Day 1 Anchorage - Matanuska Glacier: travel through Palmer to the high country of Hatcher Pass; explore extensive Independence Mine Historical Park; lunch above treeline; continue eastward for an otherworldly trek on the Matanuska Glacier (w/crampons!); dinner overlooking the glacier; overnight cabins of Nelchina Lodge

Day 2 Nelchina - McCarthy: volcanoes of Sanford, Drum and Blackburn enroute to the Visitor's Center of the Wrangell - St. Elias National Park (our country's largest Park!); picnic by Liberty Falls; follow abandoned railroad grade to heart of park; private riverside camp near McCarthy; glacial moraine evening hike

Day 3 McCarthy/Kennicott: travel four miles to abandoned town/mine of Kennicott; exploration; hike to the Root Glacier and onto the face; continue along lateral moraine to the Erie Mine; dinner in the ghost town of McCarthy; campfire, riverside camp

Day 4 McCarthy: scheduled hike up the west side of the valley/glaciers; optional day rafting on the Kennicott River w/bush plane pickup, or optional flightseeing; evening island stroll; riverside camp

Day 5 McCarthy - Valdez: morning forested hike in the Crystalline Hills; depart Park and cross spectacular Thompson Pass; arrive coastal Valdez for exploration/museum; B & B

Day 6 Valdez - Hope: board ferry for spectacular trip across Prince William Sound to Whittier, passing Columbia Glacier; drive through mountain tunnels; road through Kenai Mtns. to end of the road frontier town of Hope; overnight Discovery Cabins along Bear Creek

Day 7 Hope: day hike to alpine lake country high in the Kenai Mountains; evening barbecue; "wildlife" of oceanside watering hole favorite, the Seaview Bar; overnight in Discovery Cabins

Day 8 Hope-Anchorage: optional goldpanning; museum; travel to Girdwood; rainforest hike along Winner Creek; lunch at Alyeska Bakery; late afternoon return to Anchorage