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The Trip

Our challenging 12-day backpacking trip takes us into some of the most spectacular mountains in the Arctic Refuge. Grizzlies, wolves, dall sheep, musk ox, and caribou roam this jagged landscape, which we'll enter from the Dalton Highway. Without the prohibitive cost of bush flights, this is a chance to see America's last great wilderness at an affordable price. Utilizing the 24 hours of daylight, we will observe and learn about the Refuge's many plants and animals, plus discuss current environmental threats.

Itinerary

The group will meet the day prior to the start of the trip in Fairbanks, where we will have dinner, distribute group gear, and go over logistics.

Day 1: We begin our trip in Fairbanks. In the early morning hours, we board a large van that will take us to the start of our wilderness adventure. The Dalton Highway extends between Fairbanks and Prudoe Bay and closely parallels the Alaska Oil Pipeline. During our long drive north toward the Brooks Range on the infamous "haul road" we will experience the surrealistic beauty of the Alaska interior. Making our way past the last tree that we will see until our return, we climb up over the Brooks Range and onto the North Slope. In the late afternoon, we begin our backpack trip by hiking under the Alaska Oil Pipeline and immediately entering the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. After a short hike, we arrive at our first camp in total wilderness, completely out of site of the road or any other human activity.

Day 2-11: Our exact backpacking route will depend on the conditions we find, especially whether or not the Sagavanirktok River can be crossed. In any event, we will complete a loop through the mountains surrounding the Sagavanirktok River, traversing spectacular arctic valleys and dramatic mountain passes, eventually returning to the location of our first camp.

On a typical day the group will hike for about six to eight hours at a moderate pace, stopping to observe the wonders of the Arctic as we see them. We will have almost 24-hour daylight, so we can start and end our hike at any time of the day. Hiking will be difficult sometimes -- when we push through tussocks or willows, for example. If we find we have made the wrong choice for a route, we may even be forced to backtrack at times. Remember, this is part of the joy of exploration.

Day 12: After a short hike back to the Dalton Highway, the same commercial van service will pick us up for the long drive back to Fairbanks. Our trip ends upon our arrival in Fairbanks, typically very late in the evening. Participants should schedule their flights out of Fairbanks for the day after the trip officially ends. Weather delays are not uncommon in the Arctic.

Getting There

Trip members are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from Fairbanks. We strongly advise that you arrive in Fairbanks two days ahead of schedule to allow for delayed luggage. Arctic air travel, commercial or charter, is not always on schedule due to weather conditions and a more laid back business approach. You should also allow for at least one flexible day at the end of the trip in case we encounter unexpected weather delays. Note that charter flights during the trip are included in the trip fee.

Accommodations and Food

All food, starting with lunch on the first day through lunch on the last, will be provided. We take pride in providing meals that are tasty and filling, and make a concerted effort not to rely too much on freeze-dried foods. Vegetarians can easily be accommodated. As on most Sierra Club trips, all members help with cooking and clean-up chores. Trip participants and leaders will all share in carrying food and equipment.

Trip Difficulty

This Strenuous-rated (S) trip is for the big-hearted backpacker. We will hike a cross-country route the whole way, entirely dependent on our skills, common sense, and equipment. Stream crossings can take on epic proportions as multiple channels may run high with glacial melt. Weather in the Arctic can always be a challenge; while we hope for sunny and dry days, we must be prepared for any condition, including extended periods of rain.

This trip is demanding, and you will need to be in very good shape. While there is no technical climbing, you should feel comfortable climbing over boulders and using your hands to get over passes while carrying a full pack. Trip participants should also be prepared for a bit of exposed hiking in the mountains. We will go slowly when necessary and no one will be rushed through difficult sections of the hike. Elevations are low, so altitude shouldn't be a factor.

Pack weight can be demanding and a slowing factor for hikers of any experience level. Equipment and food will be more substantial than what is required on most trips, with pack weights in the 50-60 pound range. We'll be carrying up to 30 pounds of commissary and group equipment per person, in addition to our personal gear, when we start out.

Please be frank and completely honest when completing your trip application. The trip leader will talk to you at length by phone to make sure that this is a trip appropriately suited for you, but the Sierra Club reserves the right to turn participants away at the start of the trip, if it is clear they have not been truthful in the application process.

Equipment and Clothing

The leaders will send out a detailed equipment list to approved participants prior to the trip and are happy to discuss any questions you may have.

The leaders will conduct a gear inspection of each participant before the start of the trip in Fairbanks. Anyone who has brought inappropriate gear, such as a tent that is not waterproof, raingear that is not waterproof, or a pack that is too small will be asked to purchase new gear in Fairbanks.

References

• Pielou, E.C., A Naturalist's Guide to the Arctic
• Lopez, Barry, Arctic Dreams: Imagination and Desire in a Northern Landscape
• Bruemmer, Fred, The Arctic
• Houston, James, White Dawn: An Eskimo Saga
• Berton, Pierre, The Arctic Grail
• Sage, Byron, The Arctic and its Wildlife
• Dyson, John, The Hot Arctic

Conservation

The Arctic Refuge is one of the last intact ecological systems in the world and is under considerable political pressure for development. To date, efforts to designate the Refuge as wilderness have been rejected outright and there is an ongoing effort to open the Refuge to energy development. Protecting this unique ecosystem is among the highest priorities of nearly every major environmental organization. Trip participants will not only learn about current developments, but they'll also learn how to keep informed of future developments and to become advocates for protection of this important area. In addition, Leave No Trace ethics will be used and emphasized on our trip. Our goal will be to alter the wilderness as little as possible, preserving it for the next group.

Travel in Alaska and the Arctic

Sierra Club outings in Alaska and Arctic Canada are special experiences in true wilderness, but they also carry an element of risk. Trip locales are often remote, away from the amenities of civilization, including sophisticated medical care and immediate evacuation possibilities. Many of our Alaska and Arctic Canada trips now carry satellite phones, but even with this technology, communication with the outside world can be difficult and emergency assistance can be days away. Weather in Alaska and Arctic Canada is unpredictable, and inclement weather can be severe. Among other hazards are cold river and stream crossings, tidal activity, calving glaciers, the psychological effects of remoteness, and the presence of large wild animals. You're in good hands, though, so don't worry: Your trip leaders have vast experience in the Last Frontier, and they'll provide all the guidance you need.

Trip Price

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

Staff

Gary Aguiar fell in love with Alaska on a 1983 trip to the Alaska Range, east of Denali. On that trip, it rained 12 out of 14 days, and the group ran out of food a day before the bush pilot returned to pick it up. Needless to say, Gary developed a healthy respect for Alaskan weather on that trip.

Not all Alaska trips are like that, of course. Since then, he has led a number of Sierra Club trips to Alaska, developing trips that include day hiking and a casual travel itinerary so people of varying abilities can experience the Alaskan wilderness. Gary owns and operates a small environmental engineering firm that has been cleaning up contaminated groundwater in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 20 years. In addition to hiking in Alaska, his recreational interests include long-distance running and open-water swimming in the bay.

E-mail: gary@hydroanalysis.com

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carpooling
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Participant Approval
• Standard Trip Equipment
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback
• Legal Information
• Seller of Travel Disclosure