Youth Backpacking Trips
4-day Alaska Youth Backpacking Trip: Arctic Valley to South Fork Valley Traverse
Experience the thrill of an unforgettable adventure in the heart of Alaska’s wilderness with our 4-Day Alaska Youth Backpacking Trip. This exhilarating journey is specifically designed for young adventurers aged 10-13, offering an incredible opportunity to experience the stunning landscapes of three glaciated valleys, all on one trail system: Arctic Valley, South Fork Eagle River Valley, and Hanging Valley. Prepare to be challenged both physically and mentally, gaining those foundational skills necessary for successful backpacking, as you embark on a moderate backpacking trail, learn essential outdoor skills, and immerse yourself in the wonders of authentic Alaskan wilderness education.
During this trip, participants will learn to:
Age Cohort: 10-13 years old
Guide to Participant Ratios: 5:1
Max. Enrollment: 10
Minimum Enrollment: 8
Cost: $578
Tuition Includes:
Tuition Does Not Include:
Prerequisites:
Curriculum:
Where We’ll Go: This is an out-and-back journey from the South Fork Eagle River trailhead to Hanging Valley & Symphony Lakes. We will explore the awe-inspiring landscapes of Hanging Valley and Symphony Lakes, nestled in the South Fork Eagle River Valley. These pristine locations are a paradise for nature enthusiasts, boasting scenic beauty and abundant wildlife.
Difficulty Level: This is a moderate backpacking trail, featuring some elevation gain, potentially some snow and/or mud, mostly good footing for the majority of the trial, with a somewhat challenging talus field to traverse on the last leg of the trip. Understanding that everyone has a different level of challenge, this trip offers a perfect balance of adventure and safety, ensuring an enjoyable experience for all skill levels and a perfect outdoor classroom for a foundational backpacking course.
What to Pack: We will discuss these details and more prior to the trip start date. Participants will be emailed the link to sign our waiver in addition to the handbook with all the information and our expectations.
Summer 2024 Dates offered:
Payment and Cancellation Policies:
This is technically a 4.5 day trip: the first 1/2 day comes in the form of a pre-trip packing pizza party two nights before our departure on “Day 1” at our shop at 1343 G. St, Anchorage, AK, 99501.
2 nights prior to trip start date: Meet at the shop for a pre-trip packing party, with pizza. Introductions, packing our bags. Any materials needed can be addressed the following day before our trip starts.
Day 1:
- Sign up by clicking the start date on the calendar that works for you.
- Input the required information where indicated (name, age, etc.), and pay the 25% trip deposit.
- Fill out and sign our Waiver and Release Form online.
- Fill out and sign our registration form, trip policies and conditions, and health questionnaire.
- We will send out pertinent information once participants are fully registered. Participants must be fully registered at least 30 days prior to trip start date so that we can ensure that both ITWAK and participants can be as prepared as possible for the trip.
Fill out the Waiver
Please be sure to read and sign the waiver and registration forms at least 30 days before your trip!
Disclaimer: A note on Safety and Risk in Outdoor Recreation in the Wilderness Setting
Outdoor Sports like bouldering, hiking, alpinism, mountaineering, camping, rock and ice climbing, Climbing, and water-based activities, and simply being in the wilderness environment involves inherent and other risks and cannot be made safe. Observing our training, rules, and best practices for these sports cannot guarantee participants will be free from harm. When venturing outdoors to engage in recreation in the wilderness setting, either on one’s own, signing up on behalf of your minor participant, or as part of a group setting, please remember that there is an assumption of risk that we undertake in order to do these activities, teach skills, and learn.
CLIMBING, ACTIVITIES IN THE WILDERNESS, AND CLIMBING/WATER-BASED ACTIVITIES ARE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS ACTIVITIES that may result in serious injury or death. Into the Woods, LLC has a thorough risk assessment process in addition to extensive planning, training, policies and standards. We do this in order to meet the appropriate amount of risk for each group, activity, and setting, and mitigate risk to the largest extent possible during our courses, expeditions, trips, and all programs. However, while we are prepared, plan, and train, we are not able to guarantee that these wilderness sports and activities can be made 100% safe.