The Ultra-Classic
Trip Description:
A Wrangell Mountain tour de force. Initially pioneered by KWG guides, this route has become a modern classic for experienced backpackers looking to push themselves. The distance, terrain, elevation gain and loss, and remote nature of the route makes this our most challenging and committing trip. The four major passes and five valley glacier crossings keep the challenges coming. The terrain demands a fast and light approach, moving camp everyday. The pass into the famous Super Alpine and crossing Nizina Glacier are big, but just a warm up for traversing up, over and through the mysterious West Fork Valley. Steep terrain and captivating scenery invite you into the jaw-dropping Upper McCarthy Creek. Some travel on exposed slopes delivers you to a final camp overlooking the 7,000 ft tall Stairway Icefall. A full day of hiking down the Root Glacier brings you triumphantly back to Kennicott.
Duration: 6-8 days
Difficulty: Expert 
Highlights:
- Bush plane flight in and drop-off at Skolai
- Hike over passes, through alpine, along ridges, and across glaciers (with very little bushwacking!)
- Our most challenging and committing trip
- Start and end at popular places, traveling through an incredible amount of remote wilderness in between.
- See seldom visited places only accessible by backpacking.
Trip Details
Terrain Challenges: Rocky/unstable ground, considerable elevation gain and loss, steep vegetated hillsides, side-hilling, glacier travel, creek crossing, bushwacking, sections of exposure.
Who: Experienced backpackers. This trip has the potential to be challenging for any level. We will discuss your experience to see if it’s the right trip for you. You will need to be able to carry a pack that ranges from 35 – 50 lbs for 8+ hours a day.
When: June-September
Where: We will meet you at your lodging or at the footbridge ½ hour before your flight time and provide transportation to the airstrip.
Trip Includes
- Pre-trip planning.
- Experienced, friendly, knowledgeable guides!
- Small ratios: 1 guide for groups up to 5 people. 2 guides for groups of 6+ (additional porters may be requested for any group size at an additional cost)
- Customizable itinerary.
- Airfare into the backcountry.
- Medical equipment, training and protocols to Wilderness First Responder Standards.
- SAT phone & Delorme InReach.
- Healthy, nutritious food customized to your tastes.
- Cooking gear and fuel.
- Backpacking pack (if needed)
- Sleeping bag/pad combo (if needed)
- Technical gear and equipment.
- Personal tent(s) and group cook tent.
- Leave No Trace and Bear Safety education/ ethics.
Trip Does Not Include
- Guide Gratuity (recommended 10-20% of tour cost)
- Day packs (for basecamping day hikes)
- Personal clothing & gear. For further suggestions on gear you will want to bring from home (this might help you pack for your whole Alaskan vacation!) visit our Trip Planning Page for a gear list.
- Alcohol in the backcountry.
- Pre & Post trip lodging.
- Transportation to and from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
Trip Prices
The Ultra-Classic Hike Back (Backcountry Airfare From McCarthy Included)
Client:Guide Ratio & Price
Pricing per Number of Clients – 6 Day Trip
1:1 / $5,625 per person
2:1 / $3,290 per person
3:1 / $2,760 per person
4:1 / $2,510 per person
5:1 / $2,245 per person
6+:2 / $2,280 per person
Pricing per Number of Clients – 7 Day Trip
1:1 / $6,465 per person
2:1 / $3,765 per person
3:1 / $3,155 per person
4:1 / $2,855 per person
5:1 / $2,560 per person
6+:2 / $2,595 per person
Pricing per Number of Clients – 8 Day Trip
1:1 / $7,305 per person
2:1 / $4,240 per person
3:1 / $3,550 per person
4:1 / $3,200 per person
5:1 / $2,875 per person
6+:2 / $2,910 per person
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge
Trip Prices
The Ultra-Classic Hike Back (Backcountry Airfare From McCarthy Included)
Client:Guide Ratio & Price
Pricing per Number of Clients – 6 Day Trip
1:1 / $5,625 per person
2:1 / $3,290 per person
3:1 / $2,760 per person
4:1 / $2,510 per person
5:1 / $2,245 per person
6+:2 / $2,280 per person
Pricing per Number of Clients – 7 Day Trip
1:1 / $6,465 per person
2:1 / $3,765 per person
3:1 / $3,155 per person
4:1 / $2,855 per person
5:1 / $2,560 per person
6+:2 / $2,595 per person
Pricing per Number of Clients – 8 Day Trip
1:1 / $7,305 per person
2:1 / $4,240 per person
3:1 / $3,550 per person
4:1 / $3,200 per person
5:1 / $2,875 per person
6+:2 / $2,910 per person
Trip Description:
A Wrangell Mountain tour de force. Initially pioneered by KWG guides, this route has become a modern classic for experienced backpackers looking to push themselves. The distance, terrain, elevation gain and loss, and remote nature of the route makes this our most challenging and committing trip. The four major passes and five valley glacier crossings keep the challenges coming. The terrain demands a fast and light approach, moving camp everyday. The pass into the famous Super Alpine and crossing Nizina Glacier are big, but just a warm up for traversing up, over and through the mysterious West Fork Valley. Steep terrain and captivating scenery invite you into the jaw-dropping Upper McCarthy Creek. Some travel on exposed slopes delivers you to a final camp overlooking the 7,000 ft tall Stairway Icefall. A full day of hiking down the Root Glacier brings you triumphantly back to Kennicott.
Duration: 6-8 days
Difficulty: Expert
Highlights:
- Bush plane flight in and drop-off at Skolai
- Hike over passes, through alpine, along ridges, and across glaciers (with very little bushwacking!)
- Our most challenging and committing trip
- Start and end at popular places, traveling through an incredible amount of remote wilderness in between.
- See seldom visited places only accessible by backpacking.
Trip Details
Terrain Challenges: Rocky/unstable ground, considerable elevation gain and loss, steep vegetated hillsides, side-hilling, glacier travel, creek crossing, bushwacking, sections of exposure.
Who: Experienced backpackers. This trip has the potential to be challenging for any level. We will discuss your experience to see if it’s the right trip for you. You will need to be able to carry a pack that ranges from 35 – 50 lbs for 8+ hours a day.
When: June-September
Where: We will meet you at your lodging or at the footbridge ½ hour before your flight time and provide transportation to the airstrip.
Trip Includes
- Pre-trip planning.
- Experienced, friendly, knowledgeable guides!
- Small ratios: 1 guide for groups up to 5 people. 2 guides for groups of 6+ (additional porters may be requested for any group size at an additional cost)
- Customizable itinerary.
- Airfare into the backcountry.
- Medical equipment, training and protocols to Wilderness First Responder Standards.
- SAT phone & Delorme InReach.
- Healthy, nutritious food customized to your tastes.
- Cooking gear and fuel.
- Backpacking pack (if needed)
- Sleeping bag/pad combo (if needed)
- Technical gear and equipment.
- Personal tent(s) and group cook tent.
- Leave No Trace and Bear Safety education/ ethics.
Trip Does Not Include
- Guide Gratuity (recommended 10-20% of tour cost)
- Day packs (for basecamping day hikes)
- Personal clothing & gear. For further suggestions on gear you will want to bring from home (this might help you pack for your whole Alaskan vacation!) visit our Trip Planning Page for a gear list.
- Alcohol in the backcountry.
- Pre & Post trip lodging.
- Transportation to and from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
The Ultra Classic
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge, or use arrows to scroll.
