Alpine Adventure| Arctic National Wildlife Refuge | Alaska Backpack
High Peaks Backpack- Romanzoff Mountains, ANWR.
PDF of Alaska Backpacking Adventure
• Dates: July 13 through 20, 2010
• Region: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge In the heart of the Romanzoff Mountains.
• Cost: $3300 per person includes everything north of Fairbanks. Affordable rental camping gear available.
Sketch of the trip…
Alaska's arctic is a land of extreme beauty and the Romanzoff mountains in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are the steepest and most dramatic part of the whole Brooks Range. Abundant wildlife, free flowing rivers and unnamed mountains delight and inspire backpackers. In the heart of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a rugged region of sheer cliffs, glacier carved peaks and clear clean water. 9000 foot peaks in the Romanzoff Mountains tower over green tundra valleys and seem to erupt from the coastal plain. We will backpack in the Romanzoff mountains for a week this July, wandering by bubbling creeks, marveling at brilliant wildflowers and ascending ridges headed for the sky.
This is a stunningly beautiful Alaska backpacking route which follows the Jago River to its very headwaters. From the glacier studded headwaters of the Jago, you will traverse a snowy pass and begin the descent into the Hulahula River watershed. With constant daylight we are free to explore side canyons during a lunch break, climb a rocky peak above our camp before heading to bed, or sit on a ridge and watch wildlife in the early morning light. We will hike about 35 
miles with our packs over varied terrain. Like the caribou and wolves we will stick to the river bars when practical where the footing is solid and the views unobstructed. As we climb, green tundra gives way to rocky alpine conditions and when we finally reach the pass above the Hulahula there will be some snow to negotiate. After a rewarding and challenging day crossing the pass it is "all downhill". The Hulahula valley is broader than the upper Jago and offers endless opportunities to explore side ridges and valleys.
This Alaska Backpacking trip will have its challenges but there is ample time for day hikes and leisure. Dall sheep will be a common sight on the ridges--rams with heavy horns resting on the cliffs and big bands of ewes and lambs grazing on the high tundra. Golden eagles, horned larks, and an asian bird called a northern wheatear thrive even in the starkest of alpine areas.
This Alaska backpacking adventure offers a good mix of valley walking, ridge climbing, exceptional scenery and wildlife. Whether this is your first backpacking adventure in the arctic or your tenth this mountainous route will delight and inspire.
Weather this time of year is typically dry and this is the warmest part of the year, though we can get some powerful storms that can either rain or snow on us. Precipitation is generally light, and it’s fairly easy to keep comfortably dry. You can expect temperatures to range from the 30s to the 70s. Mosquitoes could be bothersome down in the river valleys but should be nearly absent up high among the rocks and glaciers. Best to come prepared for encounters with Alaska’s most numerous wildlife species by bringing insect repellent and a headnet.
Hiking in the arctic is an “off-trail” experience, so a six-mile day can take as long and be as taxing as ten miles in other parts of the world. This is a good trip for both experienced backpackers or newcomers in good shape who are willing to push themselves. Experience with overnight backpacking prior to the trip is a must. Each hiker will get 15-20 pounds of food and community gear to carry. Due to the small party size and the trip’s duration, expect to start the trip with a pack weighing no less than 50 pounds.
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: Fly 350 miles north from Fairbanks, across the Yukon River and the Arctic Circle to the Gwich’in Athabascan village of Arctic Village. In Arctic Village we will meet our pilot for the beautiful flight over the continental divide past countless peaks and glaciers into the arctic watershed and the Jago River valley. After hiking upstream for an hour or two we will make camp and enjoy a hearty dinner.
Day 2-7: Each day will bring its own surprises. We have 35 miles to cover and plenty of time. If all goes according to plan there will be a layover day near the pass when we can explore the high country with just water and lunch on our backs. The day we go over the pass will be long and strenuous but the other days will have time left for side trips and relaxation. The hiking will be varied from soft tundra to long gravel bars and rocky slopes. The camping is excellent and the scenery unbeatable.
Day 8: Pack-up early and begin listening for our airplane. When it arrives we reluctantly load our gear and ourselves for the flight back through Arctic Village and on to Fairbanks, arriving late in the afternoon. A shower is in order
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 firearm (guide will carry) and one bear spray per guest.
Not included in the price of the trip:
Non-camp lodging.
Non-camp meals.
Personal clothing, and footwear.
Sleeping bag & sleeping pad.
Three-season tent.Backpack
Waterproof camera case.
Fishing gear and fishing license.
Gratuity for guide(s).
Arctic Wild rents high quality gear at affordable rates.
Rental gear includes:
Three-season tents
Sleeping bags
Sleeping pads
An Equipment List is provided upon registration.
Weather & Bugs: Temperatures vary dramatically in the Arctic and can range from the 20s to 70s. Temperatures could be hot in the river valleys under the 24 hour sun but as we get into the high country it will be cooler or maybe even cold and snowy. Mosquitoes could be an issue in the valleys but will vanish in the high peaks.
Suggested Reading: Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska Geographic; The Brooks Range Alaska Geographic; Alaska's Brooks Range, John Kauffmann; Midnight Wilderness, Debbie Miller; Arctic Dreams, Barry Lopez