Kluane / Wrangell – St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek

Welcome to a realm where the geological forces of our planet operate on an impossibly grand scale. We stand at the threshold of the Kluane, Wrangell-St. …

Let us focus our attention on the defining geological feature of this region: the glacial ice. Sprawling across the higher elevations are the Kluane and Bagley ice fields. …

Venturing into the backcountry of Wrangell-St. Elias and its sister parks is an exercise in profound self-reliance. …

Perhaps the most statistically dangerous obstacle a traveler will face in this park system is the crossing of glacial streams and rivers. Unlike rain-fed rivers, glacial rivers fluctuate wildly throughout the day. …

This ecosystem remains exquisitely intact, meaning it retains its full complement of apex predators. As we traverse the valleys and alpine meadows, we are entering the domain of the grizzly bear, the wolf, and the wolverine. …

Let us shift our geographical focus to the southern expanse of this World Heritage site, into the waters of Glacier Bay. Here, the monumental journey of the ice ends dramatically in the ocean. …

Our analytical tour would be profoundly incomplete without acknowledging the human element that has existed within this rugged landscape for millennia. Archaeological evidence reveals a human presence in these regions dating back…

As we conclude our intellectual journey through the staggering expanse of Kluane, Wrangell-St. Elias, Glacier Bay, and Tatshenshini-Alsek, we are left with a profound sense of scale and consequence. …