If you are still hoping to explore Alaska’s arctic with us this summer, it’s not too late! We still have a few spaces on trips in both the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Gates of the Arctic National Park. All of these trips combine spectacular landscapes, outstanding guides, and quality gear to give you the…
This is a fantastic video about safety in bear country from the leaders in the field. We recommend you watch it in advance of your trip to the arctic. It will be a good supplement to the in-person training and information you will receive from your guide. Arctic Wild provides a pepper spray canister, holster,…
Camping in Alaska’s wilderness can be fun for the whole family, provided that you plan your adventure carefully. Most important is to leave enough time for kids to be kids, and to hire a guide. We’ve guided families all over the state on lengthy canoe trips, multi-stop base camp trips, and even arctic rafting trips….
Where is the best place to watch polar bears in the Arctic? Polar bears have been in the news a lot the last few years. Our changing climate will have a huge effect on polar bear biology, behavior, and long-term survival. This has had people calling us with a desire to “see them before they…
You need not be an Olympian to join and enjoy one of Arctic Wild’s backpacking trips, but you will have lots more fun if you do some training and strengthening before your trip. The thing that sets an Alaska backpacking trip apart is the lack of constructed trails. You will be hiking on river bars…
Alaska has over 3,000 rivers, most of which are not accessible from the road. If you want to canoe or raft these rivers, chances are you’re going to need a boat that fits into an airplane. So what is the best boat for an Alaska fly-in river? After decades of running northern Alaska’s rivers here…
Arctic Wild is offering two trips geared specifically for photographers this summer. If you’ve been hankering to take your camera to the arctic, and/or hone your technical skills you have your pick from two trips this summer, one in Gates of the Arctic National Park, and one in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge….
Most of Alaska is roadless wilderness. We love it that way, but it does make it difficult to get around. Fortunately there are some wonderful pilots with capable aircraft which allow us to travel widely throughout Alaska’s great wilderness. If you are joining one of our guided wilderness trips in Alaska, we will take care…
We spend much of our summer loading and unloading “bush planes” for trips into the most remote portions of Alaska. If you are joining one of our guided wilderness trips in Alaska, we will take care of arranging safe and efficient flights for you. If you choose to do a trip on your own, here…
Alaskans are a devious bunch. We do everything we can to tell the world about how terribly cold and miserable winter in Alaska is. We brag about the -50 temperatures in the Interior, the howling winds on the North Slope and the 30+ feet of snow that fell last winter on the coast. But what…
Preparing for a trip to Alaska can be a very enjoyable part of the journey. I especially like reading about the natural and human history of the area before I go. Your guide is sure to be a wealth of information, but try as we may, we don’t know all there is to know about…
People in Alaska talk about mosquitoes the way they talk about the weather. They ask, “how were the bugs?” when you get back from a camping trip, because the truth is, whether or not they were present, and at what level can really make or break a trip. I’ve been in some bad bugs. The…
Northern Alaska is one of the few places where the term “Summer Parka” is not an oxymoron. Both Inupiaq and Yupik Eskimo languages have a word for Summer Parka. While most of our nation swelters in July and August, we on the arctic coast sit snug in our puffy jackets. But which puffy parka is best…
It wasn’t long ago that I had 3 milk crates under my desk and every time I wanted to research a new route or look up the distance of a river trip I would have to dig through the box, then ending up with maps spread all over on the floor. I do love my…
I just purchased 14 books. Not 14 different books but 14 copies of the same book and it wasn’t even a mistake. University of Chicago Press just released “Land of Extremes” by Alex Huryn and John Hobbie, and I wanted copies for all our guides and for our trip libraries too. It won’t be…
By Michael Wald Co-Owner and Guide Each region in Alaska has a prime season, when traveling conditions, wildlife, and weather all align for the optimal experience. I was recently asked how I would plan the ultimate Alaska summer if my goals were to see wildlife at its peak abundance in the most remote and wild…
BearWise Training April 26 & 27, 2012 By Ron Yarnell With more than 40 years of guiding experience in grizzly country, I know a thing or two about bears, so when Marin Kuizenga, with Polar Field Services Inc, said she had room for three Arctic Wild guides in a bear safety workshop, I was a…
“Cook tents” or “group shelters” form the center of our camps. In the Arctic and the Aleutians, a place to get out of the weather is critical and these big tents make a good place to eat, cook, and relax. Pyramid style tents are versatile and quick to set-up, but if the weather is really…
Adventure vicariously with these great arctic books by Michael Engelhard The days are getting longer but snowdrifts still cover the environs of my hometown, Nome. There is plenty of time to curl up on the couch with a good book, dreaming of next summer’s trips. I’ve put together a short list of materials that allows…
What is the best tent for an Alaska camping trip? The answer depends upon many factors but after decades of wilderness trips around Alaska here are some of our favorites. Sleeping tents: Our criteria for a perfect tent is that it must be durable, wind-worthy, warm, easy to set up, and have a good weight…
Cooking in the Backcountry- Bill Mohrwinkel Arctic Wild leads trips across Alaska and in all sorts of weather. But one thing all our trips have in common (other than great guides) is quality, nutritious food. Whether backpacking, rafting, or canoeing, you typically burn many more calories than in your normal day-to-day life. Food is fuel…