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The Trip

Our 60-mile backpack, considered one of the classic backcountry routes in the Yukon’s Kluane National Park, will take us deep into the heart of unspoiled wilderness. We hike along wild rivers and cross two mountain passes with stunning views of the surrounding Wrangell-St. Elias Mountains. We will camp beside rivers, a giant glacier, and one remote lake. We will enjoy nearly 21-hours of sunlight a day, giving us flexibility in our hiking schedule. The flora and fauna of the area are rich and varied. In previous trips to the area we have seen woodland caribou, wolves, bears, golden eagles, and Dall’s sheep.

Kluane (pronounced Kloo-AHN-ee) is derived from the Tutchone Indian phrase "Lhu An Mun," meaning plentiful fish lake. Kluane National Park -- along with Wrangell-St. Elias and Glacier Bay National Parks in Alaska, and Tatshenshini Provincial Park in Canada -- is part of the largest land preserve on Earth, as well as the greatest nonpolar ice field on the planet. The park, established in 1972, covers 8,500 square miles, of which about 10 percent is composed of remote, yet accessible -- for the adventurous -- green fields and valleys. These green areas have been used for nearly 3,000 years by the Tutchone Indians for fishing and hunting, and most recently by Europeans. The park’s highest management goal is for the preservation of its flora and fauna.

The trip is suitable for experienced backpackers in very good physical condition. We will be hiking over a variety of terrain, from spongy tundra to river corridors to some talus slopes and some boulder fields. There will be many stream crossings, and we will have to descend two fairly steep passes. With the long days, we should have plenty of time and our pace will be unhurried. There may be times when we choose to hike in the evening. If our progress is good, we will have one layover day.

Itinerary

Day 1: Starting early, we will leave Whitehorse on our shuttle bus. It is about three hours to the trailhead by bus but we will stop for awesome coffee and Danishes in Haines Junction and to take in the view. We should begin hiking in the early afternoon, over the Burwash Uplands, mostly on an elevated earthen dike, over an open area of tundra and wetlands known for interesting birdlife and woodland caribou.

Day 2: We will continue for a few miles over the Uplands and then drop down to the Burwash Creek. We'll follow it upstream until we come to the base of the mountains, where we will camp for the night.

Day 3: We will climb about 1,000 feet to Hoge Pass, which grants us spectacular views of the high Wrangell-St. Elias Mountains and the Donjek Valley. Working our way down the pass to reach Hoge Creek, we will follow the creek to the mighty Donjek River, often filled with ice floes from the calving glacier.

Day 4: After following the Donjek River for a couple of miles, we will join up with an old horse path, which will lead us along the remote, seldom-visited Donjek Valley. We will camp near the Donjek Glacier, listening to it crack and calve through the night.

Day 5: We will layover in camp and day hike close to the face of the glacier. We will generally spend the day exploring the river with direct views of the face of the glacier throughout the day, taking care not to get caught up in surging water from glacial face calves.

Day 6: If the weather is clear we will hike to near Atlas Pass via Expectation Pass. This will offer us stunning views of the Donjek and some of the bigger peaks in the ice fields. The elevation gain along this alternative route is steady, but the contouring is easy. Once we cross the headwaters of Chert Creek we will be at the base of Atlas Pass, a beautiful alpine area.

Day 7: Our hike will take us to the top of Atlas Pass, with its incomparable views, and then we will descend on talus slopes to the Duke River, which we will follow upstream to our campsite.

Day 8: Today we will ford the Duke River. In periods of high water, this is a challenging crossing. We will then bushwhack up a steep hill, eventually coming to an old mining road to get to Cache Lake, where we will spend the night.

Day 9: We will leave Cache Lake and head downhill along Copper Joe Creek for six miles, through an open area where we have seen Dall’s sheep and golden eagles in the past, to our shuttle.

Day 10: Layover day. If our progress is sufficient, we will have a second layover day somewhere on the route. If weather allows we will explore the ice field in high Alpine country before crossing Atlas Pass; else we will explore up the Duke River before crossing back in to the Copper Joe Drainage.

We expect to travel six to eight miles a day, but a variety of factors, including weather and water levels in the streams, could alter our plans. Group speed, health and the weather make planning a fixed daily routine impractical. Please be aware this itinerary is just a guide.

Getting There

Fly into Whitehorse by July 20th to ensure flight delays or mishandled luggage won’t prevent you from beginning the trip. If you arrive early there are abundant things to do in Whitehorse: a great museum, a cool fish ladder, etc. We will meet in Whitehorse on July 21st for a pre-trip dinner and orientation. And early on July 22nd, a Monday, we will drive by van to the trailhead. The trip ends on July 31st, and flights out shouldn’t be made until August 1st at the earliest. More details on lodging will be provided later.

