Modern Adventure, in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), requires that all guests be fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine and provide proof of documentation before joining any trip.

The CDC defines fully vaccinated as 14 days after receiving:

• a single dose of an accepted 1-dose vaccine

• the second dose of an accepted 2-dose vaccine

• The full series of an active (not placebo) COVID-19 vaccine in the US-based AstraZeneca or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trials

• The second dose of any “mix and match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines (administered at least 17 days apart)

We strongly recommend that guests who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot do so in preparation for their travel. Destinations and their local laws may have different requirements and definitions of what constitutes full vaccination. Guests who have not received a booster dose may be prevented from traveling to certain destinations.

In addition, it may be a requirement to provide a negative COVID-19 test result prior to your departure and your return to your home country. Information will be provided in guest communications leading up to your trip. By booking a Modern Adventure you are agreeing to these terms and to providing proof of vaccination.

For more information about our COVID policies, please click here.

Alaska’s remote wilderness is a magnificent and inspirational destination, and we value completely disconnecting from civilization. For the majority of our time in Alaska, cell phones and WiFi will not work. The exception is in Anchorage at the beginning and end of our trip.

Our hiking guides will carry a satellite phone for safety, and therefore we discourage guests from bringing their own satellite phones or similar devices.

Alaska has some of the most dynamic and dramatic weather on the planet. During the summer months, average daytime temperatures in Denali range from 55F to 65F (the average high in August is 61F). Nighttime and morning temperatures are cooler, averaging 40F, and rarely dip below freezing.

Throughout the summer season, you may experience rain, sun, wind (gusts in the 30-50mph range are not uncommon), clouds and fog—often on the same day! We live by the adage, 'prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and you'll likely end up with some of both.' Frost and snow can occur any time, but are less common in August.

If you are on prescription medication, you should ask your doctor for a letter detailing your condition and prescribed drugs. This prevents possible issues at customs and helps the local doctor if you need to buy medication while traveling. If you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, we recommend you bring an extra pair and a copy of the prescription in case of emergency.

Our expedition guides will have a medical kit and rescue supplies available, but we always recommend that you carry a personal first-aid kit and any personal medication.

We make safety a priority on all our adventures, however, incidents and injuries that require evacuation do occur from time to time. Since this adventure takes place in very remote wilderness locations, it can be difficult and expensive to plan evacuations. It is each guest’s responsibility to be covered by medical, travel and evacuation insurance, or be prepared to cover the cost yourself, for expenses related to an emergency medical evacuation (see Travel Insurance, below).

While in the backcountry, guests will have no cell service or connectivity. In the event of an emergency in which family or friends need to contact you, the Modern Adventure Emergency Line can be used at all hours by calling +1 (503) 374-9055. Our staff will be able to connect to the emergency satellite phone carried by our local guide and relay any urgent messages as soon as possible. Please note that even with satellite phones, it will take time to connect with the group and immediate responses cannot be guaranteed.

We’ll be wilderness hiking in remote areas with no access to services—and we're unlikely to encounter other humans! We're hiking off-trail on scree fields and tundra, over steep mountain ridges and uneven terrain, often covering more than 6 miles with up to 2,000 feet of elevation gain/loss. While the mileage may not sound like a lot for experienced hikers, due to the terrain in Alaska, the focus here is on total hours hiked (4 - 6 hours per day, on average) more than on total mileage.

We recommend you should be capable of hiking at a minimum pace of 1 to 2 miles per hour, carrying a 30 - 40 pound backpack, for up to 6 hours a day. Pre-trip physical conditioning should begin no later than 2 months before departure. Training should include walking, hiking or breaking-in boots you intend to wear with your loaded 30-40 pound backpack, and practicing hiking or camping in a variety of conditions (nice weather, rain etc.). Pre-trip physical conditioning is important to creating a fun and positive experience for yourself, and for the group as a whole. We strongly discourage guests from arriving without doing pre-trip physical conditioning.

Backpacking in Alaska is also a mental challenge. You need to be able to cope with the unknown, stay flexible, keep a group mindset and be prepared for the itinerary to change at a moment's notice. You will likely be uncomfortable at some point, but trust in your guides, and believe in your ability to move through these challenges as they arise.

Please note: once our group commits to the route and leave the drop-off point, there is no option for an easy exit. Any unplanned departures are weather dependent and based on the availability of our float planes, and could cost thousands of dollars. It is not recommended the group split up to accommodate an unfit/unprepared hiker, so the entire group may be at risk of turning around. An option to evacuate any individual will greatly affect the group's experience.

We curate your Modern Adventure to ensure all experiences are immersive and included in your trip price.

ATMs are available in Anchorage. We also recommend bringing a credit card to cover any hotel incidentals, and for souvenirs or local arts and crafts you might like to bring back with you.

Please note that tipping our Modern Adventure trip leader & Backcountry guides is at your discretion. To show your appreciation for good service, we recommend tipping $75 - $125 per guest to your Modern Adventure Trip Leader. Gratuities for local guides often range from 5-10% of the trip cost per person and are split among the guides.

You'll need a backpack for the majority of this backcountry adventure (see Gear & Packing).

If you have additional luggage, we are able to store your non-backpacking essentials in Anchorage for the week while we’re out in the wilderness. If you anticipate needing to store items during this time, please reach out to us prior to your arrival, so we can ensure space is set aside for you.

Also note that we provide each guest with a small duffle bag to store any items (clean clothes, toiletries, etc.) that you'd like waiting for you at the lodge, at the end of our trip. We'll hand these duffles out when we do our gear check, prior to departing Anchorage.

While wildlife viewing on our backcountry trips are likely, there are simply too many factors to make any guarantees. There are both grizzly and black bears in most of the areas of Denali we visit. We love seeing bears in the wild, and consider bear sightings one of the most thrilling privileges common in Alaska’s backcountry. That said, traveling safely and taking precautions to minimize a negative encounter are considerations we take very seriously. In addition to conducting a thorough pre-trip bear safety orientation, your guides also take many precautions—as a last resort, guides travel carrying pepper spray.

In addition to bears, there are often multiple species of Pacific salmon, Dall sheep, caribou, moose, wolves and populations of migratory birds that may be spotted.