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Post by FrostG1anT on May 30, 2009 17:18:58 GMT -9
MTboy and I are putting together a fun filled weekend of adventure and events.
July 18 we are looking to take a whitewater raft trip down Lion's Head on the Matanuska River. Right now we have two options for the trip 9:30am departure and 2:00pm departure. We need 20 interested people to sign up and commit to the trip in order to get the discount rate for the float. We can have up to 23 people on the 2:00pm trip and 28 on the 9:30 trip. These are the vacancies open today for those times. There is a possibility of them opening up more rafts if we get more than that interested, but right now that is what they have available. The cost would be $72.25 per person for the 9:30 departure or $76.50 per person for the 2:00pm departure.
This trip has not been reserved yet as we will need to put a 50% deposit down when we make the reservation. We need to reserve this trip ASAP in order to secure the remaining seats in the rafts and as I stated before in order to get the group discount we need to have at least 20 people going. The trip is limited to children 12 and older and adults, but they are willing to be flexible if a child is close to 12 years old.
If you are interested in this trip say so in these forums and contact me offline.
This will be the first part of a fun filled adventure weekend for the geocaching community. Stay tuned for the rest of the story.
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Post by tomanoble on May 30, 2009 22:18:45 GMT -9
Sounds like a fun weekend. Being relatively new to Alaska, I have never heard of this run. What type of rafts? (Paddle or oar?) Difficulty? Chance of getting Blazingpathways REALLY wet? Me, that's a given. I've swam in many of America's finest whitewater rivers.
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Post by FrostG1anT on May 31, 2009 1:33:28 GMT -9
Lion's Head is the area directly in front of the Matanuska Glacier. The Lion's Head is actually the cone from a volcano as the sediment in the area gets its awesome colorings from how it was formed (glacier and volcano collided to create a masterpiece of nature... possible earthcache?). Both paddle and oar boats are available, but paddle boats are so much more fun and the area is not all that difficult (class III and IV). This trip will be with a guide outfit that does whitewater rafting as it's primary business, one of the largest in the state in fact.
You will get wet, but only your exposed bits (head, face, etc) as dry suits are used as the glacial waters of the rivers are very cold. The dry suits are worn over your normal clothing. You should not be swimming in the Matanuska river unless you do something very wrong.
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Po1ar
Silver Cacher
Posts: 122
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Post by Po1ar on May 31, 2009 10:20:04 GMT -9
Sounds like fun. count me in.
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Post by FrostG1anT on Jun 1, 2009 16:51:04 GMT -9
It looks like we are going to do the morning departure (9:30am). This should post as an event tomorrow. The space is limited and a deposit needs to be put down soon to secure your space on the trip. This should be a great time and a good way to enjoy another part of Alaska. It is a good intro to whitewater rafting as well. We are looking at camping out closer to the put in for the rafts, either King Mountain, King River or Sheep mountain.
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Post by FrostG1anT on Jun 1, 2009 20:12:30 GMT -9
The event has been posted, it should go live tomorrow. There will be another event in Chickaloon Friday July 17. It is an overnight camping event in King Mountain. It is almost directly across the street from NOVA so people can drive out Friday night and camp and then go rafting on Saturday. The campground cannot be reserved yet and only 5 spaces are reservable. I am going to call the camp host tomorrow and see if I can reserve them sooner. Watch for the events.
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Po1ar
Silver Cacher
Posts: 122
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Post by Po1ar on Jun 1, 2009 20:23:14 GMT -9
How do we get you the $$??
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Post by FrostG1anT on Jun 2, 2009 19:10:50 GMT -9
Each person who wants to go will need to call 800 746-5753 and put down a 50% deposit for the trip to secure their place/s in the rafts. You will need to mention you are part of the GeocacheAlaska! raft trip. The cost is $72.25 per person. There are 28 seats reserved for our group and some of them have been filled already. Reservations and the deposit should be done sooner rather than later as this trip will fill up.
It is being posted as an event, but is being discussed by the reviewers currently and so may not post for several days. The trip has been reserved and people are already making reservations for it. If we fill up the spaces and need more it may be possible to add more another raft.
If you make reservations please let me know here and offline so I can keep a tally of how many seats are still available.
It should be a very fun trip and part of even more fun weekend of adventures.
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Po1ar
Silver Cacher
Posts: 122
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Post by Po1ar on Jun 3, 2009 10:20:11 GMT -9
Hey! FrostG1ant! I just placed my deposit for the trip. Can't wait!!!!
