Exploring The Middle of Nowhere Alaska — Wrangell-St. Ellias
Photo essay by Erik Bernhoft.
In 2018, Erik Bernhoft and three friends flew to Anchorage, Alaska, drove seven hours (two of which were on a 60-mile dirt road) to the middle of nowhere where they boarded a bush plane and flew another 30 minutes into REALLY REALLY the middle of nowhere to Wrangell-St. Ellias National Park.
The Route
After a bush plane drop-off at Skolai Pass, the group descended tundra to the Frederika Glacier. Five miles of hiking on the relatively tame Frederika Glacier led them to to a snowy 6000-foot pass. It eventually descended to some prime bush-whacking down to the Rhon, Regal, and Nizina glaciers.
After hours of slogging through relentless fields of glacial talus, the team descended to Skolai Creek. It perpendicularly slams into the side of the Nizina Glacier, attempting to undercut it. Finally, a quick, splashy, and iceberg ridden float out to the Nizina Lake led to 20 miles of prime Alaskan packrafting and back to civilization!
