Excursions

YUKON JOURNAL

Yukon River journey has unplanned end

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.

YUKON JOURNAL

River's edge: Modern comforts to a prehistoric boneyard

Ben's tenet of traveling: any long trip will have, proportional to the inevitable mishaps and tedium, incredible moments of serendipity.

YUKON JOURNAL

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.

YUKON JOURNAL

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.

YUKON JOURNAL

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 planned well or poorly.

YUKON JOURNAL

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.

YUKON JOURNAL

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.

YUKON JOURNAL

Revelations are part of remote river journey

The Teslin River is so empty of people that the driftwood can start to seem companionable.

Shopping list almost as long as Yukon River itself

YUKON JOURNAL

Shopping list almost as long as Yukon River itself

This summer we are traversing Alaska, along with much of the Yukon Territory, by kayak on the Yukon River. The trip promises to be two to three months of stunning sights and adventure; the outfitting, though, seemed endless.

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.

Reader photos: 2010 Denali Park road lottery

AUDIO SLIDE SHOW: ALASKA 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.

September 2009

Flattop Mountain

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.

August 2009

Alyeska's New Trail

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

JUNE 2009

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.

APRIL 2009

Springtime on Portage Lake

Before the warm weather melts Portage Lake it's possible to ski the crusty snow out to striking Portage Glacier. Get a close look at the blue ice formations in this day trip.

April 2009

The train to Whittier - the only way in or out

After a rockslide buried the only highway access to Whittier recently, the AK Railroad began free, temporary passenger service in and out of the town on Prince William Sound. See the views of the trip down Turnagain Arm and into Whittier and hear its residents describe their tenuous connection to life on the other side of the highway tunnel in this Excursion.

JANUARY 2009

Cold-snap excursion

Anchorage and Mat-Su have seen temps at 15 to 30 below zero for most of two weeks. But high pressure and clear skies reveal Alaska in its best light. Get out and see it in this "Excursion" slide show.

DECEMBER 2008

Chugach Tour

Good early winter snowfall has made conditions great for cross country skiing the trails in Chugach State Park. Take a look at the sights from Prospect Heights, the Eagle River Nature Center and see the peaks of Glen Alps by moonlight in this Excursion.

OCTOBER 2008

Falls Creek

A steep hike up Falls Creek in Chugach State Park in autumn passes through beautiful birch forest, across colorful tundra and up to snowy mountain

AUGUST 2008

Trail of Blue Ice

The Trail of Blue Ice in Portage Valley.