Last updated: February 27, 2020
Itinerary
What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.
July 26
Meet your guide(s) in Kotzebue for an evening preparatory meeting.
July 27
We fly north from the Chukchi Coast at Kotzebue across the Noatak Valley and into the DeLong Mountains. Following the Kugururok River from above, we assess water levels and choose the optimal starting location for the trip. Once the plane is unloaded and has departed, we are alone in the vast wilderness. Then we can set up a comfortable camp, the fishing rods, and enjoy the solitude.
July 28 - 31
Four full days on the Kugururok to bask in the beauty and catch some fish. We have about 35 miles to cover on the Kug so we have plenty of time to day-hike into the hills, explore the tundra or walk the river flats. Instruction for packrafting will be provided and the Kug is a good place to hone your skills. As we head south on the river the mountains recede and the floodplain grows broad.
August 1
Pack up and take a final stroll down the gravel bar in search of wildlife. Take a few more casts in hopes of a record Dolly or examine the mud flats for fresh tracks. Mid-morning our pilot will return for us (weather permitting) and will fly us three at a time down the Noatak River and into the village of Kotzebue where the trip concludes and you can take a shower.
