Backpack Alaska’s tundra and mountains

Join a group of other 18- to 22-year-olds for a month of backpacking under the midnight sun through the remote Alaskan wilderness. Possible destinations include the Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska Range, or Wrangell-St. Elias Range along the U.S.-Canadian border—terrain that few people ever see—surrounded by endless tundra, towering peaks, and caribou herds.

You’ll start by mastering the fundamentals: camping, cooking on a camp stove, and foundational mountain travel skills. From there, you’ll learn to cross glacier-fed rivers, navigate off-trail with map and compass, and cross steep scree slopes. As you develop competence, instructors will gradually give you more responsibility. You may travel in student-led groups without instructors for up to a day at a time, and if your group is ready, your course may culminate in a multi-day student-led expedition where your group of four to six navigates independently for two to six days.

You will have a food supply re-rationed via plane or helicopter during the expedition, and otherwise you will carry everything you need to live comfortably on your back. Alaska can be unforgiving— from harsh terrain to fast-changing weather, expect this course to challenge you. The focus on community building will make all the difference during the harder days, when you and your group will have to lean on each other. 

You’ll leave with the leadership and outdoor skills needed to plan and carry out your own backpacking trips—and memories to last a lifetime, with a new group of friends built through a month of shared challenge.