Accommodations and Food

We will be camping all the nights of the trip, beginning on the 22nd. All food, except extra snacks, will be provided during the course of the trip. Meals will be vegetarian-friendly. The Sierra Club provides group equipment, including pots, cooking utensils, stoves and fuel, tarp, satellite phone, and first-aid kit for emergency care. Trip members should notify the leaders of any special dietary requirements. As usual on Sierra Club trips, all members help with carrying group gear, cooking, and clean-up duties -- each person assisting in the kitchen for two or three days.

Trip Difficulty

Given the length, off-trail nature, pack weight, and potential for bad weather this trip is rated a five. Participants should be in good physical shape, capable of carrying a 50-pound pack over difficult terrain. We will travel six to eight miles a day, cross-country, with no real trails. Altitude and elevation gain will not be much of a factor, though there will be a couple of elevation gains in the 1,000-foot range, and we will descend two steep passes. The highest altitude of the trip will be at 7,000 feet above sea level. We will walk over rock and boulder fields, tundra, and along river valleys, with numerous stream crossings.

Equipment and Clothing

There will be no need of any specialized equipment for the trip -- just what is needed for any long, rigorous backpacking trip. Due to the remoteness of the trip, it’s imperative that all equipment is of high quality, field-tested, and in good condition. Boots should be able to withstand frequent stream crossings. A head net for mosquitoes might be nice, though in the past bugs have not been much of a problem. Sharing a tent with another participant is encouraged, to reduce weight and impact. In addition to their own gear, participants will start out carrying 15-18 pounds of group gear, which should go down a little each day. The leader will go over gear with each participant before approving them.

References

Maps:

While maps are not required for participants, they are never discouraged either -- especially if you want to brush up on map, compass, and GPS skills. The maps for the Donjek Route are:

Bighorn Creek 115 G3
Duke River 115 G6
Steele Creek 115 G5
Burwash Landing 115 G7
Donjek Glacier 115 G4

You can buy them here:
Canada Map Office
615 Booth Street
Ottawa Ontario K1A 0E9
613-952-7000 or 800-465-6277

Books:

• Lougheed, Vivian, The Kluane National Park Hiking Guide.
• Theberge, John B (Editor), Kluane: Pinnacle of the Yukon.

Conservation

Wilderness will be our main topic. Why is it good to preserve it? Do we need to preserve more? How can we best accomplish this? We will also talk about the challenges of preserving tracts of land to ensure large animals -- wolves, bears, sheep, caribou -- will always have places to roam. And we can talk about the Yellowstone to Yukon initiative, its present status, and how it seeks to preserve large corridors to allow for genetic diversity in species populations. We will offer strategies to help you become more involved. We will practice Leave No Trace principles on the trip.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and will operate under a permit from Kluane National Park.

Travel in Alaska and the Arctic

Sierra Club outings in Alaska and Arctic Canada are special experiences in true wilderness, but they also carry an element of risk. Trip locales are often remote, away from the amenities of civilization, including sophisticated medical care and immediate evacuation possibilities. Many of our Alaska and Arctic Canada trips now carry satellite phones, but even with this technology, communication with the outside world can be difficult and emergency assistance can be days away. Weather in Alaska and Arctic Canada is unpredictable, and inclement weather can be severe. Among other hazards are cold river and stream crossings, tidal activity, calving glaciers, the psychological effects of remoteness, and the presence of large wild animals. You're in good hands, though, so don't worry: Your trip leaders have vast experience in the Last Frontier, and they'll provide all the guidance you need.

Trip Price

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

Staff

Leader:

Mike Abbott currently lives on the Florida panhandle. His 30 years of backpacking and rock climbing includes much of the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains along with the desert Southwest, British Columbia, and the Yukon. Mike enjoys exploring and sharing the alpine world above all other outdoor pursuits. He is a dedicated Leave No Trace practitioner. Mike is a National Outdoor Leadership School graduate, Wilderness EMT, and PADI dive master. Professionally he is the CEO of a small engineering services firm.

E-mail: mike.abbott@avtest.com

Assistant Leader:

Don Murch is an organic farmer, commercial fisherman, and wilderness guide with extensive travels in the wilds of Alaska. He has 35 years of experience planning and executing backpacking, rafting, and group tours in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Mexico. Gourmet cooking is one of his favorite pastimes.

E-mail: dwmurch@gmail.com

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Carpooling
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback
• Wilderness Manners