The Last Frontier! (Gateway, Skagway, Talkeetna: place, average, rain)

[j1n]

I'm no Bill Gates. This thing is being planned out well in advance, and $$ will be saved and put aside for it. For instance, if I wanted...I could fly this Sept for @ $700 round trip. I imagine we'll be pre-shipping our freeze-dried and camping food out to Anchorage in advance. That said, I know we'll be spending $$ for this trip.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by j1n

I imagine we'll be pre-shipping our freeze-dried and camping food out to Anchorage in advance.

Actually, I think that might be more expensive than just buying it at Freddies. Someone in Anchorage might have to yay or nay this for me, but USPS is generally not at all cheap...

[forgetwho]

Your trip sounds great. But - you do know that there are no trails in the Denali backcountry, right? Do you have route finding skills?

[DannyL]

Originally Posted by Xa'at

Actually, I think that might be more expensive than just buying it at Freddies. Someone in Anchorage might have to yay or nay this for me, but USPS is generally not at all cheap...

for Alaskan residents, USPS is a bargain, thanks to that small miracle called "pass thru postage". I've yet to pay over 12 bucks for anything, including heavy items.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by DannyL

for Alaskan residents, USPS is a bargain, thanks to that small miracle called "pass thru postage". I've yet to pay over 12 bucks for anything, including heavy items.

I was under the impression that pass thru is only for commercial usage...

[DannyL]

Originally Posted by Xa'at

I was under the impression that pass thru is only for commercial usage...

not really. the only thing you can get burned on is trying to get "overnight" service.
overnight in juneau means 3 days, so why pay for it? it's just the way it is.......
that is unless you gold streak it thru alaska airlines, then it's on space available, flight available, and you pick it up in seattle.

[rotorhead]

As a reformed backpacker, I say...why hike? Try something a bit different, like a float trip down an interior river, or charter a live-aboard fishing boat out of Whittier or Petersberg for a long weekend. Maybe drive down to the Kenai and rent a canoe for a few days loop through the moose refuge. Take a jetboat up the Skwentna and stay a few days at a lodge for some fishing.

You can get sore feet tramping around anywhere in the southern 48, but the water is the real off-road transportation system in AK.

[Blueberry]

I'll second rotorhead's suggestion. Depending on the float trip, you might not see another soul for days. Nothing says wilderness like isolation!

However, Xa'at's suggestion has it's merits, too. Gorgeous scenery, fewer people on the drive, and hiking the Chilkoot would be an adventure to brag about.

[cobolt]

And to back up Xa'at's suggestion for hiking the Chilkoot trail, despite the fact that 50 passes per day are issued for the trail, it's not like you're going to be rubbing elbows with fellow backpackers. It's a vast land and people spread out quickly. The only time you may run into someone is at one of the campsites and maybe then....not.

[DannyL]

Originally Posted by cobolt

And to back up Xa'at's suggestion for hiking the Chilkoot trail, despite the fact that 50 passes per day are issued for the trail, it's not like you're going to be rubbing elbows with fellow backpackers. It's a vast land and people spread out quickly. The only time you may run into someone is at one of the campsites and maybe then....not.

Correct, the hike is not for the timid or out of shape. It's about a 40 mile hump if you do the whole thing.