Gates of the Arctic Base Camp – Herbert Custom

Gates of the Arctic Base Camp – Herbert Custom

DATES

August 20, 2017 - August 25, 2017

REGION

Gates of the Arctic National Park

TRIP COST

$4,800/ person

calendar

DATES

August 20, 2017 - August 25, 2017
region

REGION

Gates of the Arctic National Park
price

TRIP COST

$4,800/ person

Explore the incredible and wild landscape of the central Brooks Range in Gates of the Arctic National Park for a week in August. Hiking, fishing, paddling, and wildlife on the Arctic Divide.

TRIP DETAILS

Last updated: May 9, 2017

Itinerary

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

Aug 19

We’ll have a pre-trip meeting at Arctic Wild Headquarters the afternoon before our departure where we’ll meet our travel companions, check gear, and discuss the next day’s logistics.

Aug 20

You’ll be picked up early at your hotel in Fairbanks and shuttled to the airport where we’ll catch a charter flight to the bush village of Bettles in the southern foothills of the Brooks Range. From there we’ll load our gear into a small float plane for the hour-long flight across the mountains to Agiak Lake. Once there we’ll set up a comfortable camp on the tundra next to the lake before heading out to explore.

Aug 21 - 24

Each day in the backcountry brings something different. Some days we will take day hikes to explore the glacial cirques, nearby alpine lakes, or wander the high ridges. Other days we may stick closer to camp, allowing the opportunity to fish, search for wildlife, or  photograph the nearby surroundings. If you want to do an overnight backpacking trip, we can load-up our packs and head deeper into the mountains anytime you want.

Aug 25

Weather permitting, we’ll say a final goodbye to Agiak Lake and the Brooks Range and make a few last casts before boarding the float plane for the trip back to Bettles and on home to Fairbanks. If the weather cooperates and all goes as planned we’ll arrive back in Fairbanks in time for dinner and well-deserved showers.

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 Fairbanks

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 per our equipment list.

Fishing gear, and fishing license

Gratuity for guide(s)

WEATHER & BUGS

Temperatures vary from the 60’s to below freezing. Snow is possible; rain is likely. As summer turns to fall we can expect a wide variety of weather. With the warm weather behind us we don’t expect many bugs but bring a small bottle of DEET just in case.

RECOMMENDED READING

Ordinary Wolves, Seth Kantner; Alaska Wilderness, Robert Marshall; Last Light Breaking, Nick Jans; Arctic Wild, 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!"
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Eileen - Canning River