Wilderness Backpacking | Alaska Backpacking | Wildlife Adventure
Caribou Migration Backpack
PDF of Caribou Migration Backpack
• Dates: June 11 through 17, 2010. This trip combines with our Caribou Canoe (Kokolik River) June 17-27 for an unforgettable 17 day journey. Call for special pricing.
• Region: Western Arctic- DeLong Mountains- Archemides Ridge runs east-west between the Utukok- Kokolik Rivers.
• Cost: $3,600 per person from Fairbanks. Affordable rental camping gear available.
Sketch of the trip…
Archemides ridge lies in the heart of Americas wildest landscape. Its sheer size and the fact that almost know one has ever even heard of it lend scale to the enormity of Alaska's arctic wilderness. The western Brooks Range is essentially untraveled. The profound quiet and solitude of exploring this area with no human footprints, over flights or settlements is an inspiring and memorable experience. The country is open to the sky. The sweeping views, long ridges and endless sunlight of June transport visitors into a dreamlike state where time and space have different proportions.
The enthralling landscape is only the beginning of the story here in the western Brooks Range. This is the home of the western Arctic Caribou Herd numbering over 300,000 individuals. Each June they congregate and travel along Archemides Ridge, flowing over the land in a great river of life. Cows with new calves in tow, bulls sprouting fresh antlers and the attendant predators (bears, wolves, wolverine, and eagles) all head west crossing the Utukok and Kokolik the 2nd and 3rd weeks of June. We plan to travel with this great horde of wildlife along this rolling spine of rock called Archemides Ridge.
Our route will cover around 35 miles in 7 days. We will stick to the high-ground when possible to take advantage of the flat level ground and the awesome views. Most evenings we will descend into a nearby creek valley for water and shelter where caribou may be bedded down by the thousands. If the weather is fine we may spend some nights at the top of the ridge watching the sun dip towards but not sink below the northern horizon. The route will challenge us but the footing, though trailless is excellent most of the way. We will gain and loose elevation each day, ford creeks, contend with tussocks and rock piles but the opportunity to literally travel with the herd along the western arctic's emblematic feature is well worth some exertion.
What follows is a forecast of the trip, a general idea of the flow of events. As a forecast, it may be amended to meet conditions and opportunities in the field.
Day 1: The Utukok River where we start the trip is a long way from anywhere. We fly north from Fairbanks
to Coldfoot, crossing en route the mighty Yukon River and the Arctic
Circle. From Coldfoot, we charter a plane and fly west surveying the seemingly endless wilderness of Gates of the Arctic and then on into the western Arctic and the Utukok Uplands. We’ll land on a gravel bar near the river. If the
mood strikes us we can shoulder our packs and hike up the Utukok river towards Archemides. Or
we might elect to explore our surroundings without packs, before eating a hearty
dinner and settling in for some sleep.
Days 2-6: Climb out of the river valley into the sky and head west. Hopefully there will be caribou all around. We will camp in the creeks and spend our days walking the broad folded ridgeline, taking in the vistas, admiring marmots, alpine birds, caribou and who knows what else. When the hiking for the day is done, after a good meal, we can explore without packs, take pictures of the land and its residents or just sit and absorb the quiet of the wilderness.
Day 7: We descend the ridge if we have not already done so down to the beautiful Kokolik River. This is a major crossing point for the Western Arctic Herd and there are often bears and wolves lurking around to catch calves that get separated when swimming the river. By mid-day we will hear an airplane and know we need to leave this exceptional wilderness whether we are ready or not. After a scenic flight back across the Brooks Range we head for Fairbanks in time for a late dinner.
Included in the price of the trip:
Transportation beyond Fairbanks.
Outstanding guide service.
Wholesome, delicious, and mostly-organic food while in the wilderness.
Stoves, cooking & eating utensils.
Repair and safety equipment such as first-aid kit, radio and one bear spray per guest.
Not included in the price of the trip:
Non-camp lodging.
Non-camp meals.
Personal clothing, backpack, and footwear.
Sleeping bag & sleeping pad.
Three-season tent.
Waterproof camera case.
Gratuity for guide(s).
Arctic Wild rents high quality gear at affordable rates. Rental gear includes:
Three-season tents
Sleeping bags
Sleeping pads
A Backpack Equipment List is provided upon registration or request.
Weather & Bugs: Temperatures vary dramatically in the Arctic. Temperatures range from the 20s to 80s even in a single day. Cold rains and snow are possible, but we get lots of warm sunny weather this time of the year. Bugs should not be a problem on this trip, but traveling with insect repellent (DEET) and a head-net is always prudent during summer in the arctic.