Equinox Wilderness Expeditions travels to remote country where few take the time, effort or expense to visit. On our guided backpacking, hiking, base camp, river rafting, canoeing and kayaking trips, we enter the land on its own terms, sleeping in tents, traveling under our own power, and generally moving at a relaxed pace with a flexible itinerary. This allows time for wildlife viewing, weather and day hiking layover days, and personal reflection and relaxation. At the same time, there's plenty of opportunity for physical challenge. Summers in the Far North have the advantage of long (sometimes 24-hour) days, so there is lots of flexibility in our schedule. Leaving your watch at home can be a liberating experience. Our guides are in top shape, and love taking you to the mountaintops, and on those all-night hikes under the Midnight Sun!
In spring or fall, we may explore the red rock desert and canyon country of the Southwest by backpack or canoe. Come summer, we follow the rhythms of nature in Alaska and Canada, seeking out unique wild places. We often include visits to traditional Native villages, for a glimpse into the cultural heritage of our northernmost indigenous peoples.
Educational in focus, our eco-trips immerse you in the unique natural history of an area and are timed to coincide with the migrations of birds and wildlife, as well as the distinct archeology and geology of each area. Wildlife viewing is a regular activity on many journeys. You'll enjoy our trips if you have an adventurous spirit, a flexible attitude, good physical fitness, and you are comfortable being far from telecommunications and the mechanized world. Trip itineraries are flexible, as we respond to the weather, environment, and participants’ abilities.
Our wild river expeditions are paddle rafting trips, with a guide helping to steer the raft. On more difficult whitewater, you have the choice of paddling, or being rowed down the river. Most people find that being part of a paddling team is more active and satisfying. On some whitewater trips, we offer more advanced paddlers the opportunity to use inflatable canoes and kayaks, or Ally folding canoes. Our tandem canoes carry 2 people plus gear. On river trips, boats carry all our gear, and we're free to hike unhindered by backpacks on our layover days.
On fly-in sea kayaking expeditions, we use double folding Klepper and Feathercraft kayaks. On sea kayak trips where we are transported by water taxi (motorboat shuttle), we often use hardshell fiberglass kayaks. We offer a range of adventures from novice to advanced; our fly-in trips that tend to be best suited to people who have tried sea kayaking. This is not to say that novices are not welcome, only to let you know that Alaska can present challenging conditions. Sea kayaks, like rafts, carry all our gear. We bring fresh food and often set up a base camp from which to observe marine mammals and birds, or to explore glaciers.
Backpacking trips are strenuous and require a higher level of fitness because we carry everything on our backs. Our routes are cross-country, following animal trails and the logical contours of the land. The hiking is challenging, but the rewards of this type of travel are inestimable. Prior backpacking experience is a prerequisite.
Hiking Base camp expeditions allow us to set up our tents, and settle into a particular landscape for several days. For some, it is wonderful not to have to set up and break down a tent, as one would on a backpack or river trip. Daily hikes can be as strenuous as you wish. All hiking is over trail-less terrain, and requires basic fitness, flexibility, and stamina. Everyone shares with chores, such as carrying gear to and from the plane, setting up tents, and kitchen clean-up.
Experience
No paddling experience is necessary to join many of our river floats and sea kayaking expeditions. Whitewater canoe trips require prior canoeing experience. Backpacking trips are strenuous and prior experience is required. For all of our trips, we ask that you be in good health and fitness, and have prior backcountry camping experience. Alaska's premier wilderness and sometimes challenging elements can test you physically and emotionally. You need to be comfortable being physically active all day long. On trips of all ratings, you are expected to pitch your tent, help with group chores, and manage your own gear.
We cover all the skills necessary for safe, enjoyable travel. Many of our trips are suitable for people of all ages. Families with children as young as 7, and one especially inspirational 94-year-old have enjoyed our expeditions, in particular, rafting and kayaking. River and sea kayaking trips, even those of easy or moderate difficulty, are inherently active. Participants must be capable of helping with the loading and unloading of boats, carrying personal and group gear to and from campsites, and helping to push or pull boats off gravel bars, through shallow waters, and off rocks. Trips are rated easy (E), moderate (M), moderately strenuous (M+) and strenuous (S) to give you an idea of what to expect.
Easy : Short or long hikes, at your option, generally from a wilderness camping base camp. Less demanding sea kayaking. River trips of short duration, with Class I water. Lodge-based trips are generally in this category, with options for strenuous physical activity throughout the day.
Moderate: Trips involving wilderness camping, with long paddling days and layover days with long hikes that may involve climbing mountains and inclement weather. Day hiking remains optional; however, there is a certain amount of walking required every day to move boats, set up and break down camp, etc. Moderate to vigorous river paddling on rapids up to Class II, generally from 2-5 hours on the water. Kayaking trips with paddling days of 3-5 hours on the water. Most 7 to 9-day sea kayaking trips and some Arctic river trips are rated as moderate. Good aerobic fitness is helpful to make your trip enjoyable.
Moderately Strenuous: Take all the elements of a moderate trip, then add some Class III whitewater, and a trip becomes more strenuous. There may be some long days (5-8 hrs.) on the water, and long optional day (or night) hikes.
Strenuous: Our longer river trips and trips where weather, unexpected water levels, and the general effort of living outdoors, packing and unpacking camp, and schlepping boats and gear, we rate as strenuous. Our exploratory river trips or trips where we paddle down little-known rivers, where conditions may be challenging, are also rated strenuous. On any arctic rivers, conditions can change rapidly. Weather may be especially unpredictable, with wind, rain, and/or snow. Pick-up may be delayed by forces beyond our control. Endurance, both physical and psychological, is necessary to enjoy long days of activity, or enforced inactivity due to weather. The higher your level of fitness, the more you’ll enjoy any of our trips.
We rate most of our backpacking trips as strenuous due to the remoteness and lack of trails. These are demanding trips that involve backpacking over uneven terrain. Excellent health, good fitness, and prior experience backpacking are prerequisites for these trips. Kayaking trips involving long crossings or paddling through ice also fit this category.
Detailed pre-trip planning assures that our portable camps and kitchens run efficiently. You provide your own sleeping bag, pad, and personal gear. We provide tents on some of our expeditions. On others, you may bring your own, or rent one of our tents for a small fee.
We pride ourselves in providing high quality, yet lightweight camp meals. We use a combination of dried and fresh natural foods, including wild, non-farmed salmon, and cater to all dietary preferences, including vegetarian, kosher, and vegan diets. You'll be well-fed.
Our trips are fully in the field; we generally do not include "lost" travel days in our itineraries, and we usually don't include lodging the day before or the day after the trip, except when the itinerary warrants that it is easier for us all to stay in the same accommodations. In general, you travel to our city of departure the day before the trip (Day 0), and you depart for home a day or two after trip's end.
