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About this trip
Join Revel for a 3-day/2-night backpacking trip in Hatcher Pass. Our guides will take adventurers out into the tundra and off the beaten path in the Talkeetna Mountains. The fall colors will come to life in the tundra as the blueberry bushes turn yellow and the bear berry bushes turn bright red on the surrounding mountains. Our exact route will depend on road and trail conditions after Labor Day.
Participants will have the opportunity to connect with the wilderness of the last frontier and learn along the way.
What to expect:
Participants should have the ability to carry 25-40lbs. across uneven terrain. Hikers will sleep two to a three-person tent unless single tent accommodation is requested. Meals during backcountry travel will generally be dehydrated, packaged meals (this helps reduce pack weight). We can accommodate most dietary requests and restrictions.
Route details will provided in the months and weeks leading up to your adventure. Please understand our itinerary may change ahead of trip departure and/or while we are in the field.
About the backpacking
This is a moderately challenging to difficult trip for most hikers. Participants can expect to hike 6-9 miles per day with an elevation gain and/or loss of up to 2,000 feet.
You can check out the general area we intend to backpack here. Please note this itinerary is subject to change prior to trip departure and/or while in the field. The intended route is a 'route' not a maintained trail.
Total hiking distance: 15-20 miles, expect to hike 6-9 miles per day, off-trail
Total elevation gain: Gain of about 3,000' and loss of about 3,000'
Max elevation: Anticipated max elevation is 4,200 feet
Payment details + Cancellation Policy
Payment details:
* To secure your reservation, a $500 deposit is due upon booking. Reservations will not be confirmed until a deposit has been applied towards the trip.
* At 60 days prior to departure, 50% of the remaining balance will be due.
* At 30 days prior to departure, the remaining balance will be due.
Cancellation policy:
Cancellations made
* More than 45 days before the start date, receive a full refund minus a 5% processing fee
* Less than 45 days before the start date, receive no refund.
View our FAQs here.
What’s included
- Local guidesYour lead guide will carry Wilderness First Responder training and have 5+ years guiding experience in Alaska.
- Roundtrip transportationTo/from Palmer, Alaska. Option to add-on Anchorage pick up.
- All mealsThis starts with lunch on Day 1 and ends with dinner on Day 3. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated. Backpacking meals are generally dehydrated meals.
- TentsParticipants will sleep 2 people per three person tent. Hikers will tent with their significant other/friend as requested.
- Sleeping bag + padEach participant will be issued a 20 degree synthetic bag and a sleeping pad. Hikers are also welcome to use their own gear.
- Camp gearWater filtration system, cook stove, fuel, etc.
- InReach or SAT phoneOur guides hike with an emergency communication device on all backcountry trips.
- Trekking poles
- Toilet kitsHikers will use Leave No Trace (LNT) principles when using the restroom outdoors. LNT principles will be reviewed during pre-trip communication.
- 1 pre-trip consultationThis will be offered via zoom with the Revel team. During pre-trip consultation we will review trip details, gear questions, route questions, etc. We’ve found this to be a helpful preparation step.
- Gear checkThis will be an in-person meeting the evening prior to our trip departure. Here we will review all participant gear and answer any final questions.
What’s not included
- FlightsTo/from Anchorage if traveling from out of state or outside the southcentral area.
- Lodging on nights 0 & 3If traveling from out of state or outside of southcentral, Lodging on night 0 and night 3, we recommend you plan to stay in Anchorage these evenings.
- BackpackWe recommend a 45L pack for this trip.
- Personal gearClothing, rain gear, toiletries, etc.
- Guide gratuitiesWe recommend 5-10% if you had an excellent experience.
Available Packages
Your reservation supports our ability to provide community hikes and educational opportunities to locals in our area. Thank you!
Call Alaska home? We're happy to extend AK resident pricing to locals.
Itinerary
- 9AM departure - we’ll depart from downtown Palmer and head to Hatcher Pass. Intended starting point is Craigie Creek. The first part of our journey is on an old mining "road" with motorized access. We’ll meander a few miles up a glacial valley before hitting a boulder field. At this point the trail disappears and we begin our off-trail route.
- We’ll hike at a leisurely pace stopping for water breaks and enjoying the scenery along the way. Our hiking will be almost entirely in alpine tundra, so backpackers can expect scenic, unobstructed views (as the weather permits).
- Depending on our pace hikers can expect to set up camp in the afternoon/evening. We’ll relax and enjoy dinner together before heading in for the night.
Activity level: This day will be moderately challenging to difficult for most hikers. Expect to travel 6 to 9 miles and climb 1,000-2,000 feet.
Meals: Lunch and dinner included
Lodging: Tent camping, with 2 people per three person tent. Hikers will tent with their significant other/friend as requested. If no tentmate is requested, Revel will assign a same gender tentmate.
Water access: We will set up camp near water access, but water will be filtered prior to drinking.
Toilets: Hikers will use Leave No Trace (LNT) principles when using the restroom outdoors. LNT principles will be reviewed during pre-trip communication.