For groups of three or more guests we offer exciting hiking trips that range from four days on the beautiful alpine ridges of the Ibex Valley to week-long adventures in the midst of Canada’s world famous Kluane National Park. Some guests prefer to have the assistance of a helicopter to access incredible alpine lakes and peaks that it would otherwise take weeks to reach while others prefer to do all the work themselves. Certain itineraries see us returning to a basecamp of cozy yurts in the evening to enjoy a well deserved sauna and swim, others see us watching the setting sun from our vantage point up near a summit, camping in mountaineering tents each evening. Some groups combine their hiking with a day or two of fly-in fishing in beautiful alpine lakes. We have had guests request to hike in a truly rugged wilderness area, without having to ascend and descend any great elevations. For these folks we have arranged to hike in the Slims River Valley in famous Kluane National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), eventually reaching the foot of the mighty Kuskawulsh Glacier situated amongst the largest non-polar icefield in the world. Whichever trip you and your friends decide upon, rest assured that you will be using the best alpine equipment available, enjoying creative and delicious menus that pack lightly, while all the time being surrounded by world-class scenery.
The following are two examples of custom hiking trips we have done in the past.
West Slims River Trail – Kluane National Park
10 person maximum, 3 person minimum
Cost: $2350 CAD + 6% GST per person
Dates: June, July, August, September
Duration: 7 days
Skill Level: novice or intermediate
Day 1: After arriving at the Whitehorse airport, you are picked up by Uncommon staff and driven to our Homestead located 30 minutes northwest of the capital city. This night we get you outfitted, review our maps and after dinner provide you with a brief dogsledding demonstration and an opportunity to meet our 50 four-legged guides!
Day 2: We drive 2 and half hours northwest into Kluane National Park and park our vehicle at the Sheep Mountain park office. Here we register our trip with the park wardens and adjust the gear in our backpacks for the last time. Today we will be hiking until early evening and will be crossing a couple of small braided creeks as well as a small channel of the Slims River. The water is cold but the crossings are over in a couple minutes!
Day 3: We continue hiking down this spectacular valley, looking for signs of the resident caribou, wolves and grizzly bears. The hiking does not require much ascent and descent until the very last day where we hike up and down some steep, but thankfully short, hills to finally descend to our final camp and the staging area for the hike to the foot of the Kuskawalsh glacier.
Day 4: Today is the big day where we hike to the glacier and see one of the most magnificent sights in Canada. It is truly awe inspiring and we spend as much time as possible just walking on top of the terminal moraine gaining better and better views of the ice with every step. Dinner tonight is at an all-natural restaurant with a world-class view!
Day 5 - 7: Time to hike back to the warden’s office. And leave behind one of the truly amazing areas of wilderness left in the world. The evening of Day 6 we eat dinner in Haines Junction then spend the rest of the night at the homestead, relaxing and sharing memories that we will never forget. The next morning after breakfast, you are taken to the Whitehorse airport for your return flight home.
Mt. Arkell Ridgetop Hiking Trip
10 person maximum, 3 person minimum
Cost: $2375 CAD + 6% GST per person (fee includes one helicopter drop on day one)
Dates: June, July, August, September
Duration: 7 days
Skill Level: novice or intermediate
Day 1: After arriving at the Whitehorse airport, you are picked up by Uncommon staff and driven to our Homestead located 30 minutes northwest of the capitol city. This night we get you outfitted, review our maps and after dinner provide you with a brief dogsledding demonstration and an opportunity to meet our 50 four-legged guides!
Day 2: Guests board their helicopter in the morning at the Whitehorse airport for the flight into up onto the ridge for the first days summit and hike. We camp out in mountaineering tents at a small, unnamed alpine lake, watching the alpenglow fade over the surrounding peaks.
Day 3-4: For the next two days you ascend the neighboring peaks of your choice, staying high to gain the best views possible. On particularly clear days you can almost see to the Pacific Ocean. Accompanied by your guide, the choice of routes is as limitless as your imagination. Meals are served by the guides each evening and are sure to fuel you up for the next day’s hike.
Day 5: Today we finally descend to the valley floor in time for a shower and sauna at our yurt basecamp. During June and early July, the river is home to Arctic Grayling. We encourage our guests to try their hand at fly fishing with the gear we provide, and with any luck your catch may be grilled for an appetizer at dinner! We spend our final night around the fire pit sharing stories and enjoying a hot chocolate, If we stay up late enough we can get a picture of each of us reading by the light of the Midnight Sun!
Day 6: We are either picked up by helicopter and flown out to Whitehorse, or another option is to take three hours and hike out to the trailhead and be picked up by Uncommon staff and driven to the Uncommon Journeys' Homestead for lunch. That afternoon we either drive you t o the airport, or drop you off at your hotel in Whitehorse, so you may catch the flight out the following morning.
*Please note: For additional helicopter drop off or pick up, an additional $800.00 per flight, divided by the number of participants (ex: 4 guests = $200 per person) is added to the base cost. An additional day of remote fly-in fishing for Lake Trout may be added to this package. We return to the homestead and transfer to the local float plane base for the flight into the lake. We provide all of the fly fishing or spinning gear you need and a catered lakeside lunch. Costs will be quoted on an individual basis depending on the lake and number of people in the group.
