Noatak and Kobuk – Appel Custom

Noatak and Kobuk – Appel Custom

DATES

August 19, 2018 - August 28, 2018

REGION

Gates of the Arctic and Kobuk Valley National Parks

TRIP COST

$$

calendar

DATES

August 19, 2018 - August 28, 2018
region

REGION

Gates of the Arctic and Kobuk Valley National Parks
price

TRIP COST

$$

For the best of Gates of the Arctic and Kobuk Valley National Parks, look no further. A week of paddling and hiking in the upper Noatak combined with a couple days of base camping in Kobuk Dunes lets you sample the great diversity of Northern Alaska’s National Parks.

The Noatak features tundra hiking, excellent canoeing, and regular wildlife encounters. The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes are a sea of sand in the Arctic wilderness- a hikers paradise. These are two our our most incredible National Parks.

TRIP DETAILS

Last updated: September 20, 2018

Itinerary

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

August 18

Meet your guide for a pre-trip meeting in Fairbanks at 4pm

August 19

It’s a long day.  We fly north from Fairbanks to Bettles, crossing en route the mighty Yukon River and the Arctic Circle.  Then, we charter a floatplane into the Gates of the Arctic National Park.  We’ll land on a sprawling lake near the river and take the rest of the day to  pitch camp and explore our surroundings on foot. Welcome to paradise.

August 20 - 25

We’ll paddle our way down the Noatak.  On the moving days we travel about 15 miles which will take about 4 hours. There will be free time each and every day after camp is pitched, the long evening is yours to enjoy the golden arctic sunlight, fishing, climbing the nearby ridges or just skipping rocks! We will also have a couple layover days when we don’t need to break camp and can enjoy the solitude and wilderness. Hiking into the high-country is good from every camp and there are several all-day hikes we can try if the group is game. There are also plenty of shorter hikes we can take. All of them lovely and all likely to encounter wildlife. The weather and your desires dictate much of the schedule during the trip.

August 26

Time to pack-up the folding canoes and await the sound of a distant plane. Once everything is loaded we fly south to the Kobuk Dunes and land in a sea of sand. Then the plane departs and we are once again, alone in the wilderness.

August 27

A full day to enjoy the dunes. The sand constantly shifts and swirls. There are springs coming right out of the sand and great expanses where nothing seems to live. The hiking is soft in places but great distances can be covered if so inclined.

August 28

Our last morning in the field. There will be time for a last walk in the sand before packing camp and then flying back to Kotzebue, arriving by late afternoon (weather permitting).

 

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

Transportation starting in Fairbanks and ending in Kotzebue, food while in the wilderness, stoves, cooking & eating utensils, boats, paddles, life jackets, safety & repair gear and professional guide service. Rental gear is included in the price of the trip.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Non-camp lodging, non-camp meals, personal clothing and gear, fishing gear, and fishing license. Gratuity for guides. See full equipment list.

WEATHER & BUGS

Temperatures vary dramatically in the Arctic. Temperatures range from the 20s to 80s, averaging in the high 50’s. This is the beginning of autumn and fall storms are certainly possible but sunny cool fall weather is possible too. Mosquitoes should be on the decline, but travel with insect repellent (DEET) and a head-net just in case.

RECOMMENDED READING

Nunamiut by Helge Ingstadt; Land of Extremes by Alex Huryn; Ordinary Wolves by Seth Kantner; Last Light Breaking by Nick Jans;People of the Noatak by Clair Fejes. 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