This expedition features two amazing ways to explore Alaska.  On your journey through south-central Alaska you will encounter a wide spectrum of Alaskan wilderness as we paddle, backpack and climb through a variety of engaging backcountry.

The Kenai Mountainsis a land of precipitous peaks, dense forests, vast landscapes, omnipresent wildlife and water in every form imaginable - snow, swift streams, waterfalls, ice, rain, and whitewater rapids. All types of Alaska's habitats can be found on the Kenai Peninsula: tundra, alpine, rivers, wetlands and forest. They are home to wolves, lynx, beavers, caribou, wolverines, black and brown (grizzly) bears, Dall sheep, salmon, trout, mountain goats, bald eagles and numerous other small birds and mammals. Alaska is known as the island of the midnight sun, with 18 to 20 hour days of daylight.  All living things will be in full gear for the burst of summer.

The first thing you may notice about the sea is its quiet and peaceful feel.  It is a thriving environment, where one gets the sense of how the Earth may have been in another time, full of diverse life, going about its age-old business without the interference of humankind. We are privileged to be a part of this once common, now increasingly rare exuberance, if only for a little while.

The Outward Bound Difference

Throughout the course, you will explore important aspects of Outward Bound, including growth and learning found in every activity you undertake. You will learn five important Outward Bound values: sticking to what you start; giving to others; showing spirit even when the going gets tough; solving problems; and most importantly, caring for others and working as a team. You may find that the most important lessons areas much about learning backcountry skills as they are learning about yourself and your community. Successful completion of your course demands mastery of skills, trust, fitness, confidence, tenacity, leadership, initiative and compassion. The promotion of these qualities, and the discovery of what's in you, is the purpose of Outward Bound.

This course may be the hardest thing you have ever done. Outward Bound philosophy maintains that by facing the challenges the course will offer you, you will emerge physically and mentally stronger, with an increased mastery of expedition skills as well as a better understanding of your own capabilities.  We think that the payoff is well worth the work, but you should be aware of what you're getting into and excited about tackling the challenges.

Service & Compassion

Outward Bound courses are team environments where you and your group work closely together to travel, navigate and camp together every day.  Group living can be challenging.  Inevitably students learn about one key facet of human interaction; compassion.  Throughout Outward Bound’s 60-year history we strove to deliver new perspective on compassion and being of service to others. Today most courses include a half to a full day of community service and we hope that your experience with us translates into a desire to engage in service to others when you return home.

Course Description

While on the water, you will explore the coast of the Kenai Peninsula. The coastal shoreline is a rugged and remote placewhere icefalls, vertical cliffs and pebbled beaches meet the Gulf of Alaska and the adjacent fjords and passages. The best way to access this spectacular landscape is by boat. Sea kayaks, sometimes called a poor man's yacht, are the perfect way to experience this incredible place. With long summer days, there will be many opportunities to explore and enjoy this wild coastal environment. You will travel across Resurrection Bay and then either east to Prince William Sound or west to Kenai Fjords. Your group will learn to travel independently and self-reliantly, the first days of this phase are spent learning and practicing basic kayaking and camping skills.Paddling a sea kayak is not particularly difficult; in fact it is deceptively easy. However, knowledge of seamanship and judgment must be learned in order to be safe in what can be an unforgiving environment. Instruction in sea kayaking will include proper kayak loading and care, navigation and rescue techniques. 

Next, you trade in your kayaking equipment for backpacking and mountaineeringgear. During this portion of your course, the Kenai Mountains will be your playground. Located in south central Alaska, this mountain range is bounded by the Gulf of Alaska to the south and Prince William Sound to the east, the range rises abruptly from the ocean fjords. Initially on a trail through the forest, andlater onto the alpine tundra above, you climb above the river and lake valleys to the heights of the Kenai Mountains. Trails penetrate only the first few miles into the backcountry; from there it is off-trail travel through forests, over passes, across tundra and onto numerous glaciers. Learning new skills of wilderness travel will be necessary as you travel by foot to gain access to the high-country above the forests. Once above, you are surrounded by alpine terrain.

Gaining competence by learning two distinct wilderness skill sets means you will head home empowered and inspired. Let the ocean and the mountains teach you about your strengthsand gain perspective on life and the outdoors. 

NOTE: Pack weight is between 50 and 70 lbs dependent on participant's bodyweight. Packs on Alaskacourses weigh more because of additional gear brought into the field. Weencourage you to test out a pack that is this heavy prior to choosing thiscourse. Also, sea kayaking skill training requires practicing entering andexiting the boat in the water. Non-swimmers may struggle to successfully orcomfortably gain these skills and may wish to consider courses without seakayaking. 

To enroll in this course click the enroll button next to the course dates thatwork for you. To shop comparatively on line visit our Advanced Course Finder orbetter yet call one of our expert Admission Advisers at 866-467-7651. Coursetuitions do not include our Application Fee or Transportation Fee.