Spencer Glacier Campout

UPDATE JULY 2ND:

Since this event was created several months ago, and just to get a better idea of who is actually coming, I changed everyone's RSVP. Change it back to 'yes' if you have your ticket. As of this update, 30 people are signed up. Also note that I spent $100 on the campground, so donations are welcome :)

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I just booked the entirety of Spencer's Glacier...for up to 25 people. All weekends were filled up until July 12th! This weekend is now set in stone, and I have my train ticket already, so feel free to buy them anytime. There is a $5 penalty if you can't come and transfer the ticket to someone else.

The train ride and camping will come out to $60 per person, which isn't bad for a weekend trip!

PREVIOUS EVENT SUMMARY:

This is definitely not running related, but keeping team spirit and morale up is always important as well (and there's plenty of hiking in the area). I was seeing if there was interest in a camping trip, as the two large group camping areas tend to get reserved quickly. Spencer's Glacier is only accessible in the summer by train, and it's $55 roundtrip if you note that you're an Alaska resident. The 10 person campground is $35 a night and the 15 person campground is $65. We could potentially end up reserving both, and thus the whole Spencer Glacier area would be ours. This trip would involve a late morning train ride to the glacier (Saturday), departing at 1:25pm from the Portage Station, arrival around 2pm, late night hiking, packrafting around the lake, smores, (enter other activity here), late-night ghost stories around the campfire (the sun sets at 11:32pm), glacier exploring, spelunking. The train back leaves Spencer Glacier at 4:40pm Sunday and arrives at Portage Station at 5:15pm. It is also a possibility that we could catch the train that arrives at 1:40pm on Sunday, and take it all the way to the end of the line before it turns back, and get the whole train view in. As always, I am not playing the role of a group leader, I am just throwing this together as an idea, and the group can decide the specs. I will reserve the campground(s) once I get a better idea how many (if any) are interested. http://www.alaskarailroad.com/BestDayTours/SpencerWhistleStopCamping/tabid/378/Default.aspx

Also, this is my way to mentally prepare for Alaska camping: imagine a drenching downpour. 40 days and 40 nights kind of downpour. Mud pouring into your tent. Your sleeping bag is completely soaked. The sky is so dark that it's like eternal winter darkness.

Then you can never be disappointed, because the weather will always be equal or better than you expected.

And who knows, maybe you might just get a blue sky spencer glacier day?

No, don't think about that. Think about rain. Cold drenching rain.

Carpooling: Suggestions on a safe location to park overnight? Possibly park in front of Carrs on Gambell? Mountain View? Does anyone know neighborhoods with lots of bored teenagers?

Nonetheless, carpooling is a necessity, as we are all arriving and leaving at the same time. There is no way out of that one. When the train leaves on Saturday afternoon, you won't be able to get out for 24 hours. Dun dun dun.

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/2/7/4/600_346417492.jpeg

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Train Details:

PAYMENT: Full payment is required within 72 hours of booking. Some exceptions may apply. We accept VISA, MC, Discover and American Express cards.

LATE BOOKINGS: Package bookings that are made within 35 days require a minimum of 24 hours to confirm availability. Full payment is required at the time of booking.

CHANGE FEES: All paid bookings are subject to a 10 percent change fee. Changes are allowed on packages up to 36 days before travel and on rail-only bookings up to eight days prior to travel. A “package” is any rail booking that includes a non-rail component. Change fees apply only to the changed value of the booking. No change fees apply when the change increases the cost of the booking. Changes to packages that include airlines flights may incur additional fees. Any charges incurred by the Alaska Railroad as a result of changes made by the customer will be applied to the booking in addition to the change fee. All changes or cancellations must be made during business hours through the Alaska Railroad Reservations Office at 800-544-0552 or (907) 265-2494.

CHECK-IN: One hour prior to the scheduled departure time. Reservations and seat assignments may be altered or reassigned if passenger and baggage are not checked in 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure. The Transportation Security Administration requires that any Alaska Railroad passenger 18 years of age or older present a government issued photo ID , or two other forms of ID , one of which must be issued by a government authority.