Route Description: The mountains surrounding Black Rapids typically don’t receive that much snow throughout winter because the coastal mountains of Alaska steal much of the moisture before it gets to the Alaska Range. The wind also frequently blows heavily through the area, especially north of Black Rapids, keeping many of the mountain slopes and ridges mostly free of snow even at relatively high elevations. Based on snow conditions and time of year there may be several places to go hiking in winter where you can gain some elevation, including some of the same routes offered in summer, but you can expect to work through some amount of deep snow or brush in the lower elevations. You don’t need any mountaineering skills or gear like ice axes or crampons, just a pair of winter hiking boots, maybe skis or snowshoes, and a good attitude. Avalanche terrain will always be avoided! October can be a great time to go hiking before deep snow, short daylight hours and extreme cold set in, and March and April are great times to enjoy the return of the sun in the mountains.

Route Length (Standard): 3-6 miles round-trip, 1000-2000 feet elevation gain
Difficulty: Moderate

Route Length (Expert): 6-10 miles round-trip, 2000-3500+ feet elevation gain
Difficulty:
Moderate to Difficult

 

Rates

 

Standard Tour (4-6 hours)
1 Person $300
2 People $350 ($175pp)
3 People $450 ($150pp)
4 People $525 ($131pp)
5 People $600 ($120pp)
6 People $675 ($112.50pp)
Each additional person $75 up to 10 max

Expert Tour (8-12 hours)
1 Person $400
2 People $450 ($225pp)
3 People $575 ($192pp)
4 People $675 ($165pp)
5 People $775 ($155pp)
6 People $875 ($146pp)

 

Alaska Resident & Military Discount: Parties with at least one Alaska resident or active duty military personnel receive a 10% discount. Enter code “AK_AND_MILITARY_DISCOUNT” at checkout.
Add $50 per person for professional adventure portraits. (High-resolution digital files delivered via web download after your hike.)
Receive a discount when you also book an Aurora Borealis Photography Tour. (Please inquire.)
Rates above do not include transportation from Fairbanks! Optional transportation is available for an extra fee.

Standard tours are limited to approximately 6 hours maximum, while Expert tours don’t have any strict time limitations. Clients who want to press farther into the wilderness or spend more time exploring, photographing, or otherwise enjoying their time outdoors should consider the Expert tour option, though Standard tours are designed to offer impressive sights and a fun experience on routes where offered. If you require optional transportation from Fairbanks, please note the tour durations above do not include travel time, and that travel time from Fairbanks is approximately 2.5 hours each way.

All tours are PRIVATE and involve no technical rock or ice climbing. Maximum group size 6; special arrangements must be made for larger groups up to 10. Children are welcome on tours but there is no youth discount; see age recommendations in difficulty ratings below. Full payment is required to reserve a tour. A 50% cancellation fee is charged when reservations are canceled at least three days in advance. No refunds are given for cancellations made less than three days in advance. Tours may be canceled due to extreme cold (below about -15 °F), in which case your tour will be rescheduled or fully refunded. However, 0° F is near average during the coldest months (December & January) and it’s actually a comfortable temperature to recreate in once your blood gets flowing, so clients should prepare to face cold temperatures and dress appropriately. For complete tour policies and more tour information, see the Black Rapids Tours FAQ.

Difficulty Ratings are assigned to each route as follows:
Easy: Low mileage & elevation gain, easy snow travel, suitable for people of average fitness and kids about 7 and up
Moderate: Rugged terrain, higher mileage, and/or breaking trail required, suitable for people of good fitness and kids about 10 and up
Difficult: Very high mileage, rugged terrain, and/or significant trail breaking required, suitable for tough kids about 12 and up

Please contact me if you have questions about the difficulty of a particular route. Keep in mind that snowshoeing requires more energy than walking, and breaking trail through deep snow can be very strenuous. Using alpine touring skis to travel in the backcountry is generally easiest, but I do not provide ski rentals. (Beaver Sports in Fairbanks rents them.) Snow conditions can greatly affect the difficulty of a particular route, and cold weather may make any trip challenging. You may change your selected route anytime before your tour starts, and I may suggest exchanging routes based on weather, snow conditions and other factors as your tour date approaches.