I'm going to Denali until June 4, 2010 (this is a tentative fly-out date from the Kahiltna BC). After that, I would still have 10 days left in Alaska, and no exact plans yet. Thought of going to the Wrangell range, but not sure that 10 days is sufficient for climbing there.

Any advice what to do? I'll be alone for those 10 days, is there anybody who would like to join me on a wilderness (climbing) trip?

Not sure how long you've got allocated for your Denali climb, but consider that you could easily have an extra number of days on your hands. It might sound touristy, but taking the bus up the Park road to Wonder Lake and camping/hiking for a bit provides a pretty cool sens of context for the big mountain you've just been on. The 18,000' of relief up the north side and the tundra, teeming with wildlife is quite the experience.

Keep it an option for extra days post-Denali and pre-whatever else you plan. Also-10 days is often plenty of time for a quick trip into the Wrangells or the Alaska Range, if the weather is good. As you'll probably spend a day of your 10 day window prepping and another driving to Paul's strip, with another back to Anchorage, you're looking at a 7 day window. If you just stay in Talkeetna and see a favorable window, you're in the Range in 45 minutes... Flying into Little Switzerland or the Ruth feels way different than the Kahiltna, so even though you're not experiencing another Range, you might get more bang for your time limitations...

Have a blast!

What about experiencing some of the other wonderful oppourtunities Alaska has to offer? Maybe head to the coast and do a whale watching charter or rent a sea kayayk and do some traveling that way?

ExcitibleBoy wrote:What about experiencing some of the other wonderful oppourtunities Alaska has to offer? Maybe head to the coast and do a whale watching charter or rent a sea kayayk and do some traveling that way?

Seward is nice, but good luck renting a kayak. Besides, you won't get far in one, and that water is kind of rough. I've heard Homer is nice; both places will have charters for fishing. Many climbers get into the (Denali) Park itself for checking out wildlife and getting a change of pace. The Chugach mountains are pretty cool. You can get pretty isolated very quickly from any of the car parks off the road.

At the end of 3 weeks on Denali, you might be sick of snow. If not, there's always several lifetimes worth exploring around Hunter, and the lower sections of the Kahiltna.

Or you could stop in Wasilla and hang with Sarah and the boys....

After our climb we did a 3 day backpack in Denali State Park and then toured Kenai Fjords Nat'l Park. Lots of options up there...

Catch the coho and king salmon runs up near Talkeetna. You might be a bit early (they might not be that far upstream yet), but if you time it right, it will be world class fishing. Also check out Kenai if you want to get with the big boys (60+ lb king salmon)...

I agree, after 3 weeks on Denali, you will want a change of pace for a few days...

June 4th is pretty late in the season for any more alpine climbing in the mountains.

If you insist on staying in the mountains, fly into the Ruth Gorge on the other side of Denali.

Be careful if you try any walls, shit will be avalaaaaanching like crazy. Might even be too late for a stroll down the Great Gorge (crevasses).

Sierra Ledge Rat wrote:June 4th is pretty late in the season for any more alpine climbing in the mountains.

If you insist on staying in the mountains, fly into the Ruth Gorge on the other side of Denali.

Be careful if you try any walls, shit will be avalaaaaanching like crazy. Might even be too late for a stroll down the Great Gorge (crevasses).

i saw some amazing freaky stuff in june 2001 in the ruth gorge, so much so that i am afriad we are hitting it too late this year going in may.....our guide, a guy who had been chief climbing ranger two years running in the park, said he had never seen stuff come down like that up there...

....and BRING SKIS!!!!!

A visit to McCarthy is also worth considering. McCarthy (~250 paved miles + ~ 50 miles on dirt road) from Anchorage is a "gateway" to Wrangel-St.Elias. You can do rafting, hiking and scrambling right from McCarthy and much more if you use a bush plane. You will probably have neither time nor desire for snow and ice after Denali.

Valdez is another place to consider. You can rent a boat at Valdez pier and spend a few days camping and fishing on small islands in Valdez Arm. We went there 3 times as recuperation after backpacking or climbing and it was great.

There are so many possibilities, but for a complete change of pace you could make your way to Cordova (lots to see on the way) and then let Gayle at Fishing & Flying (grandma and bush pilot, a good combination) fly you out to Kayak Island. You will almost certainly be the only person on the island. I think you can stay in the old boathouse by the abandoned lightkeepers cottage or in a wrecked boat. At least, you could in the past.