The Brooks Range arcs across northern Alaska from the Bering Sea to the Canadian border. The eastern end of the range forms the 19 million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a spectacular wilderness area of towering, raw mountains, drained by busy rivers that weave north through the softening foothills and across the rolling coastal plain to the Arctic Ocean.
Our destination for this trip will be in the mountains on the north side of the Brooks Range. Large herds of caribou are often on the move at this season, so we’ll leave the exact destination of the expedition open to the whim of the herd. This flexibility will allow us a chance to observe the breath-taking migration.
The brief arctic summer in the Refuge is a busy time for birds and wildlife: the Porcupine caribou herd attracts an array of predators such as grizzly bears, wolves, wolverines, and golden eagles; a variety of birds sing through the 24 hours of daylight on their breeding territories; the occasional musk ox grazes on the coastal plain, and a multitude of butterflies, insects, and spiders flourish. As the mercury climbs and the daylight increases, snow, and ice rapidly melt away and wildflowers burst from a cold, dark dormancy into lively color. An intricate chain of life maintains an exquisite balance in this land of extremes.
Spending six days in one location allows us to dig in and thoroughly explore our surroundings. We’ll take hikes each day, always returning to camp each night. In some years there is so much happening in and near camp that it’s difficult to make it very far before being distracted–but that’s why we’re here!
This trip is remote and can be moderately strenuous; outside help could be days away. Participants need to be in good health, pack a positive attitude, and be capable of handling a variety of conditions.
We’ll hold a pre-trip meeting in Fairbanks in the afternoon the day before the trip. We’re scheduled to return to Fairbanks around 6 pm on Day 6, but due to the unknowns of wilderness travel and weather, it’s not uncommon to be delayed getting back to Fairbanks; plan some flexibility into your return ticket. The price of the trip includes all flights from Fairbanks to the Arctic Refuge and back, all meals during the trip, all permits, and a WBA guide. You are responsible for your Fairbanks logistics and expenses (lodging, meals, etc.) and your personal gear.
