March 11, 2012 4:00 PM. 8 attended.
Planning meet for Wrangell-St Elias backpack trip
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I would love to do some backpacking in Wrangell St.Elias this summer and it would be great to have some company. Planning something moderate to difficult...currently researching the possibility of renting cabin 15 miles in on Nugget Creek. Trek is fairly flat with some stream crossings but I'd like to do entire 15 miles in one day, stay and explore the peaks and glacier around cabin on day 2, then hike 15 miles out on day 3. So this would require pretty strong hikers that can carry a full pack for 15 miles. There are also some great day hikes in the park and if people had the time we could also spend a day car-camped and hiking in the park.
Of course, there are tons of other routes out there and if someone has info about something else that could entice I am open to suggestions. Really, just trying to see if there's anyone interested in a trip like this and coming up with some dates so I can request the time off and start planning.
I'll limit the # of backpackers to 6-8 so if you're interested and can't make it to the meeting please contact me to let me know. 3068973
Some additional details on the actual trip....Spoke w/ Ranger Mike today who confirmed that June is the best time to do this and also confirmed that this is an awesome backpack and that the day hikes out from the cabin are spectacular. He suggested that we spend 3 nights at cabin so we can do dayhikes on 2 days. Dayhikes will be at least 3500 feet elevation gain each day.
June is filling up so I booked June 16,17,18th at cabin. We'll have a max of 8 on this trip, and we'll need another driver that can fit 4 with gear. If you're fairly certain that you'll be able to get this time off work (June15-19th) and you want to come please be prepared to give $20 deposit at meeting on Sunday. Cabin is free so if you make it to trip I will refund your $ and if not I will put it into beer and chip kitty. If there are more than 8 firm yesses we'll have to pick names randomly and form a waitlist.
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Shena Marcil
You drive to Chitina, head up the McCarthy Hwy 15 miles and bust a left out to an area called Strelna to the trailhead. I have biked in about 8 to 10 miles. The trail sees a lot of 4 wheeler traffic.
Posted February 19 at 8:04 PM -
Shena Marcil
Here is a link to a pdf from NPS.gov http://www.nps.gov/wrst/planyourvisit/upload/Nugget%20Upd...
Posted February 19 at 8:11 PM -
ShaneD
I'm up for whatever but ...
Always thought it might be fun to hike from Chitna down to Cordova on the old railroad track, especially now they put the bridge back up. Could camp by Miles glacier and take a cab into Cordova after listening to it calve. LOTS of reds in the river too if you like salmon BBQ.
Follows the route from McCarthy to get the Copper out to the ocean!Posted February 19 at 11:33 PM -
Julie
FYI...a bridge on the road from Cordova to Childs Glacier/Million Dollar Bridge is washed out and currently, there are no plans to repair/rebuild the bridge. If you want to visit that area to/from Cordova, you need to find an alternate route....From Childs Glacier campground website: "Facility Closure: The bridge to access the recreation area has been closed indefinitely. Planning for alternate routes are in progress." Not sure if alternate route will be ready by summer.
Posted February 20 at 12:27 PM -
ShaneD
Hi Julie, thanks for the info. Haven't really researched it, just remember they put the fallen span back up a few years back. It's probably better as a raft trip than a hike anyway but always wanted to follow it down when over there dipnetting. May go dipnetting on the way back instead.
Posted February 20 at 2:14 PM -
Julie
This is a bridge wash-out on the Copper River Highway at mile 36. It was closed in August 2011 and is closed until 2014. So, anyone wanting to travel between Childs Glacier Recreation Area and Cordova will not be able to drive it.
Posted February 20 at 3:27 PM -
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maureen
Pilar and John and also LeeAnn are interested so that brings us to about 20 people considering this trip..alot can happen between now and summer but I'm gonna close to additional RSVP's, then if we don't get our 6-8 definite backpackers we can reopen.
Posted February 21 at 3:32 PM -
Julia
Maureen, excuse me if I somehow missed it, but do you have a tentative date for this trip yet?
Posted February 21 at 8:32 PM -
maureen
no, you're right Julia...spoke with one ranger who said the ranger in charge of cabin would be back next week...she checked the reservations and said much of June is taken but July and Aug are pretty wide open. I'll call next week to get the actual dates that are open. I figured we can nail down the dates at our meeting, but will most likely be July. I'm most interested in finding people that are wanting to do this and then trying to come up with a time that works.
Posted February 22 at 5:59 PM -
John R
Shane, I hiked over to the old railroad about halfway down the Copper on a river trip around 1990. Even then it was totally overgrown with mature alders, you would be crawling to Cordova.
Hey, I've been gone for a month, good to be back.
Posted February 24 at 3:17 PM -
Donna
I've got a hiking book for just Wrangle/St Elias and lots of experience. I'll show it to you.
Posted February 26 at 8:10 AM -
maureen
welcome back, John....thanks for the input (crawling to Cordova is too adventurous for me). Donna, if you can't make our meeting on the 11th I can meet you to discuss, just call or text to let me know what's a convenient time/place for you...I'd love to hear what you've done.
Posted February 27 at 6:53 PM -
ShaneD
Hi John, hope you were somewhere warm and snow free, welcome back !!
Posted February 28 at 12:47 AM -
ShaneD
FYI - Read up a little on the railway line route and it does look a 'wee' bit ambitious, especially in one chunk. Found some hydrographic data from when they were going to put the road through there. They were looking at three routes down the Copper, one through Wood Canyon from Chitina, and two following the Tiekel and Tasnuna river valleys from the Richardson Hwy. If I ever get to it I'd probably go through the gorge and follow the Tiekel back to the road for a first pass to scope it out.
Posted February 28 at 12:51 AM -
maureen
please see the additional details added to the bottom of the description...I tried to write them in red but it didn't work.
Posted March 3 at 3:37 PM -
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maureen
B&N is too crowded on a Sunday for this many people. Will change location to Carr's Muldoon coffee shop, will be more convenient for ER peeps too.
Posted March 7 at 6:27 AM -
maureen
I am on cellphone and can't edit but please no more RSVP on this.... We are full right now, if more spots open up I will post them when I post the actual event.
Posted March 10 at 9:13 PM -
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maureenEvent HostAssistant Organizernecessary evil to plan summer backpack on a beautiful sunny Sunday. Productive meet, came out with awesome group...can't wait to hike with these peeps.
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Is this hike out near McCarthy and Kennicot? I know its a big park. Do you have a map for Nugget Creek?