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Overview | Mt. Bona Expedition | First Ascents
May 30 - June 10
Cost: $2850 per person (does not include bush pilot fee)
Client to Guide Ratio: 3:1
Beginning Level Climbing
The Mount Bona Expedition takes place in The Wrangell - St. Elias mountain range in Alaska. The Wrangell, and St. Elias mountain ranges converge in what is often referred to as the "Mountain Kingdom of North America." The largest unit of the National Park System and a day's drive east of Anchorage, the park-preserve includes the continent's largest assemblage of glaciers and the greatest collection of peaks above 16,000 feet. Mount St. Elias, at 18,008 feet, is the second highest peak in the United States. Adjacent to Canada's Kluane National Park, the range is characterized by remote mountains, valleys, wild rivers, and a variety of wildlife.
The Mount Bona Expedition is designed for the mountaineer that wants practical skills climbing on high, glaciated mountains. The expedition is the perfect warm up or precursor to a Denali Expedition which many participants have in their sights for the following year. The expedition covers alpine snow and ice climbing skills, snow camping, glacier travel, crevasse rescue, glacier navigation, and high altitude climbing. The remote and pristine arctic setting will prepare you well for expeditions to the Himalayas, Andes or Denali. Participants need to have basic mountaineering and backpacking skills before signing up for this course. Preferably our Three or Five day mountaineering course or equivalent.
Day 1: Arrive in Anchorage. Meet as a group and do an equipment check. Stay in a local hotel.
Day 2: Drive to Chitina where we then fly into the Ultima Thule Lodge on the Chitina River.
Day 3: Fly to our base camp on the Klutlan Glacier at 10,500 feet. An amazing flight into the Alaskan wilderness. After we've been dropped off, we'll make and fortify camp right next to the airstrip, and begin our training.
Day 4: Training day. Focusing on glacier travel and crevasse rescue, we will teach and train such topics such as roped glacier travel, self and team arrest, snow anchors, and hauling systems. These skills will immediately be put to use as we make our way up the mountain.
Day 5: Today we'll carry food, fuel and other supplies to Camp I at 12,500 ft. This is also an important acclimatization day.
Day 6: Today we'll make the move from base camp to Camp I and fortify our position there. Spectacular scenery and engaging route finding make this an enjoyable ascent.
Day 7: Today we'll carry food, fuel and other supplies to Camp II, our high camp, at 14,500 ft. Our high camp is situated in the saddle between Mt. Bona and Mt. Churchill.
Day 8: Today we'll move up to Camp II in preparation for our bid for the summit.
Day 9: Summit day. Our route will take us up the broadly defined East Ridge of Mt. Bona. Views of Mt. Logan, Mt. St. Elias, and the entire range make this an unforgettable route.
Day 10: Today is an extra summit day in case of poor weather the previous day. If we achieved the summit of Mt. Bona the previous day, we can attempt the West Ridge of Mt. Churchill on this day. Two summits in one trip! Alternatively, we may choose to descend to base camp.
Day 11: Descend to base camp and fly to Chitina.
Day 12: Drive to Anchorage, enjoy a celebration dinner, and catch an evening flight home.
Note: This is an approximate itinerary and may be adjusted according to weather, bush flight schedules, acclimatization, group speed and ability. Daylight hours are unusually long so we have a lot of time to refine our snow camping and climbing skills.
Cost Includes: An AMGA trained Alpine Guide, group camping & climbing equipment (tents, ropes, stoves, etc), and food while in the mountains.
Cost does not Include: Domestic airfare to Anchorage, hotels stays in Anchorage, food in towns or cities, bush flight fee, transportation fee from Anchorage to Chitina, cancellation or emergency evacuation, insurance, costs of a personal nature, or costs associated with flight or trip delays.
Registration and Cancelation: You will need to fill out a Expedition Application, cancellation policy agreement and a liability waiver, and send it to us with a 50% deposit 60 days before trip date. Balance is due 30 days prior to trip departure date. Please click on our Registration/Travel link to access the required forms.
Prerequisites: Participants need to have basic mountaineering and backpacking skills before signing up for this course. Preferably our Three or Five day Winter Mountaineering Course or equivalent.
(Authorized permitee in Wrangell/St. Elias) |
Alaska
