Andover Resident Completes Rugged Alaskan Course

Justin Pytka, 33, of Andover, recently completed a four-week wilderness expedition traveling in Alaska with the National Outdoor Leadership School.

.The 28-day course used packrafts,—single-person inflatable rafts weighing four pounds each—to explore remote country. This expedition traversed the Talkeetna mountain range, covering 227 miles, backpacking 62 miles interspersed with 160 miles of packrafting. This was a self-sufficient expedition and Pytka and his coursemates carried all of their boating and camping gear from the start.

The group paddled sections of Cottonwood Creek, McClaren River, the Susitna River, the Talkeetna River and Clear Creek. Four instructors who are experts in the field accompanied students and taught curriculum focused on both boating and hiking skills. Students also learned navigation, leadership, environmental topics and first aid. Once instructors deemed the students capable wilderness travelers, they set out on a two days of independent student group travel. Highlights of the course included floating wild rivers in tiny boats, wildlife sightings, climbing mountains and exploring the vast wilderness of Alaska.

.The leadership school believes people thrive when challenged. During the Alaska Packrafting course, students did not have access to modern conveniences and were challenged to step outside their comfort zones. The educational education stressed leadership can be learned, and is based on the belief that the outdoors is a challenging environment where students will learn technical skills and about themselves.