Last updated: November 22, 2019
Itinerary
What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.
July 30
Meet your guide for a pre-trip meeting at 4pm in Fairbanks at Arctic Wild headquarters.
July 31
Fly north from Fairbanks across the Yukon River and into the Brooks Range. Welcome to Gates of the Arctic National Park. After landing on gravel ridge we’ll hike a short distance to the best camp we can find. We can use the rest of the evening to explore the wilderness.
August 1- 3
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, we can strike out without our heavy packs and climb peaks or enjoy a long evening in camp watching the wildlife and light dance around the landscape. Even in August it doesn’t get dark.
August 4
Weather permitting, our plane returns and lands next to the Noatak River. Then we are off through the mountains and into the broad Kobuk Valley. You’ll see the tawny sand shining like an island in the forest as we approach the dunes. Once on the ground we’ll pitch camp at the edge of the woods and we can start exploring.
August 5
We’ll have time for another stroll in the sand before packing-up our camp and returning to the landing area. Mid-day our Kotzebue based pilot will land in the sand and take us to the Arctic Coast and the Inupiat village of Kotzebue where our trip concludes.
