RIVER TRIP DESCRIPTION: We begin our
trip by flying commercial airliner from Anchorage to
the southwestern fishing town of King Salmon. King
Salmon is the jumping off point to the seldom visited
Aleutian Peninsula and the Aniakchak National
Monument. It is in King Salmon that our adventure
begins.
We load our gear and board floatplanes docked on the
banks of the Naknek River. Shortly after take off, we
are flying across barren ground tundra and mountains
en route to the epic wilderness of Aniakchak National
Monument and Surprise Lake. Turquoise colored Surprise
Lake is the source of the Aniakchak River and lies in
the depths of a caldera inside an active volcanic
crater. This volcano last erupted in 1931. Back then,
this pristine wilderness seventh heaven became a
cataclysmic ash scorched Hell. Today however, it is 36
square miles of plant succession and wildlife rebirth.
Upon our landing approach, there are often wandering
brown bears circling the lakes shoreline, foraging on
their favorite seasonal schools of swarming Sockeye
(red) salmon.
Aniakchak caldera massif landscape is like a
mysterious environment that time has forgotten. It is
not easy to access this part of Alaska. Volcanic
features like cinder cones and ash are mixed with
newly forming earth and wildflowers, within its 2,000'
rim. However, even on the 80 degree, clear, and best
sunny days of summer - the slopes of Aniakchak can be
shrouded by stormy formations and rocked by stiff
swirling pumice filled winds that in-turn create
impassable flying conditions. Therefore statistically,
it is one of the least visited parts of Alaska. (Less
than 8-10 trips per year.)
In the past, preliminary journey into Aniakchak was
credited to a Jesuit Minister and dedicated geologist.
Legendary Father Hubbard, trekked overland previous
and visited subsequent to the great eruption of 1931.
Alaska river history hints that fewer than a half
dozen floats had even been initiated since the mid
1980s.
After touch down on Surprise Lake, our float plane
pulls up to the beach. We hastily unload our gear; set
up our Bombproof tents, assemble the boats, do some
exploring and then prepare to get underway on what will be a near extraterrestrial,
self-reliant journey into one of the wildest places on
earth.
The Aniakchak is a truly unique and awesome remote
wilderness waterway offering radically diverse
scenery, easily viewable wildlife, exceptional sport
fishing, cool geology features, and demanding lava-bombed rock-ridden
technical whitewater.
First, the river runs through volcanic rubble and lava
rock bombs, ripping through a 1,200'- 2,000' high
breach or rift in the caldera's walls, identified as
The Gates. The Gates left rift is a rubble pile
of uplifted sea fossils. It's possible to spend
hours combing through the shattered sea bed debris, and
you'll get the inspiration that you have been
sidetracked to Planet of the Apes. The Gates can have sudden, violent
windstorms (due to a mountain venturi effect) blasting over 100
miles per hour - unexpected and seemingly out of
nowhere. This can be a rough weather factor to contend
with. The Aniakchak River plummets through the
Gates and for the next 15 miles
constantly dropping 60'- 75' per mile through volcanic boulder
gardens. The final stretch of river mellows through
fields of wild purple Lupine flowers as far as the eye
can see and winds
up in picturesque, often white-capped Aniakchak Bay.
Along the riverbanks, it is typical to have very up-close
encounters with Brown Bears fishing for Sockeye (Red
Salmon), digging roots, or feeding on blueberries.
(Special note:
These encounters can number up to 20-30 bear/day.
Always be smart, come prepared, communicate, and stay
alert at all times when floating, fishing, and camping. )
Caribou and Moose roam the inside the crater and
across the open tundra consuming
vegetation. There are also fine opportunities to see
smaller game including Fox, Wolf, Eagles, Ptarmigan,
and Waterfowl. Sport Fishing is outstanding for seasonal
runs of Sockeye and Dolly Varden Char, yet that should
not be the only emphasis of the trip. The Aniakchak
is so remote and rarely visited that neither seasoned
Alaska adventurers, wilderness guides, nor
do-it-yourselfers ever get the opportunity to
set foot in this awe-inspiring expanse. |
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Featured
Highlights:
- Aniakchak National Monument (just getting
here is often difficult)
- Aniakchak Crater (explore and trek for
several days inside the volcano)
- Surprise Lake Caldera (discover the
shoreline, warm springs, and lake magic)
- The Gates! (awesome rift in the crater
walls, technical rapids, wild river features, and
cool fossils)
- Premier, close-up Alaska Brown bear viewing
opportunities
- Radically diverse geology, wildlife,
wildflowers, and scenery
- Outstanding Sport Fishing!
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