Last updated: January 24, 2020
Itinerary
What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.
Day 0
Meet your guide at 4pm for a pre-trip meeting in at Arctic Wild headquarters in Fairbanks.
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, which sits alongside the Chandalar River. From Arctic Village, we board a smaller plane and fly northeast to the headwaters of the Colleen. Once the pilot leaves, we’re on our own. We’ll hike several miles to the first of many lovely camps. You’ll have the evening to settle into your surroundings, hike up a ridge or just gape at the awe-inspiring scenery.
Day 2 - 7
After the first day we will be north of tree line and the pass is devoid even of brush. Dall Sheep can be seen on the craggy peaks, bears and wolves use this pass to move from one valley to the next. We will spend five or six hours a day carrying packs, looking for animals and watching the mountains slowly pass by. After hiking each day and enjoying a hot meal, there will be daylight enough for a leisurely stroll to look around. There will be time for a layover day to explore side canyons sculpted by millions of years of snowmelt, or climb one of the many ridges for a long view of the Brooks Range. Fall colors should be brilliant, evidence of another season coming to an end with a flourish of rich color and autumnal scents before the hard season of snow and darkness sets in.
Day 8
Hike a short distance to meet our plane at a gravel airstrip on the banks of the Kongakut River. Fly back to Fairbanks or on some years you can join the Fall Kongakut raftingtrip and paddle towards the sea.
