Caribou and Muskox Custom Trip

Caribou and Muskox Custom Trip

Reservation request

DATES

July 1, 2015 - July 7, 2015

REGION

Western Brooks Range

TRIP COST

$$

DATES

July 1, 2015 - July 7, 2015

REGION

Western Brooks Range

TRIP COST

$$

Caribou are the icon of the north. In northern Alaska these long-legged roamers of the tundra migrate thousands of miles each year from spruce forest wintering grounds to the open tundra north of the Brooks Range and back. Each year in late June and early July, directly after calving, caribou amass by the tens and occasionally hundreds of thousands, forming one of the world’s greatest wildlife migrations. The Western Arctic Herd, the largest in Alaska, numbers over 300,000 animals.

TRIP DETAILS

Last updated: December 23, 2015

Itinerary

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

June 30

Meet with your guide for a pre-trip meeting at 6:30 pm in Kotzebue.

July 1

We meet with our bush pilot and load the plane. Then fly north from Kotzebue into the beautifully wild DeLong Mountains. We may spend several hours flying in search of the big herds. Once we locate them, we will find a gravel bar or ridge top sufficient for an improvised airstrip and campsite, land and settle in.

July 2 - 4

We spend the day exploring the area looking for caribou and other wildlife. Your guide will lead hikes in hopes we can place ourselves in a hidden location in the path of the caribou.

July 5- 6

We meet the pilot for a flight south and west to the Bering Sea Coast near Cape Krusenstern. This area is frequented by Muskoxen and also hosts abundant waterfowl and shore birds in the lagoons.

July 7

We say our last good byes to the wilderness and meet our bush pilot for our flight back to toward Kotzebue.

Such a joy to spend days where time was meaningless. A wonderful adventure and I would like to return next year for a longer, more challenging trip.

You mentioned to me in an email that you have terrific guides - you do indeed. Dave is a superb guide. He is personable, knowledgeable about the Arctic, and has excellent group management skills. I appreciated the time he spent teaching me to read the map, which is not easy without trails. He allowed Adrian and me to hike at our own pace and he encouraged all of us to explore the area surrounding our campsites. I know the others would concur in my praise.

- Sandra, California, USA

DETAILS

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Air transportation north from Kotzebue, food while in the wilderness, stoves, cooking & eating utensils, safety & repair gear and professional guide service.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Lodging, non-camp meals (restaurants in Kotzebue), personal clothing and gear. Gratuity for guide.

WEATHER & BUGS

Temperatures will range from the 80’s to 30’s. Precipitation tends to be light at this time of year and it is the warmest season. Bugs may be an issue so bring plenty of DEET and a headnet.

RECOMMENDED READING

Being Caribou by Karsten Heuer

People of the Noatak by Clair Fejes

Caribou and the Barren Lands by George Calef

Ordinary Wolves by Seth Kantner

Alaska Wilderness by Robert Marshall

Last Light Breaking by Nick Jans

Arctic Wild by Lois Crisler

More Alaska reading is available from our Bookstore.

"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!"

Eileen - Canning River

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