Thinking About Joining Us in 2027?
"You should never see Alaska when you’re young, because every other place you ever go will somehow, never quite be the same."
— John Muir
Alaska has a way of ruining ordinary backpacking. Once you’ve crossed rivers without bridges, picked your own line through the mountains, and camped where there isn’t another person for 100 miles, trails can start to feel a little tame. Most people come to Alaska for the scenery. The real reason to come is harder to photograph: a week in a place wild enough to demand your full attention — and make the rest of the world disappear for a while. There are easier ways to spend a vacation. But very few will leave you feeling this alive. Alaska is bigger, wilder, harder, and far more rewarding than ordinary backpacking. Here’s what you’re actually signing up for.
If Alaska has found its way into your thoughts, it’s usually not random…
People don’t daydream about this place because they want another trip.
They do it because something in them is ready for scale. For quiet. For being a little less buffered from the world.
A different relationship to challenge…
Alaska doesn’t ask you to conquer it.
It asks you to pay attention.
Some days are physically demanding. Others are deceptively gentle. What makes it powerful isn’t how hard you push, but how present you’re willing to be when plans change, weather rolls in, or the land invites you to slow down.
We run trips that hold challenge with care — not as a badge of honor, but as a way into depth.
Photos by Will Koeppen
Welcome video from Jack
Two ways of being in the landscape
We offer two primary styles of trips, because people meet challenge differently.
Backpacking trips
You move camp. You carry your world with you. You travel through terrain that has no interest in convenience. These trips tend to attract people who like effort, rhythm, and the feeling of earning their evenings.
Basecamp trips
You return to the same camp each night. You explore widely during the day, then come back to a place that slowly becomes familiar. These trips still involve real days and real terrain — just with more spaciousness built in.
About difficulty…
Alaska is rugged. But rugged doesn’t have to mean overwhelming.
We grade our trips carefully so you can choose something that stretches you without tipping into stress or self-doubt.
🌶️ Mild | Adventure Curious
🌶️🌶️ Medium | Gentle Warrior
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Hot | Wild at Heart
If you’re unsure what you’re ready for, book a call with us.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“It’s impossible to explain how vast the place is. Every square mile would be it’s own national park if it were in the lower 48! I’m so grateful I got the chance to go here and so glad I chose IAG to go with.”
“I have travelled the entire world, every continent, with dozens of high-end guide services and this was hands down the best trip of my life. The place worked it’s way into my soul. And Jack was the best guide i’ve ever had! It was hard, but so so worth it.”
“Jack had me cracking up the entire time! Alaska is no joke. If you’re willing to put in the effort it’s absolutely worth it. And if you go you might as well laugh the entire time while you’re at it. ”
Who you share the experience with matters
Remote places amplify everything.
Kindness. Humor. Patience. So do impatience and ego — which is why we pay close attention to group size and tone.
Our trips tend to draw people who are curious, thoughtful, and okay with not having all the answers. People who want to be part of something shared, not just collect a personal achievement.
Out here, the group becomes part of the landscape.
The seasons (and the mood they carry)
Alaska changes quickly over the summer, and each window has its own feel.
Late June–early July is warmer, greener, and full of light that barely seems to end.
August and September are quieter, cooler, and often rich with wildlife and early fall color.
There isn’t a “best” time — just different atmospheres.
A word about bears
People often hesitate because of bears. That’s understandable.
They’re part of this ecosystem, and we treat that seriously — through training, protocols, camp systems, and conservative decision-making. For most guests, fear softens quickly once they see how we move through the land.
What often remains is respect — and a deeper sense of what it means to be a guest in a truly wild place.
Why Alaska tends to linger
John Muir once suggested people save Alaska for last, because once you experience wilderness at this scale, it changes how everything else feels.
It’s true. There’s really no other place like it on Earth.
A practical note
Alaska runs on short seasons and long lead times. Flights, permits, and logistics mean trips often fill many months in advance.
If 2027 is even a quiet maybe, it’s worth beginning the conversation sooner rather than later. And if our scheduled dates don’t align, we also offer custom trips, shaped around your timing and group.
If you’re still reading
That’s usually a sign.
Most people land here because something in them is ready for a different kind of experience — one that isn’t rushed, curated, or performative.
You don’t have to decide everything today. You just have to listen to what’s tugging at you.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“I have travelled the entire world, every continent, with dozens of high-end guide services and this was hands down the best trip of my life. The place worked it’s way into my soul. And Jack was the best guide i’ve ever had! It was hard, but so so worth it.”
“It’s impossible to explain how vast the place is. Every square mile would be it’s own national park if it were in the lower 48! I’m so grateful I got the chance to go here and so glad I chose IAG to go with.”
“Jack had me cracking up the entire time! Alaska is no joke. If you’re willing to put in the effort it’s absolutely worth it. And if you go you might as well laugh the entire time while you’re at it. I can’t recommend Indigo Alpine Guides or Gates of the Arctic highly enough.”
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Check out the FAQ’s below, or text or call us at 845-661-3008 to talk it through! Or send us an email. We love hearing from folks.
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Backpacking in Alaska is no joke! We’ll be hiking 4-7 miles per day off trail across scree slopes, over mountain passes, and through the occasional but notorious thick Alaskan alder. That being said, if you’ve backpacked a bit before and physically prepare before the trip, you’ll do great!
If you’re an expert backpacker you’ll still find this to be a rewarding and at times challenging trip. Guests will be expected to practice excellent self-care, pack and unpack their own packs, setup and breakdown their own tents, and carry a portion of group equipment.
All the challenges of off-trail backpacking are overwhelmingly worth it for the splendor, the views, and the deep knowing in your gut that you did something powerful and profound.
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Most of our trips run with 7 guests and 2 guides, but we run trips with as few as 2 people and as many as 12.
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Meals will be delicious backcountry cuisine. We’ve spent a lot of years in the backcountry and we like to eat well! That being said, we also don't love heavy packs. Our meals strike a balance between dehydrated backpacker food and gourmet fresh — in that balance are delicious meals without crazy weight. We can accommodate most dietary restrictions. Please reach out with questions. We will supply all the breakfasts, dinners, and occasional desserts for the trip. We ask guests to pack their own lunch snacks. On our trips lunch is between when breakfast ends and dinner begins — snack away!
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We have people come on our trips by themselves all the time! There’s nothing like travel through remote wilderness to build community.
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Indigo Alpine Guide trips are run by the owner Jack and an awesome crew of guides from all over the country. All the people who work for IAG have over a decade of experience guiding trips in the most remote places on earth, have wilderness medical training and advanced guiding certifications. They are some of the best and most experienced guides you’ll find anywhere.
Our trips aren’t tours. We don’t march the same trail again and again. Your guide may not have done your exact route before — and that’s part of the adventure! We change routes from season to season, sometimes for practical reasons, sometimes just to keep things fresh. People are sometimes surprised by this, but it’s never a drawback — if anything, the journey feels more alive for everyone, including them.
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Backpacking in Alaska can be pretty tough. If you’re super athletic and up for adventure, coming out here for your first trip could work. But be prepared for a steep learning curve.
You’ll likely have a better time if you have at least 4-5 trips of any length under your belt before coming to Alaska. If you’re unsure, reach out!
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Reach out. We’re always happy to chat.
