|
Discover Alaska by Rail: A Traveling Adventure |
 |
Program Number: |
1014RJ |
|
| Start
and End Dates: |
|
| Duration: |
11 nights |
| Location: |
Fairbanks, Alaska
|
| Price starting at: |
$3,231.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city |
| Program Type:
|
Train Treks; On the Road; National Parks
|
Activity Level: |
t (see description) |
| Meals: |
32;
11 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 11 Dinners |
|
|
| Meal
Options: |
Low Fat; Low Salt; Vegetarian |
|
|
All Aboard! Journey the entire length of the historic Alaska Railroad - 470 miles - from the "Golden Heart City" of Fairbanks to Seward on the shore of Resurrection Bay. Ride to Denali National Park, home of 20,320-foot Mount McKinley, and study the wildlife and natural history of this International Biosphere Reserve through field trips and educational programs. In Anchorage, experience the living cultures of Alaska's Native groups at the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. At the final stop, the harbor town of Seward, take in the grandeur of Kenai Fjords National Park and the Alaska SeaLife Center.
Highlights
• Explore Kenai Fjords National Park on a small boat to spot glaciers, marine mammals, birds and the unparalleled beauty of this rugged coastline.
• Meet Mary Shields, the first woman to finish the Iditarod, to hear stories from 40 years of mushing and get to know her dogs at her home near Fairbanks.
• View stunning scenery and wildlife on a day-long journey into the heart of Denali National Park.
Activity Particulars
Optional walks up to three miles over trails with elevation gain of up to 250 feet. Elevations of 3,900 feet.
Date Specific Information
6-30-2013, 8-1-2013
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.
Itinerary Summary
Arrival Fairbanks, 3 nights; train to Denali, 3 nights; train to Anchorage, 2 nights; train to Seward, coach to Moose Pass, 3 nights; departure.
Coordinated by Denali Education Center
Fairbanks
The indigenous Athabaskan tribe had fished in the local area for centuries before it was settled in 1903 as a trading post for riverboats and gold prospectors. Fairbanks today is an important player in interior Alaska’s oil fields and pipelines.
Denali National Park
Established in 1917, this 6 million-acre wilderness is home to 20,320 foot Mount McKinley, and wildlife such as moose, caribou, Dall sheep and grizzly bear, and is considered one of the most intact sub-arctic ecosystems in the world.
Anchorage
Situated between boreal forest, tundra, temperate rainforest and a marine environment, Anchorage was established when the Alaska Railroad was constructed to connect the interior with the coast. The area is home to almost half the state’s population.
Seward
Situated at the head of Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula, Seward is one of Alaska’s oldest and most picturesque communities. Founded in 1903, it is named for William H. Seward, the Secretary of State who negotiated the purchase of Alaska (originally derided as “Seward’s Folly”). Seward serves as a gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park.
Moose Pass
Moose Pass is a beautiful Alaska town nestled on the shores of Trail Lake in the heart of the Kenai Peninsula, 100 miles south of Anchorage. Surrounded by towering mountains, Moose Pass offers easy access to the trails of the Chugach National Forest and its pristine mountain lakes and breathtaking alpine vistas.
|
Accommodations
Fairbanks: Two-level apartment, shared bath. Denali: Rustic cabins, shared bath. Anchorage: Hotel. Moose Pass: Lodge with private baths.
|
| Road Scholar Instructors | | These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur. | Alex Lee
| | Alex Lee developed a passion for the outdoors while exploring the forests of New England as a child. A graduate of Dartmouth College with a double major in Earth science and philosophy, Alex spent much of his time in the Dartmouth Glaciology Lab studying the change in North American alpine glaciers. In 2008, he began studying the glaciology of Denali National Park, and has spent summers as a resident in the area since 2010. Alex holds an M.S. in environmental studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and is currently working on his Ph.D., which focuses on the ethics of conservation ecology and policy. In addition to this work, Alex is part of a team at Boulder that recently received a grant to produce a 12-episode short film series on the science and policy of climate change in the American West. When not studying the environment, Alex enjoys spending his free time outside through hiking, fishing, climbing, skiing and spending time with his dog Ziggy. | | | |
|