Gateway to the Arctic

Gateway to the Arctic Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins today in Fairbanks, Alaska. An after-dinner orientation meeting with our guide and traveling companions will be held at our hotel in Fairbanks this evening. Hotel included. All meals on your own today.

• Day 2

  We’ll gather in the hotel lobby at 8 a.m. and travel north and west this morning along the Elliott Highway toward the road’s end community of Manley Hot Springs.  Near the confluence of the Yukon and Tanana Rivers, Manley was a major center of trade during the gold rush but in its current, quieter incarnation, is home to only 100 year-round inhabitants.  We’ll spend the afternoon hiking and perhaps berry-picking in the nearby White Mountains and continue on to Manley to set up camp for the next two nights.  Our guide prepares a delicious dinner for us this evening under the boundless Alaska sky. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 7 miles.

• Day 3 

  Long associated with the lore of backcountry Alaska, dog sledding is a popular pastime as well as a practical mode of winter travel in this snowy climate.  Some of the world’s most accomplished dog mushers have made Manley their home and we’ll spend time this morning visiting a working sled dog kennel and learning about the unique relationship that evolves between dog and musher.  This afternoon, our canoes stand ready for our half-day paddle exploration through the wetland environment of the Manley Slough.  We’ll watch for sandhill cranes, beaver, eagles and moose as we glide silently through the water.  Tonight, we’ll have the opportunity to relax in Manley’s garden oasis hot springs. All meals included.
  
  Canoeing: up to 10 miles. 

• Day 4

  Our journey along the remote, 414-mile long Dalton Highway begins as we leave peaceful Manley behind and head due north towards the edge of the continent.  We’ll stop along the way at the Yukon River and as we cross the Arctic Circle to stretch our legs and enjoy a picnic lunch.  A particularly memorable view (among many that the highway has to offer) awaits us as we pass Gobbler’s Knob at Milepost 132.  Looming in the distance are the jagged peaks of the rugged Brooks Range.  Stretching over 700 miles, the Brooks is home to golden eagles, Dall’s sheep, wolves and grizzly bear and we’ll spend the next two days immersed in the unspoiled beauty of this mountain range.  The Coldfoot Interagency Visitor Center is the official visitor center for both Gates of the Arctic National Park and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and we’ll stop here to learn more about the geology, flora and fauna of these unspoiled national treasures.  We camp for the next three nights at Marion Creek.  Driving distance: 240 miles (approx. 5 hours not including various stops).  All meals included.

• Day 5

  In the town of Wiseman, hardscrabble sourdoughs once answered the call of the wild to seek their fortunes in gold.  Renowned conservationist Robert Marshall chose this settlement as the focal point of his acclaimed book Arctic Village: A Nineteen Thirties Portrait of Wiseman, Alaska, documenting the hardships of life on the frontier.  Today, gold-mining is still practiced in Wiseman but the sourdoughs have been replaced by ingenious and friendly Alaskans who live off the land they share with the lynx, moose and wolverine.  We’ll visit Wiseman and take a walking tour with a resident trapper who enjoys enlightening travelers to the local way of life in this untamed environment.  After an early afternoon ridge hike offering spectacular panoramic views, we’ll board a small plane at the Wiseman airstrip for an unforgettable thirty-minute scenic flight through the Gates of the Arctic and over the Brooks Range to the Nunamiut village of Anaktuvuk.  The Nunamiuts were the last group of indigenous people in North America to give up their nomadic lifestyle and settle in a permanent village.  We are met by a Nunamiut guide upon arrival who shares the fascinating history of his people with us before we board our return flight to Wiseman and our campsite at Marion Creek. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 4 miles. 

• Day 6

  We’ll set off on foot into Gates of the Arctic National Park and spend the day enjoying an amazing hike through this vast (8.5 million acres), awe-inspiring landscape rarely visited humans. Breakfast and lunch included.
  
  Hiking: 8 miles. 

