Aniakchak River Rafting Trip Description

~  Start inside Aniakchak Volcano Caldera and Paddle to the Sea   ~ Peerless Wilds of Remote Alaska Backcountry few will ever Visit!       ~  Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking - Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve           ~ Least visited National Monument and Designated Wild and Scenic Waterway

Included In this Package: Trip leaves from the Naknek river, King Salmon Floatplane charter (roundtrip) 5 days 4 nights camping accommodations (fewer or more days & nights optional) Greenish/Blue Clearwater... very swift & technical whitewater rafting and kayaking Carefully selected meal plan (considering the extreme logistics) 10' - 18' Commercial/professional-grade inflatable rafts 6' - 15'  Inflatable Kayaks, Canooes, Paddle Cats, and PackRafts (options) All float trip safety gear (instruction if needed) Fishing gear (provided if necessary)

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.

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!

Eye of the Aniakchak Caldera to the SeaCoast

More information on Brian Richardson's Alaska Raft Connection River Rafting Trips http://alaskaraftconnection.com