In the Summer of 2011 a group of friends ventured out to Aniakchak National Monument, a 3,700 year old volcanic crater measuring 6 miles in diameter. It’s one of the least visited National Parks in the United States, due in large part to it’s remoteness in Alaska.
Hiking in Alaska
It lies in the Aleutian chain of Alaska, part of the volcanic ring of fire caused by tectonic plate movements. Alaska alone has 8% of the worlds active volcanoes. At the heart of Aniakchak is its caldera six miles wide and 2,500 feet deep. In May of 1931, an eruption caused ash to fall in nearby villages at a rate of 1 pound per hour.
We hiked and paddled 65 miles from Aniakchak river to Chignik Lagoon. Much appreciation to Roman Dial for leading the way on our journey and capturing some amazing footage; complete with a bear encounter with our good friend Gordy. Make sure to watch part I and II here.