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MEET THE PARTICIPANTS
Location: Icy Bay
Icy Bay is an extremely remote fly-in location formed by the retreat of the Guyot, Yahtse and Tyndall glaciers over the past 95 years. Several active glaciers, including the largest in North America, the 50-mild-wide Malaspina Glacier, continue to feed into this 30-mile-long, multi-armed bay strewn with giant chunks of ice.
Hiking away from the water is an ambitious task, but provides incredible views of the surrounding landscape. With the 18,000-foot Mount Saint Elias providing the backdrop it's easy to see why Icy Bay has been called one of the most spectacular areas in the world. Winter in Icy Bay provides very real challenges, including temperature drops between 10 and 30 degrees, dwindling daylight (four to five hours a day in December), and furious storms with horizontal rain and sleet driven by winds up to 150 mph.
Camp: Riou Point
Sediment-laden water from the mainland surrounding Icy Bay has built the thick, soggy sands of Riou Point's beaches. The sand is littered with hundreds of uprooted trees and driftwood, ideal for firewood or making furniture. A freshwater stream, which can provide water year-round, is about a half-mile down the beach.
An old fish shack located near the mouth of the bay will be home to the Wise family. The shack is near a pristine beach that will take the brunt of the vicious Icy Bay storms.
- Dennis Wise
After spending 30 years working for General Motors, mostly on the assembly line, Dennis, 51, now works part time in the camping and canoeing department of Bass Pro Shops in Olathe, Kan. He regularly puts on kayak and canoe demonstrations, and is also an experienced fisherman. As an avid outdoorsman, Dennis has always encouraged his two daughters to be adventurers as well. Dennis and his wife Christine have also taught the girls to reach beyond stereotypes. Dennis says, "I always told them if they wanted to be in medicine, be a doctor, not a nurse." As the Wise family sets off on their journey, Dennis is excited to have this experience with his daughters, to see all of their knowledge and strengths and to work with them as partners, rather than as children.
