What better way to instill the precepts of woodcraft, hardiness and self-reliance than to take the kids backpacking in America’s biggest national park? Alaska’s Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve covers an area of 20,587 square miles.
From Chicago we flew to Anchorage, rented a car, and headed north a few hundred miles. Thirty miles of the gravel Nabesna Road brought us to Lost Creek which we followed high into sheep country.
The scale of this country is immense.
Tommy glassing the slopes for game.
I can’t tell you how proud I am of my guys. Dorothy, Fawn, and Tommy were real troopers hiking more than 25 miles, building and striking camps, and climbing thousands of feet in rugged country and foul weather with heavy packs without complaint. A great time was had by all.
The Radiotelegrapher 
It’s a really good idea to have a rifle around up there !!
Awesome PICs Tom! You are a lucky guy for sure. Wish I could be there with you!Really!rick
You bet John. The cost of putting the rifle in baggage VS buying bear spray that I couldn’t bring home on the plane was a wash, so we went with the 30-30. It sure would have been nice to have you guys along Rick. Tom B.
What an incredible trip and formative experience for Fawn and Tommy. Dorothy is a heck of a great mom to go along too!