Excursions

Yukon River journey has unplanned end

Laura Chartier takes in the sights while paddling down the Yukon River near Galena.

In the course of what was to be our last day of paddling on the Yukon, we rounded two bends in the river. The first bend was to the right, and after that the river came back around to the left.

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Archive by category ''Excursions

EXCURSIONS

Rising river steals sleep

On the Yukon I've found I sleep well in torrential rain. I can also sleep fine in heavy wind, and 24-hour daylight is no problem. Once, for lack of a better option, we camped right on top of a bear track; I slept like a log. But the other night, it was the river itself that kept me awake.
EXCURSIONS

The Flats: rain, whirlpool, a defunct cafe

The Yukon River flows its first 700 miles through one mountain range or another. Around where it passes the town of Circle, though, the mountains run out and for the next 250 miles the river is free to spill itself across the huge basin of the Yukon Flats.
EXCURSIONS

Not even a blue tarp can deny Yukon silt

Packing for a two-month camping trip is a bit like planting a garden. You make your plans and choose what to include and what to leave out, but once the seeds are in the ground or the gear in the boats, you're pretty well stuck with what you have. And there's plenty of time to evaluate if you...
EXCURSIONS

Big river rapids go smoothly under bow

We pulled out of Carmacks after a one-day layover with full stomachs and light boats. Excess weight (water reserves, mainly) was disposed of in town, and we tried to batten down everything on the decks as much as possible in anticipation of what was to come.
EXCURSIONS

Up close, forest fire is hard to disregard

Already after a few days on the river, the bends and hills and endless spruce woods start to blend together. What we saw downstream of Hootalinqua, though, will probably stay with me for a long time.
OUTDOORS

Annual Denali Park road lottery is going online-only this year

The wildly popular Denali Road Lottery will accept applications in June, but there's a new wrinkle this year. All applications must be made online by 11:59 p.m. June 30.
EXCURSIONS

Coastline at the edge of Anchorage

Frozen ground with no snow means much of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge is accessible to walkers. Explore the shoreline southwest of the city in this Excursion.
EXCURSIONS

Flattop Mountain Between the Seasons

There's a reason Flattop Mountain is one of the most popular destinations in Chugach State Park. The views are spectacular, especially as the season changes from fall to winter.
EXCURSIONS

Alyeska's New Trail

The newly-built North Face Trail climbs Mount Alyeska between the tram terminals.
EXCURSIONS

Explore the Winner Creek trail

Explore the Winner Creek Trail, in Girdwood, which takes hikers over boardwalks, gravel and steps on the easy lower portion near the Hotel Alyeska. The upper trail climbs higher in the Chugach Mountains toward Winner Creek Pass before descending to the Twentymile River.