• Day 7

  Beyond the northernmost tree, we drive over the continental divide of the north, Atigun Pass (the highest pass in Alaska at 4,739’), and hike into this true wilderness where the gates of the great Brooks Range open onto the vast tundra plains of the Arctic.  We cross the spectacular treeless landscape, where herds of caribou migrate and northward flowing rivers run toward the Arctic Ocean.  Along the way, we’ll have abundant opportunities to view the many animals which roam this virtually uninhabited environment while catching occasional glimpses of the Alaskan pipeline, a quiet reminder of the modern world we’ve left behind.  We’ll camp at Galbraith Lake for the next two nights. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 5 miles. 

• Day 8

  The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most complete and undisturbed ecosystems on our planet and one of America’s natural treasures.  Home to a surprisingly large variety of wildlife as well as Inupiat Eskimo and Gwich’in Indian communities, it represents an entire cross-section of Arctic life protected in one seamless expanse.  We spend the entire day hiking on the tundra that lies along the western edge of the refuge, enjoying the solitude and appreciating the pristine and untamed wilds that surround us.  Possible animal sightings include musk ox, caribou, brown bear, Dall’s sheep, wolverine, fox and a variety of swans, terns, loons and raptors. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 8 miles. 

• Day 9

  The final leg of our odyssey points us towards the northern edge of the continent as we travel through the seemingly boundless arctic tundra en route to the village of Deadhorse.  We’ll stop along the way for a hike on the otherworldly North Slope before reaching our lodging in Deadhorse late this afternoon.  A bed and hot shower feel great after a week in the backcountry! All meals included.
  
  Hiking:  4 miles. 

• Day 10

  The end of our journey is also the terminus of the Alaska pipeline and we’ll take a brief guided tour of the Prudhoe Bay oil fields this morning before the courageous (or foolhardy!) among us dip our toes into the Arctic Ocean.  An exhilarating conclusion to an unforgettable Alaskan adventure!  The later flight from Deadhorse back to Anchorage (not included) departs in mid-afternoon and we’ll check in together with time to spare.  Breakfast and Lunch included.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control including weather and terrain conditions. Many of our hikes are over trail-less tundra and actual daily hiking mileage may vary.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate the trip.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate/tent-mate if one is available. If a roommate/tent-mate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is half of the full single supplement. Please be advised there are a limited number of single rooms/tents available on most departures.

All accommodations (2 hotel nights, 7 nights in tent camps); meals as noted; guide leadership; van transportation; canoes and related gear (Day 3); scenic flight (Day 5); group camping gear (tents, cooking gear/utensils).

Air transportation to Fairbanks on Day 1 and from Deadhorse at trip's end; 2 dinners; alcoholic beverages/soft drinks; guide gratuities; laundry and items of a personal nature.

This trip is rated as Moderate [3] (hiking 4-8 miles on most days, canoeing 4-8 miles on one day). While it is not necessary to be an expert hiker/paddler to participate, you should be in good physical condition, enjoy hiking and feel comfortable hiking off-trail on open tundra with elevation gains and losses of up to 2500'. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip and to avoid sore muscles, we suggest beginning a regular exercise regimen at least 3 months prior to departure. Recommended exercises include hiking, paddling, jogging, cycling and/or swimming. The better shape you are in, the more fun you will have! During this adventure, we will be camping at a combination of established campgrounds with showers and bathrooms (2 nights) and primitive campsites with pit toilets (5 nights). Previous camping experience is a plus and participants should be willing to pitch in with tent setup and breakdown.

As much of our trip takes place in northern Alaska, weather patterns can be unpredictable and change rapidly. Although our departures take place during mid-summer when sunshine may be abundant, there is always a chance of rain showers and cold weather, making adequate raingear/insulation a necessity (see recommended Gear List). Daytime temperatures generally range between 50°-70°F with nighttime temperatures dropping 10-20 degrees.

We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation and travel insurance. This comprehensive travel protection provides for trip cancellation and interruption, travel delay, loss of baggage and travel documents, baggage delay, medical expenses and emergency assistance. An insurance application is included with all trip confirmations.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Weather

As much of our trip takes place in northern Alaska, weather patterns can be unpredictable and change rapidly. Although our departures take place during mid-summer when sunshine may be abundant, there is always a chance of rain showers and cold weather, making adequate raingear and insulation a necessity (see recommended gear list). