GUIDED ALASKA Custom

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VIEW AVAILABLE TRIPS A custom trip begins with a dream. Yours. Perhaps it is your desire to camp amongst the great herds of caribou in the Arctic. To climb high into the Arrigetch Peaks, to photograph bears in Katmai National Park…the options in Alaska are exquisite and limitless. For the wilderness traveler there is no better destination. We take designing your custom wilderness trip seriously. With decades of experience, exhaustive knowledge of the landscape and wildlife, and an extensive network of pilots, boat captains, luxury lodges, and guides, each itinerary is tailored exactly to your specific dreams. The process starts with your desires, the size of your group or family, your expectations, your budget and your abilities. Our role is to advise, inspire, listen, and finally to transform your dreams into reality. We can share with you what is possible and help you craft the ultimate Alaska adventure. All of our trips are "off the beaten path", true wilderness expeditions. A custom trip can be one of our scheduled trips on dates of your choosing and exclusive to your group, or an entirely new and unique itinerary just for you. We work with groups from 1 person to 10 people but 4 to 6 is often the best. Browse through the list of custom trips we have done in the past or give us a call and tell us about your big Alaska dreams. We can help make them happen. From a family friendly base camp to true exploration in the farthest reaches of Alaska. Wildlife trips: Our experienced guides can help you find wildlife whether it be caribou, polar bears, blue-throats, grey-headed chickadees, or musk oxen. Photography trips: Wildlife photography, landscape photography, film or art. We have worked with professional and amateur photographers from around the world. Let us help you get the shot. Film or Science Support: In addition to "fun trips" we also provided guide services and logistical support for field projects big and small. Skills training: Need to improve your wilderness skills? We can provide field courses, skill specific classes in Fairbanks or a combination of the two. Rafting or canoeing workshops, navigation seminars, wilderness safety.... the list goes on. We have the experience to teach you. Family and youth trips: We love seeing young people enjoying the wilderness. Though we haven't had any clients under the age of 7, we take our own toddlers to the Brooks Range regularly. We can plan a trip that will be safe and fun for people of any age.

Utukok River Canoe

In the far northwest corner of Alaska near the Chukchi Sea is the seldom-traveled Utukok River. Draining the wildlife-rich Utukok Uplands, the area boasts the highest densities of grizzly bears and wolverines in Northern Alaska. It is also home to the over 200,000 member Western Arctic Caribou Herd which tends to cross the Utukok in mid June on their way to the Chukchi Coast.

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DATES

June is best
region

REGION

Western Brooks Range
price

TRIP COST

TBD

TRIP DETAILS

Starting from its mountain headwaters, we will paddle north and east through range after range of sweeping ridges and steeply folded valleys. This is rich and photogenic country with good walking, great birding, and wonderful opportunities for watching wildlife. In previous years we have seen bears preying upon caribou calves, wolves hunting the ridge tops, and herds of musk oxen napping in the willows.

 Bird watching in the area can be spectacular. Asian bird species such as blue throats and northern wheatears can be seen. Jaegers are ubiquitous and bristle-thighed curlews can be found on the rocky ridge lines.

 There are seemingly endless ridges running perpendicular to the river where the footing is good and the views are unbelievable. The hiking opportunities are unlimited. While not a land of dramatic peak ascents and white water, this is a place of wildlife, beauty, and long vistas.

 A week to 10 days is perfect for the Utukok, which gives enough time to paddle the best 75 miles of the river while leaving plenty of opportunities for distractions like photography, hiking, cribbage, or other fun. The river can be fast if the water is high, but there are no real rapids. Even at low water there is current enough to keep us moving along past tawny bluffs and past expansive gravel bars, searching for wildlife and reveling in the big sky.

ITINERARY

What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.

Day 0:

Pre-trip meeting with your guide(s) in Kotzebue at 6:30 pm.

Day 1:

Our trip begins with a flight over the Noatak River and into the Brooks Range. We fly on and on, watching the world’s largest terrestrial wilderness pass below us. We will land on a gravel island where the Utukok and Driftwood Creek converge. After unloading the plane and pitching camp, we will have nothing but time to explore the area.

Day 2:

Assemble the canoes and head down river. There is a bit of fast water at the very start of the trip but no rapids at most water levels. If water levels are high, the river requires our full attention but the majority of the paddling is relaxed, leaving time and attention for birding, and scanning for wildlife.

Day 3 - ?:

We will mix paddling days with hiking days. We have some miles we must cover but the schedule allows ample time for exploration on foot and leisure time in camp. The river traverses first one mountain range and then another. We will have the opportunity to ascend some of these broad colorful ridges. As we travel north the river grows from a large creek to a meandering river. The river cuts through many small sub-ranges of the Brooks Range. In between each of these ranges are broad valleys where you feel as if you could be swallowed by the sky. In previous years we have seen big aggregations of caribou at Carbon Creek in mid-June. Hopefully our timing will be good for seeing caribou every day of the trip and in increasing numbers each day.

Last Day:

Weather permitting, we fly back to Kotzebue.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Transportation beyond Kotzebue, food while in the wilderness, stoves, cooking & eating utensils, boats, paddles, life jackets, safety & repair gear and professional guide service.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Lodging, non-camp meals, personal clothing and gear, fishing gear, and fishing license. Gratuity for guide.

WEATHER & BUGS

Temperatures vary from the 70’s to below freezing. Snow is possible; as is rain. June is usually sunny and windy on the Utukok. Strong winds from the north are common. There could be bugs so bring a mosquito head net and a small bottle of DEET repellent.

RECOMMENDED READING

Last Giant of Beringia, Dan Oneill; Being Caribou Karsten Heuer; Land of Extremes, Alex Huryn; People of the Noatak Clair Fejes; Caribou and the Barren Lands George Calef; Ordinary Wolves Seth Kantner; Last Light Breaking Nick Jans; Arctic Wild Lois Crisler.