Backcountry Herbal Medicine

Trip Description

Join KWG owner and guide, Betsy Bradbury and herbalist Amy Seifert for a three day workshop in the heart of the Wrangell St. Elias National Park.  We will stroll through meadows filled with our favorite medicinal plants and climb ridges that boast some of the best views to be found anywhere.

 

On the morning of day one, we will fly into The Fosse, a diverse and pristine area across the wide glacial valley from the town of Kennicott.  After making camp, we will create a classroom in the mountains, and spend three days focusing on the medicinal uses of common plants: both those we find and those we know from home.  We will cover medicine making, plant identification including a bit of botany and practice with botanical keys, and the philosophy and practice of herbal medicine.  The majority of our time will be spent hiking the surrounding mountains and discussing the plants we meet along the way.  We will make a salve together, and each student will make a tincture to bring home.
 Meals are included, and camping gear is available as needed.
 People with a wide range of experience and ability in the backcountry are encouraged to join: from beginner-never-slept-outside to seasoned outdoors person, this weekend will be well supported and comfortable.  Concerns?  Please ask us anything!

Difficulty:
easy –  (easy – moderate)

Trip Highlights:
In addition to a thorough introduction to Herbal Medicine you will enjoy expansive valley glaciers, wildflower-filled alpine hikes, iceberg filled glacial lake,

Terrain Challenges May Include:
Rocky/unstable ground, Elevation Gain and loss in short distances, steep vegetated hillsides.

Available Season:
2 group trips:

July 14-16th (Women Only)

August 18-20th (Open to All)

Custom dates available upon request.

Suggested Timeframe:
3 –  days

Meet our guest Herbalist!

Amy Seifert grew up in Girdwood, Alaska and learned her first plants in the damp forests of the Chugach.  Her pursuit of learning how to be an herbalist took her far and wide, to the southeast, the northeast, and finally the south, apprenticing with herbalists and practicing her trade.  The pull of Alaska grew stronger over the decade away, and finally brought her back to the short, frantic summers of home.  She now divides her time between Girdwood and McCarthy and is back in school studying to be an ER nurse.  Amy’s seven years managing an herbal medicine program in an integrative community health clinic was influential in her philosophy of how western medicine and holistic herbal medicine can work together gracefully.  Amy enjoys working with people as an herbal clinician, gathering plants and making medicine, and is passionate that all people have access to the knowledge of how the plants around us can be used for better health.

Photo Credit: Amy Seifert

Pricing:
$1,175 person
Minimum of 4 people.

This price includes:
Custom Herbal Workshop
Unlimited pre-trip planning
Airfare into the backcountry
All Food (customized to your tastes)
Cooking gear/fuel
Backpack (if needed)
Sleeping bag/pad combo (if needed)
Black Diamond Mega Lite cook/camp shelter
Tent (if needed)
SAT phone


View The Fosse Basecamp/loop hike in a larger map

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