Brooks Range Dog Sledding Adventure

Brooks Range Dog Sledding Adventure

DATES

April 2, 2020 - April 5, 2020

REGION

Arctic Refuge

TRIP COST

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calendar

DATES

April 2, 2020 - April 5, 2020
region

REGION

Arctic Refuge
price

TRIP COST

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Dog sledding is a tradition from the earliest human times in Alaska, and the quintessential way to experience winter in the Arctic. Join us for a week at the northern edge of the Brooks Range, where you will experience the profound quiet of wilderness, the thrill of running a dog team, and the awe of watching the Northern Lights dance above the snowy peaks. Our winter base camp will be on the edge of the Arctic plains at the very edge of the Brooks Range, a place that feels like the end of the earth.

TRIP DETAILS

Last updated: May 17, 2019

Itinerary

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

April 1

Meet at the Arctic Wild headquarters for a pre-trip meeting and gear check at 4 pm.

April 2

We will take you to the airport in the morning to meet your chartered ski-plane. Then it is a 3 hour flight over the Yukon River, through the Brooks Range, right to the northern edge of the mountains where the arctic plains begin. The flight itself is an experience never forgotten. Once in the Arctic, you land on a frozen lake, where you meet your guides and the dogs. Hop in the sled and let the dogs whisk you to camp, a short distance from the landing site. The tents are warm and filled with the smell of good food. Home sweet home.

April 3 - 4

Each day brings its own adventure and surprises. Your desires and the weather will dictate the schedule. Wildlife sightings quicken the pulse and the process of learning to work with the dogs is immensely rewarding. Tents are kept warm and there is ample and delicious food. If you prefer to relax in camp and watch the snowy landscape from the comfort of a warm tent, enjoy! If you prefer to spend the whole day on the trail discovering one new vista after the next, we are delighted to take you over the horizon. When the day’s adventures are done we have excellent chances to see the Aurora dancing green and red above the mountains while the dogs howl in the arctic twilight.

We hope to spend one day at a nearby lake, fishing through the ice. This would involve a trip in the dogsled to the lake, some time chipping a hole through as much as 5 ft of ice, and then working with hand-jigs to (hopefully) pull out lake trout.

Another activity could include a long hike into the mountains. Ridge lines are often blow free of snow and allow us to hike without snowshoes or skis. We find last autumn’s berries frozen on the bush and glimpse the tundra mostly buried under winter’s snow. We may be able to gain a summit for views of the Brooks Range stretching over the horizon.

Want to build an igloo? Interested in skijoring? Ever set a snare for a snowshoe hare? Want to start a fire without matches? We have the skills and enthusiasm to teach you how. If it is safe (and legal) just ask and we can do it! Each day’s activities will be structured around your desires and the weather. Each day will be busy and full of adventure.

April 5

Our final morning in camp and time to say goodbye to the trails and vistas you have grown to love. Then it is back on the sled for the short run back to the improvised airstrip. Kiss your favorite dog goodbye and then fly back south towards warmer climes and a busier life. If the weather cooperates you should be back in Fairbanks by mid-afternoon. Shed some layers!

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 beyond Fairbanks. Outstanding guide service. Wholesome, delicious, and mostly-organic food while in the wilderness. Stoves, cooking & eating utensils. Repair and safety equipment. Wall tent and stove. Winter camping tools. Winter grade sleeping bag and pads. Snowshoes and/or skis.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Non-camp lodging. Non-camp meals. Personal clothing, and footwear.  Gratuity for guide(s). See full equipment list for details.

WEATHER & BUGS

Temperatures vary dramatically in the arctic. We could see temperatures from -20 to +40 F. Average temperatures should be around 10 F with warm afternoons and cold nights. Multiple layers will ensure comfort despite the dramatic temperature swings common in April. Please consult with us about what clothes to bring so that you are comfortable and follow our winter packing list carefully. Bugs? We might see some snow fleas but you can leave the DEET at home.

RECOMMENDED READING

Snow-Walkers Companion, Garrett and Alexandra Conover; Ordinary Wolves, Seth Kantner; Winter: An Ecological Handbook, James Halfpenny; Sled Dog Trails, Mary Shields; Dog Driver, Mikki Collins.

"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