Caribou – Ryll Custom

Caribou – Ryll Custom

DATES

June 18, 2018 - June 22, 2018

REGION

Western Brooks Range

TRIP COST

$$

calendar

DATES

June 18, 2018 - June 22, 2018
region

REGION

Western Brooks Range
price

TRIP COST

$$

Each and every summer the Western Arctic Caribou Herd congregates in northwestern Alaska for one of the world’s most inspiring wildlife migrations. By mid June, the herd swells to nearly 200,000 animals and we regularly see thousands and even tens of thousands of caribou climbing tundra ridges and swimming icy rivers. It is a thrilling experience to watch a valley fill with caribou. The sound of 60,000 caribou walking through your camp cannot be described.

TRIP DETAILS

Last updated: June 21, 2018

Itinerary

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

June 17

Meet with your guide for a pre-trip meeting at 7 pm in Kotzebue.

 

June 18

We fly from Kotzebue on the Chukchi Sea north over the Brooks Range and out over the tundra. After scouting from the air for caribou we look for a place to land in the path of the migrating caribou.

June 19

We spend our time 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. There will be times when no caribou are present, but there is no end to the beauty of the arctic.

 

June 20

If the caribou have already passed though our area, or if our prediction of where they would be was slightly off; we will fly our camp to a new location (weather permitting).

 

June 21

Another full day to enjoy the solitude and beauty of North America’s greatest wilderness. More hiking and wildlife watching is the order of the day.

 

June 22

We say our last goodbyes to the Arctic and meet our bush pilot for our flight back to Kotzebue. If the weather cooperates you should be back to Kotzebue in the late afternoon.

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

Round-trip airfare from Kotzebue

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

Safety & repair gear

Professional guide service.

Select Rental Equipment

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Non-camp lodging

Non-camp meals

Personal clothing and gear. See full equipment list.

Gratuity for guide

WEATHER & BUGS

Temperatures vary from the 70’s to below freezing. Snow is possible; rain is likely. However, this time of the year we generally have lots of sunny weather. There will be bugs, so bring a mosquito head net and a bottle of DEET repellent just in case.

RECOMMENDED READING

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by Alaska Geographic; Naturalists Guide to the Arctic by E.C. Pielou; Being Caribou by Karsten Heuer; Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez; Caribou & the Barren-Lands by George Calef; Fifty Years Below Zero by Charles Brown; Midnight Wilderness by Debbie Miller; Seasons of Life and Land by Shubanker Banjeeri; Arctic Wings by Stephen Brown. 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!"
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Eileen - Canning River