Last updated: October 21, 2016
Itinerary
What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.
August 1
Arrive in Kotzebue on the morning jet with Alaska Airlines and head over to our pilot’s hangar. Once we are assembled, we load into the plane and head south to Serpentine Hot Springs. After a picnic lunch we can take a hike for views of the nearly endless mountains. With luck, we may see wildlife like muskoxen or bears. In the afternoon we fly back towards Kotzebue stopping en-route to explore a bit more of the Park. Once back in Kotzebue, you should have time to visit the Park Service museum and take a stroll around the village, buy some art or go birding in the lagoon. Lodging included. Meals (except lunch) on your own.
August 2
Meet back at the hangar and then another breathtaking flight into the wilds. This time we head due north to Cape Krusenstern and land on the beach. This day the pilot will leave, and we have the entire day on our own without anyone waiting on us. We can beach-comb along the Chukchi Sea, photograph muskoxen or hike far inland. The sun doesn’t set and we can enjoy the wilderness as long as we like. But when we are ready for dinner the pilot will return and take us back to Kotzebue. Lodging included. Meals (except lunch) on your own.
August 3
Our last adventure together might be the best! Meet back at the hangar for a flight into the heart of the Brooks Range. We fly up the broad Noatak and then up a side drainage to the arctic divide. It is a long way from anywhere and the scale of wilderness is palpable. We will have at least four hours to hike and explore in the grandeur of Noatak National Preserve before heading back to Kotzebue where we reluctantly say our farewells. You will be back in time to catch the evening jet to Anchorage.