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Post by FrostG1anT on Jun 7, 2009 19:30:08 GMT -9
If you have never been rafting in Alaska this is a great trip to be the first. This is about as mellow as it gets without being a float in a lake. It is still whitewater and dry suits are provided. It is fun for all and the view is incredible. Invite your friends and family. This trip is open to anyone 12 years and older. We are looking to reserve a campground for an overnight stay Friday night right across the street from the rafting place. If you or your friends are interested call and make your reservation now. This is a fun trip and a great way to see the confluence of geology in the area. Please post if you call and make a reservation so we can keep count of how many are going. Reserve early as the price deal we have will not hold if this trip does not fill up.
See you all on the river.
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Post by Valerieseaker on Jun 7, 2009 19:44:43 GMT -9
How long does the raft trip take? Specifically, could I be back in Anchorage that night, or at least to work the next morning?
How close does "close to 12" have to be? Would it be determined by size of the "close to 12" yo? (I'm not sure the "close to 12" year old wants to go, so this may not matter.)
Thanks.
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Post by FrostG1anT on Jun 8, 2009 16:28:46 GMT -9
How long does the raft trip take? Specifically, could I be back in Anchorage that night, or at least to work the next morning? How close does "close to 12" have to be? Would it be determined by size of the "close to 12" yo? (I'm not sure the "close to 12" year old wants to go, so this may not matter.) Thanks. You would need to call about the close to 12 child as I have no idea what they would decide. I would assume it would be based upon size and experience and how far from "11 1/2" they are. The trip will be over and we will be back to Chickaloon before 2:00pm as that is when their second trip of the day begins. Everyone should have plenty of time to get back to town Saturday afternoon. We are working on reserving part of the King Mountain campground for Friday night as well for those who do not want to drive Saturday morning. Chickaloon is 1.5 hour drive from Anchorage and one of the prettiest parts of the State. As a bonus there are several caches in the area and en-route. Some require hiking or ATVs, but many are nice road caches and easy to get while stretching your legs on the road.
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Po1ar
Silver Cacher
Posts: 122
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Post by Po1ar on Jun 11, 2009 8:52:13 GMT -9
Hey! FrostG1ant! I just reserved 2 more seats for the raft trip. So a total of 3 so far.
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Post by dmzlstone on Jun 11, 2009 22:08:02 GMT -9
Wow, sounds like a ton of fun. Unfortunately the dmzlstone clan will not be able to attend. That is the same day/time the Alaska Military Youth Academy has scheduled a Cadet/Mentor off campus visitation and I will be spending the day with the cadet that asked me to be his mentor. So my priority that day will be to focus on helping one of our youth. Enjoy the rapids! And remember, if you fall in the water will be cold!
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Po1ar
Silver Cacher
Posts: 122
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Post by Po1ar on Jun 12, 2009 7:15:31 GMT -9
FrostG1ant Just reserved 2 more seats for a total of 5 now.
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Post by FrostG1anT on Jul 2, 2009 19:27:55 GMT -9
It is crunch time for the rafting trip. If you want to go, call and reserve your seat NOW. We have to relinquish any seats that are not taken very soon. there are several that are going that are not listed as will attends on the event page. This will be a very fun trip.
There will be prizes. Tell your friends and sign up soon.
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Post by FrostG1anT on Jul 16, 2009 18:36:58 GMT -9
The rafting trip is Saturday and there are still 8 seats open if anyone wants to go, we are locked in at the good deal price of $72.25 per person. We are meeting at 9:00am in the parking lot for the now closed King Mountain Lodge in Chickaloon, which is right across the street from NOVA. It is going to be a very fun trip, hope to see you there.
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Po1ar
Silver Cacher
Posts: 122
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Post by Po1ar on Jul 19, 2009 22:42:29 GMT -9
The Trip was AWESOME!!!!! Thanks FrostG1ant for planning it!!! I had a blast!!!
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Post by FrostG1anT on Jul 20, 2009 17:29:32 GMT -9
WOW, what a great turn out and what incredible weather. We had a very large group show up and enjoy a great guided trip with the awesome expert guides at NOVA on Saturday. Thanks to everyone who came out. It looks like there are about a half dozen new geocachers out there now thanks to friends inviting them along for this adventure. It was great to see so many doing something new and enjoying so much.
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