Copper River | Subarctic | Alaska Rafting
Copper River Expedition
PDF of Copper River Rafting Adventure
• Dates: August 1st through 8th 2010
• Region: Sub-Arctic, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Chugach
National Forest, Southcentral Alaska.
• Cost: $2,600 per person starting in Anchorage and ending in Cordova. See
details below.
Sketch of the trip…
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Born of huge ice fields covering the Alaska Chugach and Wrangell-Saint Elias mountain ranges, the Copper River is Alaska’s fifth largest river. It carries a tremendous volume of silty water at an awesome pace, emptying via the famous Copper River Delta to the Gulf of Alaska near Prince William Sound. The rivers that contribute to the Copper are themselves large and all of them seem eager to get to the sea in a hurry. Daily we will see moving bodies of water collide in awe-inspiring whirlpools, glaciers carving mountains into rubble, and some of the most dramatic landscapes in the state.
We begin rafting near the small historic village of Chitina. Almost immediately we are swept along into the staggeringly beautiful wood canyon. We get to run Class II rapids, and the river is always in a hurry to get to The Gulf of Alaska, literally cutting through mountains. We encounter canyons in steep-walled valleys in the upper river, but as the river merges with its tributaries and enlarges, we encounter rows of mountain faces and broad views. We also pass Childs Glacier on the lower river. The Childs calves chunks of blue and white striated ice into the river to float along with us.
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As we paddle and camp our way toward the Sound, we can see favorite Alaskan wildlife like moose, black bears, Bald Eagles, foxes, and brown bears. The Copper has extensive sand bars and we often see animals crossing them. The brown bears are impressively large from feeding on the rich stocks of salmon that climb the river. They have a better time fishing than we will, but it is possible to catch salmon in clearer side streams. We’ll camp on the same sand bars the critters use, where the camping and walking are the best. Hiking is good along the river and creeks, but to go far afield from the rivers is to learn the meaning of “bushwhack”. You really have to work to hike beyond the river corridor. There are cut banks and bare hillocks we can climb to get a view. There is a region of sand dunes - glacial till - that is always good fun. Imagine running the Copper’s largest rapid, Abercrombie Rapid, with bears on the shore and harbor seals bobbing around you- both looking for a meal of salmon.
The world’s largest avian migration occurs on the Copper River delta each spring. Long past at this time of year, the Copper River in summer - even in its upper reaches - provides good birding.
For this trip, no paddling experience is required, as instruction is provided. Everyone joins in the fun of paddling the boats under the guidance of a raft captain. Sometimes the paddling becomes work for all, but we do have the benefit of good current the whole way.
What follows is a forecast of the trip, a general idea of the flow of events.
As a forecast, it may be amended to meet conditions and opportunities in the field.
We will convene in Anchorage the evening of the July 11 for a pre-trip meeting.
Time and location for this meeting to be announced.
Day 1: We begin our trip in Anchorage, where we load
our gear and drive one of the most scenic roads in Alaska. Our destination
is Chitina, a small and historic mining town. We spend the rest of the
day rigging the rafts on land and learning safety procedures. We will
not paddle far on the first day.
Days 2-7: We wake, eat a hearty breakfast, and launch
our rafts on the powerful Copper River. We’re on our
way! We have about 80 miles to go and seven days to get there, We’ll be on the river
up to 6 hours a day, stopping several times to stretch, fish, snack,
hike and explore.
Day 8: We reach our take-out Glaciers and mountains still surrounding us, and are shuttled to Cordova,
where we spend the rest of the day exploring this quaint fishing village.
You can catch a ferry, through Prince William Sound, to the small coastal community
of Whittier, and then drive back to Anchorage, or simply fly to Anchorage. Maybe you will be so enchanted with the country you will just settle down in Cordova!?
Included in the price of the trip:
Transportation beyond Anchorage to Cordova.
Outstanding guide service.
Wholesome, delicious, and mostly-organic food while in the wilderness.
Stoves, cooking & eating utensils.
Repair and safety equipment such as firearm (guide will carry) and one bear spray per guest.
All boating gear, including boats and paddles.
The use of one life jacket and one medium-sized dry bag per guest.
Not included in the price of the trip:
Non-camp lodging.
Non-camp meals.
Personal clothing and footwear.
Sleeping bag & sleeping pad.
Three-season tent.
Large waterproof dry bag (one with shoulder straps works best)
Waterproof camera case.
Fishing gear and fishing license.
Gratuity for guide(s).
Arctic Wild rents high quality gear at affordable rates. Rental gear includes:
Three-season tents
Sleeping bags
Sleeping pads
Rubber raingear bibs
Rubber raingear jackets
Rubber boots
Large dry bag
A River Trip Equipment List is provided upon registration or request.
Weather & Bugs: Temperatures vary dramatically in the Alaska. It could and probably will be warm for the most part, but it could also be rainy and cool. Temperatures will range from the 40s to 80s. Near to the glaciers and coast the temperatures will drop and the winds will increase. There may be biting insects but by choosing open, breezy camps we will avoid them for the most part. Bring a mosquito head net and a small bottle of DEET repellent just in case.
Suggested Reading: The Copper Spike, Lone E Janson; Living on the Wind, Scott Weidensaul.