Last updated: September 27, 2016
Itinerary
What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.
June 16
Meet your guides for a pre-trip meeting at the Arctic Wild Headquarters at 5:30 pm. (George can meet with us as soon as he arrives in Fairbanks.)
June 17
We will pick you up early from your hotel. Then it’s a long day of travel north to the Arctic Refuge including several small planes and a thrilling flight through the peaks of the Brooks Range. If the weather cooperates we will all be river-side by early afternoon and after setting up camp we can acquaint ourselves with our wilderness home with an evening hike on the tundra.
June 18
Our first full day in the wilderness will be a mix of exploration and education as your guides teach you about the area and how to travel safely in it. Depending on the mood of the group and the weather this day may be spent on the water or birding the alpine areas above camp.
June 19 - 23
Each day of the trip brings its own surprises. With only 45 miles to raft during the trip we have plenty of time for exploration and birding. The trip will include two or three layover days where we can devote all of our energies to seeing the country and birds. The first layover will be as high in the mountains as possible and will feature a hike onto the alpine ridges. We will take another full day hike to an area we have historically seen Gray-Headed Chickadees. This all day hike may cover seven or eight miles and requires good fitness. We search for Gray-Headed Chickadees all along the river and with endless daylight we will have plenty of time for searching. Days on the river will cover about 15 miles over the course of five or six hours and will include several breaks for wildlife sightings, short hikes and a picnic lunch.
June 24
Clean up and pack our gear. Weather permitting, we’ll catch our return flights back south to Fairbanks, where we can remove our rubber boots and begin exaggerating about our trip. We expect to arrive in Fairbanks in time for a late dinner.