Heli-Hike & Rail (My Review)

[PLHag]

In Skagway now and just back from the expensive, but worth it, Heli-Hike & Rail tour offered by Princess (and perhaps other cruise lines). After many indpendent phone calls to Packer Expeditions, I found out that this excursion could only be booked through the cruise line. Since it encompassed a helicopter ride, a hike through a dense forest and (Denver) glacier footing in Skagway and a train ride, we booked without much hestitation. We're just back and I couldn't wait to post. The trip was fantastic. There were 10 in our group (leaving at 7:00 a.m. from Skagway). Temsco provided us early morning heli service and we landed somewhere in the forest (6 passengers in each heli, including the 2 guides). We hiked uphill, but not too strenously, for about 5 miles and enjoyed so much scenery on the way (forest, trees, waterfalls, berries, plants NOT to eat), and although moose and bears were a possibility, we didn't encounter them. We witnessed the first snowfall from night before (they called it "termination dust") on the Denver Glacier and it was spectacular - clearly new, white, untouched snowfall. One hour trainride back to Skagway included a cold brew, crackers & salmon spread, and a superb view of the valley (because Packer reserves the last train car for the hikers) who are literally "picked up" on the route back to town. We were required to take our passports on the trip and they were in fact checked when we returned to town - not because we ventured into Canada, but because the train did before it picked us up.

 

It was a great day and anyone interested in a face-to-face with Mother Nature at her finest should certainly consider this tour. Our guides were Mario and Josh, both here for the summer, but both with signifant knowledge of the area, and the plant life, the history of the glaciers and the towns.

[hillzie]

Thanks for the review - looking forward to our HeliHike two weeks from today. Enjoy the rest of your cruise and thanks again for the post.

 

Hillzie