 hour drive away from McCarthy/Kennecott.

We usually start to take bookings for multi-day trips in the late fall. The booking process can take a few weeks as you decide on your Trip and Trip Package details and requires back-and-forth communication with our office staff.

We recommend booking your Backpacking Trips between November and May. The earlier you sign up, the more flexibility we’ll have to accommodate you, and the more availability there’ll be for exactly what you’re looking for.

As we get closer to the summer, options will dwindle and more importantly, our time will become limited to help with trip planning as we start to focus on the upcoming season. From May to Sept, our small office staff is busy with daily operations and existing trips, and so booking during this time frame is less than ideal and considered a“last-minute”.

We are not able to offer Trip Package services for trips booked within 2 months of the start date, for example, and may be slower to respond during the summer months

On a Basecamp Hiking Trip, you will need to carry your gear about 5-20min from the backcountry airstrip to set up camp at the beginning of the trip and then pack up and carry it back to the airstrip at the end. Throughout the trip you will hike with a small day pack – this is usually 5-15lbs.

For all Basecamping Trips, the pack weight will really depend on what you bring, so we do recommend having a minimalist mindset. In addition to your own gear, we will be giving you a bear canister full of food and supplies, potentially another item like a fuel canister or a stove, and maybe a part of a tent if you’re not bringing your own (we recommend sharing tents to save weight). Your guides are weight-conscious packers and will never burden you unnecessarily. It’s likely that over the course of the trip you’ll be able to start adding your own things into the bear canister and your pack should get lighter as you eat your food and use supplies.

This is one of the most commonly asked questions!

We practice Leave No Trace principles and make sure to minimize our impact on the natural landscape as much as possible.

In Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the recommended practice for backpackers is to either individually dig small holes (your guide will carry a small trowel) to use as a personal latrine per-use or choose a place near camp but with some privacy and dig a trench for use as a group latrine, depending on the location. You will carry out all your used toilet paper and all other sanitary products and trash.

Wrangell – St. Elias National Park is home to both black bears and grizzly bears and we are honored to share our home with such majestic animals. We treat the bears with respect and do our best to maintain their wild environment and nature. The bears out here are truly very wild and have very little contact with humans – this means that they are naturally afraid of us! Yes, even grizzlies! Bears do not hunt humans and our most common bear sighting is of a bear’s butt as they run away.

Although bear sightings may be exciting, we do our best to avoid close encounters with preventative measures at camp and while hiking that our guides will share with you. Just in case of unusually close encounters, our guides carry flare guns (to scare a bear away) and pepper spray (in case of an uncomfortably close meeting). It is very uncommon to have to use either.

If you want to, you can bring your own bear spray too, however, know that your guide has one and has been trained on how to use it. With 40 years of guiding in the Park, we have found that being bear aware, taking preventative measures and the flare gun and pepper spray to be sufficient mitigations.

Please refrain from bringing firearms with you on our trips. Not only does this make our other guests and guides uncomfortable, but they are also completely unnecessary for bear safety. We know that other areas of Alaska may recommend firearms for bear safety, but we specifically recommend against them.

We pride ourselves on cooking healthy and delicious meals even under the most adverse conditions! Your exact menu will depend on the trip, your guide, and the dietary preferences/restrictions you list in your Trip Application. No matter what kind of cook your guide is at home, all our guides are well-trained backcountry chefs and use time-tested recipes from our proprietary cookbook for their trips. We carry a plentiful and varied stock of ingredients and most meals are prepared from scratch (allowing for easy substitutions, additions or subtractions of ingredients).

On our backpacking and basecamp trips, you can expect 3 meals a day, plus snacks of your choice. Breakfasts and dinners are usually hot meals and lunches are served cold. On mountaineering trips lunches consist of a variety of snacks as it can be hard to organize group meals while on a rope team. We use a combination of fresh, dehydrated, and freeze-dried ingredients to make our delicious meals. Meals for most trips start with Lunch on the first day and end with Lunch on the last day.

We can accommodate most dietary restrictions and even preferences, too! Please be honest and open with your guides about what you can and cannot eat, why, and what will happen if you do. Don’t worry if it’s just a preference – there’s no need to pick out the mushrooms out of every meal when they could easily just be left out.

Because our guides prepare most meals completely from scratch, it’s easy for them to add, leave out, or substitute ingredients. They are attuned to the consequences of cross-contamination and prep and cook meals with great care when dealing with an allergen or an upsetting ingredient. We have never had any food-related allergic reactions or major issues arise in the field.

We ask that you are realistic about how you want to eat in the backcountry. If you follow a very strict diet at home, consider making exceptions while on the trip, as your body will be extra stressed and comfort foods will seem much more appealing out there. We also want to make sure you’re getting enough calories, protein, and other nutrients. If you tell your guides you don’t eat pork, they won’t pack you any bacon, and then when breakfast rolls around and you can hear it sizzling in the pan, that delicious bacon smell is in the air, and everyone else is crunchin’ on crispy bacon strips……you’ll be eating drool for breakfast! If you tell us you eat vegan, we will pack you amazing and delicious vegan meals, so don’t count on stealing anyone’s cheese and jerky if it turns out you actually make exceptions for tasty treats! Be realistic, and communicate honestly.

If you have a highly specialized diet for health reasons and we are not able to accommodate it, we will work with you to find an alternative solution.

Tipping is customary in the guiding industry and always appreciated. While our guides are paid professionals, gratuities help make guiding a sustainable career. A good guideline is 10–20% of the trip cost—typically $10–$35 per person for day trips, and 10–20% of the total cost given at the end for multi-day trips. Tips can be given in cash, via Venmo, or by card. If your trip includes a flight, please tip your pilot separately, as any pre-tips go directly to your guide.

We understand that you may have luggage or things you don’t want to bring into the backcountry with you so we have a designated area at our headquarters where your guide will label and store your stuff while you’re out. This area is not locked, however, we have never had any issues with loss or damage. If you have a small item of great value that you are particularly nervous about, we may be able to store it in our office for you – just ask your guide.

A shared tent will be provided for you, however, if you have your own tent and can bring it, we recommend that you do. You’ll be most comfortable with the equipment you’re already familiar with (or you can become familiar with it on this trip) and this is probably why you got a tent in the first place – to use it!

We use lightweight 2-man and 3-man, 3-season tents with double vestibules. Our fleet of rental tents includes a variety of brands and models like MSR Elixers and Alps Mountaineering Extreme. Other great options are the Big Agnes Copper Spur or MSR Hubba Hubba.

If you’d like to bring your own tent, double-check the make and model with us first to make sure it’ll stand up to the rugged demands of the Alaskan backcountry!

For this adventure, we typically offer one group trip per year, and private trips are available throughout the summer.

Group Trips have set dates and are made up of individual travelers or smaller parties like couples who don’t know each other but are excited to adventure together! On a Group Trip, you’ll meet new people with similar interests and be able to spread the costs of the trip resulting in a lower per-person rate. We need a minimum of 3 people to run a Group Trip at the Group Rate and they max out at 8 participants for land-based trips.

Private Trips have custom dates and are just for your party. Private Trips are great for families, especially those with young children, close groups of friends or couples just wanting to spend time together, or those with special interests like photography or birding that they want to focus on during the trip. On a Private Trip, the entire experience is customized to your party and you don’t have to compromise to anyone else’s interests or abilities. Private Trips can be for just one, solo adventurer or get as big as 12 participants for larger groups. We work with a ratio of 1:4.