2016 Expedition Trek - Sky Trekking Alaska

Contact 907.315.6098
[email protected]
www.skytrekkingalaska.com
The Quintessential Alaska
The Iditarod Expedition Trek
March 5 – March 16, 2016
Twelve Days/Twelve nights following the Iditarod Trail
Mt. McKinley • McGrath • Yukon River • Galena • Unalakleet •
Elim White Mountain • Nome
From the first Saturday in March and for 12 days following, our experienced
Alaskan pilot/guides will utilize ski-equipped bush planes to fly a small
group of guests over the Iditarod trail sled dog race, from checkpoint-tocheckpoint, beginning in Anchorage and ending in Nome.
This 12-day Sky Trek adventure includes observing the race first hand,
hands-on experience mushing a dog team, snowmobiling, and the
opportunity for snow shoeing, and wildlife viewing and photography. It
also includes daily flight-seeing with a grand tour around Mount McKinley,
where you will marvel at its high granite cliffs and glacier filled valleys.
Day 1: Your first day will focus on the Iditarod Ceremonial Start in downtown
Anchorage, where we will have a front row view of the race start and the
excitement surrounding it. After the exciting race start, fabulous lunch and
weather permitting, we will continue on a scenic ski plane flight over the
glacier filled valleys of the Chugach Mountains. Alternative transportation
will be used in the event of the inclement weather conditions. Overnight
accommodations will be at Happy Trails B&B in Big Lake, home of 4 time
Champion Martin Buser. Delicious meals will be prepared in a variety of
unique locations.
The Quintessential Alaska
Day 2: Today, we will focus on the Iditarod Re–start in Wasilla. The
afternoon will begin with a trailside lunch and optional snowmobile rides
along the trail. Breakfast, dinner and overnight accommodations will be at
the Happy Trails B&B.
Day 3: Day three will focus on flying from Wasilla along the Iditarod Trail
to follow the race. After a breathtaking flight around Mt. McKinley, we will
land mid-day to enjoy a trailside lunch prepared by our pilot/guides, and to
watch the mushers resting as they pass through a checkpoint. Depending
upon weather, the race progress and runway conditions, we may land at
Skwentna, Finger Lake and/or Rainy Pass. Breakfast, dinner and overnight
accommodations will be at the Happy Trails B&B.
Day 4: Day four will include a full day of dog mushing. We will visit a
nearby race kennel where we will tour the kennel, meet the dogs, harness
teams and head out on a private system of groomed trails where all guests
will have the chance to drive their own team. A catered campfire lunch
will be featured halfway through the day. Breakfast, dinner and overnight
accommodations will be at Happy Trails B&B.
Day 5: After breakfast, you will board your ski plane and head for McGrath
along the Iditarod trail watching for the mushers. McGrath is located on
the Kuskokwim River, 220 miles northwest of Anchorage. Originally a
village site of the local Athabascan Indians, McGrath also proved to be an
attractive trading site for pioneers and prospectors came in the late 1800’s.
In 1907 a US commissioner was sent from Nome to establish a trading post
and recording office. Many gold miners still mine the local area and use
McGrath as their supply post. McGrath is a popular checkpoint for mushers
to take their 24 hour mandatory rest. Breakfast, dinner and overnight
accommodations will be at a McGrath local B&B where you will find quality
meals and warm hospitality.
Day 6: Today, you will travel via ski-equipped aircraft to the checkpoint
of Iditarod, the half-way point of the race to greet and observe the front
running mushers. You will tour the historic abandoned buildings of a past
gold rush era. A picnic lunch will be prepared by our pilot/guides. Dinner
and overnight accommodations will be at a McGrath local B&B.
Day 7: Today, you will depart McGrath for a flight across the Yukon
Kuskokwim delta in search of wildlife and scenery. Enjoy stops at the village
checkpoints located on the Yukon river to observe mushers and experience
life in rural Alaska. Some of the highest winds and coldest weather can be
found in the interior and along the Yukon River, a sometimes unbearable
challenge for mushers and dog teams. We will then continue to Galena.
Galena is located on the Yukon River and a checkpoint on the Northern
Contact 907.315.6098
[email protected]
www.skytrekkingalaska.com
The Quintessential Alaska
Route. Cozy B&B’s, excellent meals and warm hospitality await you in this
quaint little fishing village. It is such a fun place to visit, we’ve added it
to our annual itinerary even though the trail passes through there every
other year.
Day 8: This new day offers you an opportunity to meet a retired Iditarod
dog musher from Galena. He will share his knowledge of the extremes
experienced while being a part of this epic race. Ask him any questions
you can think of! Lunch is provided before our departure in the afternoon.
We will make a quick stop at the checkpoint in Kaltag located on the
Yukon River and then a flight through the coastal mountains and along
the Iditarod trail as it transitions to the Bering Sea coast and the village
of Unalakleet .
Unalakleet is located on Norton Sound in the Bering Sea. It is an exciting
checkpoint on the trail. Mushers change sleds at this point to the lightweight
racing sleds needed for the Norton Sound sea ice and the final push to
Nome. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at Maggie’s Hotel,
the most popular place to stay in Unalakleet. Meals are prepared by Peace
on Earth.
Day 9: Today, after breakfast, you will enjoy meeting and seeing the front
runners as they arrive in Unalakleet. It could be early in the morning or
late at night, each year brings new times and different weather can make
a big difference in when mushers arrive here. Spend the day visiting the
checkpoint and meeting the locals of Unalakleet. Dinner and overnight
accommodations will be at Maggie’s Hotel. Meals are prepared by Peace
on Earth.
Day 10: After breakfast, you will say your goodbyes to the locals and
mushers of Unalakleet and head out the trail toward Nome looking for
mushers along the way. Upon your arrival in Nome, you will be met by
our local guide Richard “Hello Central” Beneville (you’ll understand the
nick-name when you meet him). Overnight accommodations will be at the
Dredge 7 Inn. Meals will be enjoyed at local restaurants.
Day 11: After breakfast, you will have the opportunity to go on a snow
cat ride to the Safety checkpoint, view Eskimo dancing, take a Museum
tour, go on a Nome tour with guide Richard Beneville of Nome Discovery
Tours, or take a fly out to the checkpoint at White Mountain. Meals and
overnight accommodations will be at local restaurants.
Day 12: Another exciting day in Nome will be filled with watching the
mushers cross the finish line along with all of Day 11’s activities being
offered to you. Overnight accommodations will be at the Dredge 7 Inn.
Contact 907.315.6098
[email protected]
www.skytrekkingalaska.com
The Quintessential Alaska
Day 13: After breakfast, you will bid your farewells to your new Sky
Trekking Alaska Family and will be transported to the Nome Airport for
your departure for Anchorage.
Price: $16,530.00 per person
Included: Meals, lodging, air transportation beginning in Anchorage and
ending in Nome; STA gear bag, STA hat; and activities listed in the above
itinerary.
Not Included: Airfare between your home and Anchorage, airfare between
Nome and Anchorage, liquor and staff gratuities for Sky Trekking Alaska.
Contact 907.315.6098
[email protected]
www.skytrekkingalaska.com