Hike to Thibodeaux Peak

Hike to Thibodeaux Peak

DATES

August 4, 2018 - August 12, 2018

REGION

Gates of the Arctic

TRIP COST

$6,500/ person - Party of one. $3,700/ person - Party of two. $2,600/ person - Party of 3 or more.

calendar

DATES

August 4, 2018 - August 12, 2018
region

REGION

Gates of the Arctic
price

TRIP COST

$6,500/ person - Party of one. $3,700/ person - Party of two. $2,600/ person - Party of 3 or more.

Thibodeaux Peak in Gates of the Arctic National Park provides the perfect reason to explore the Brooks Range. Endless vistas, wilderness backpacking, and a non-technical ascent of this little-known peak are the highlights of our week in the arctic.

TRIP DETAILS

Last updated: November 30, 2017

Itinerary

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

August 3

Meet your guide for a pre-trip meeting at 4 pm in Fairbanks at Arctic Wild headquarters.

August 4

It is a long and beautiful drive north to the Brooks Range along the famed Dalton Highway. We cross the Yukon River, then make our way through the Old Woman hills and eventually to the truckstop/town of Coldfoot. From there it is another hour and half to Galbraith Lake where we don packs and hike away from Alaska’s longest gravel road.

August 5-August 7

Depending on how far we hiked the evening before, we have between 15 and 20 miles to go and three full days to cover the distance. Winding through the mountains and then past the windswept Itkillik Lake we get our first peek at Thibodeaux Peak on the 6th. By mid-day on the 7th we should be working our way up Inikaklik Creek and looking for a good camp for a couple days.

August 8

The peak towers over us as we depart camp early in the morning. There is no hurry because it doesn’t get dark for another couple weeks, but we will need to keep moving to reach the peak. We’ll follow a relatively gentle ridge to a sub, peak and then continue on up into the sky. With a mile long summit ridge just prior to the peak we will have lots of time to enjoy the high country views.

August 9 - 11

We can retrace our route or elect for a more challenging route back to the road. We will let the weather and our energy levels make that decision when the time comes.

August 12

Cover the last couple of miles to the road, then head back to Fairbanks via the Dalton Highway. Showers are in order!

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 road transportation from Fairbanks to Galbraith Lake

Food while in the wilderness, stoves, cooking & eating utensils, water filter

Select Rental Equipment

Safety & repair gear

Professional guide service

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Non-camp lodging

Non-camp meals

Personal clothing and gear, backpack, per our equipment list.

Fishing gear, and fishing license

Gratuity for guide(s)

 

WEATHER & BUGS

Weather this time of year is often cool and sometimes stormy, though we can get some awesome clear weather. Precipitation is generally light, and it’s fairly easy to keep comfortably dry. Because it’s the arctic, however, snow is always possible and you can expect temperatures to range from the 30s to the 60s. Because of the cool weather, mosquitoes should be absent but there could still be a few flies so DEET and a head-net are prudent things to pack.

RECOMMENDED READING

Arctic Wild, Lois Crisler; Alaska Wilderness, Robert Marshall; Make Prayers to the Raven, Richard Nelson; Alaska’s Brooks Range, John Kauffmann. 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