Donjek Glacier hike
the adventure of a lifetime (so far)
From left to right:
Bastian Stassen
Sales Engineer and Everyday Hero
Brian Toxopeus
Firefighter (i.e. REAL hero) and Brother-in-Law
Laurence Stassen
Vice-Principal (clearly heroic) and Brother
photo taken just upon returning from adventure
The Location:
Kluane National Park
Yukon Territory, Canada
The Timeline:
9 days (June 26 to July 5, 2003)
The Challenge:
110 km loop, 3000-7000 feet elevation
Fast Facts:
-hours of daylight per day: ~21
-meals per day: 4 + snacks
-max distance in one day: 19 km
-max elevation in one day: 2500 feet
-latest night: 3 am
-pack weight: 65 pounds
-number of life-threatening situations: >4
1) steep scree slopes with canyon at the bottom
2) rocks falling from hundreds of feet above
3) climbing down slippery, cold, wet waterfall
4) several tricky fast, cold water stream crossings
5) fell into fast moving glacier water creek, twisted ankle and was very cold after barely crawling out
6) car was stranded by rising creek waters, had to use satellite phone to call RCMP and eventually get tow truck to pull rental car across stream
The Crew
Elevation Profile of route
Our route with campsites indicated by number
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Yukon’s Kluane National Park and Reserve, along with Alaska’s Wrangell - St. Elias and Glacier Bay National Park and British Columbia’s Tatshenshini Alsek Park, form the largest international protected area in the world. These parklands are recognized and protected under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention as an outstanding wilderness of global significance. Let me tell you, it is spectacular, vast and humbling.