Adelman – Gates of the Arctic Backpack

Adelman – Gates of the Arctic Backpack

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DATES

July 25, 2024 - August 1, 2024

REGION

Gates of the Arctic

TRIP COST

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DATES

July 25, 2024 - August 1, 2024
region

REGION

Gates of the Arctic
price

TRIP COST

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If you are looking to get off the beaten path, look no further than Gates of the Arctic National Park where the only trails are wildlife trails and the only people in the area are your companions.

 

TRIP DETAILS

Backpack through the rarely traveled and wildly scenic mountains of the Central Brooks Range in Gates of the Arctic National Park. We’ve chosen the area for its varied scenery, outstanding wildlife encounters, and unmatched solitude.

Our backpack begins in a high valley where glacial crags shade the green valley. This route follows the gray gravels of the headwater creeks, deep into the mountains past innumerable waterfalls and crags into an area of the highest peaks in Gates of the Arctic. Far north of the tree-line this maze of mountains and tundra is hauntingly beautiful and almost never explored by people.

This remote and rich area is home to a great variety of wildlife and we can expect encounters with all sorts of arctic animals during our week long trek. The cliffs and alpine meadows are home to Dall sheep. Caribou use the creek beds to wind their way through the mountains, and bears gorge in berry thickets leaving tufts of wooly hair on the willow branches. Wolves are known to den along this route and we know of no other place in the Brooks Range where you are as likely to see the elusive wolverine. We can’t predict what we will see for wildlife, but we will keep our eyes peeled.

The scenery is as good as it gets and, being over 60 miles from the nearest village, and three times as far from a road, opportunities for solitude are everywhere.

The route starts in a fairly level and broad valley where we have to crane our necks to see the peaks above. Once we reach the top of the creek, far above the springs that made the valley green, we enter a side canyon twisting and winding between cliff bands and bluffs. If the water is high we end-up walking in the creek before ascending the pass, a 1300 ft climb above the hanging valleys with views of the highest peaks in the park. The view is worth the effort!

From our high-point at the pass we descend into a new valley, surprisingly different from the first. Limestone bedrock gives way to the harder darker igneous formations making steeper cliffs and taller peaks all around. The Noatak river is not far and except for a few creek crossings the traveling is good. Emerging into the expansive Noatak Valley is dramatic after a week among the peaks and waterfalls of the high country and we can make good time on the wide gravel bars and extensive sand flats leading to our landing strip.

This is a reasonably difficult backpack.  Expect to carry a 45 to 50-pound pack at the outset, which includes 12 – 15 pounds of group food and fuel.  We will travel about seven miles per day, a total of thirty miles.  There is a single 1,500-foot climb over a steep pass, a smaller summit, and the rest of the route is alpine terrain.  The footing is mostly good, but the last day will be a little brushy and wet with numerous creek crossings. We’ll have at least one layover day to explore and enjoy our surroundings without the burden of our packs.

Last updated: August 29, 2024

Itinerary

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

July 24

Meet your guide for a pre-trip meeting at 4pm in Fairbanks at Arctic Wild headquarters.

July 25

Fly north from Fairbanks across the Yukon River to the tiny village of Bettles. After touring both streets in town, we board a small plane and continue on into the Gates of the Arctic National Park.  After landing on a gravel landing strip, we’ll hike a short distance to the best camp we can find.  We can use the rest of the evening to explore the valley.

July 26 - July 31

We have about thirty miles to go and 5 full days to cover the distance.  Of these, we will take at least one layover day to hike and explore.  On moving days, we’ll travel about seven miles, which will keep us on our feet for five to six hours.  The day hiking from our campsites will be good. On layover days we can strike out without our heavy packs and climb peaks or enjoy a leisurely day resting in camp and watching the wildlife and light dance around the landscape.

Aug 1

Hike a few miles to our pick-up spot, on the Noatak River.  Weather permitting, we’ll meet the charter flight for our scenic trip back to town and a hot shower!

Our guide was an encyclopedia on legs. His knowledge for the flora, fauna, and natural history of the tundra is astonishing. He was always willing and ready to teach, to talk, to listen, to do another hike, or to lie low in camp if we were beat. He truly gave us the trip we wanted!

 

- Brent, Colorado, USA

DETAILS

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Round-trip airfare from Fairbanks

Food while in the wilderness, stoves, cooking & eating utensils, water filter

Safety & repair gear

Professional guide service

Select Camping Equipment is available through Arctic Wild

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Non-camp lodging

Non-camp meals

Personal clothing, gear, backpack, and tent. See full equipment list.

Gratuity for guide(s)

WEATHER & BUGS

Weather in August is often cool and sometimes stormy, though we can get some awesome clear weather. Precipitation is generally light, and it’s fairly easy to keep comfortably dry. Because it’s the arctic, however, snow is always possible and you can expect temperatures to range from the 30s to the 60s. Because of the cool weather, mosquitoes should be absent but there could still be a few flies so DEET and a head-net are prudent things to pack.

RECOMMENDED READING

Nunamiut by Helge Ingstadt

Land of Extremes by Alex Huryn

We Live in the Arctic by Constance Helmericks

More Alaska reading is available at our bookstore

Ready for your adventure?
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  2. We will contact you to discuss your trip
  3. Secure your trip with a deposit
  4. We will send you a detailed packing list
  5. Book your flights and accommodations
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"The wilderness was spectacular, the leadership perfect."
"I am just finishing my tenth trip with you guys. As always, the trip was more than I expected and I had a great time. See you next year!"
"Of all outfitters with whom we have worked (and that is quite a number), you were by far the most organized and responsive."
"That feeling of wide open wonder, the possibilities for nearly limitless wandering, and the image of those proud caribou...that will stay with me a long time"
"Our guide was an encyclopedia on legs. He was always willing and ready to teach, to talk, to listen, to do another hike, or to lie low in camp if we were beat. He truly gave us the trip we wanted!"
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