Alatna Packrafting (Garapedian/ Loiselle Custom)

Meet your guide for a pre-trip meeting at noon in Fairbanks at Arctic Wild headquarters. We need to do this meeting at noon as there is another group meeting at 4 pm.

Fly north from Fairbanks across the Yukon River to the town of Bettles (population 15). Here we board a smaller plane and continue on into the Gates of the Arctic National Park.  Our skilled pilot lands us at the very headwaters of the Alatna River, right on the Arctic Divide….and then the plane leaves and we are alone in the grandeur of the wilderness.

The Alatna River is too shallow to paddle as it leaves the headwater lakes. We spend our first full day of the trip shouldering our packs and walking down river. Packs will be heavy and we will be glad when side creeks join the Alatna and make it navigable.

The first day on the river is challenging. The Alatna is small and steep here in the mountains and you’ll be busy avoiding rocks and shallows. We don’t need to cover a lot of miles but you’ll be tired and a little wet by day’s end.

Paddle and day hike in turn. The upper valley offers outstanding hiking and we will have time each day to explore. We have three full days to cover a little more than 50 river miles, which leaves some time for climbing mountains, watching wildlife or simply relaxing by the river.

Your trip with Arctic Wild ends this day, though your adventure in the Arctic does not. In the afternoon, weather permitting you will rendezvous with our pilot and exchange fresh provisions for our much beloved packrafts, then your guide flies towards Fairbanks and you are on your own. Arctic Wild will provide food and a limited selection of gear for your personal backpacking trip into the Arrigetch.

Conclude your personal backpacking trip in the Arrigetch Peaks. Weather permitting a pilot will meet you at Arrigetch Creek (or Circle Lake) for a flight back to Fairbanks via Bettles.