Last updated: December 22, 2020
Itinerary
What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.
Day 0
Meet your guide for a pre-trip meeting at 4 pm in Fairbanks at Arctic Wild headquarters.
Day 1
Fly north from Fairbanks across the Yukon River to the tiny town of Bettles, Alaska. Here, we board a smaller plane and continue on into the Gates of the Arctic National Park, landing near Arrigetch Creek and beginning our adventure.
Day 2 - 6
The trip is less than 30 miles, but some of the terrain is difficult. There are no constructed trails and six miles with packs is enough to make you feel you have earned your dinner. It usually takes a couple days of hiking to get into the high alpine basins. Once in the high country, we have a day or two to explore the spires, tarns and high passes. The descent back to the Alatna Valley is easier than the ascent, as we will have lighter packs and trail-hardened legs. If we want more mileage and challenge, we may elect to cross a pass into hot springs creek and walk back to the Alatna a bit further south.
Day 7
Await the arrival of our bush plane. The busy world awaits. Weather permitting we fly to Bettles and from Bettles, back to Fairbanks. Shower.
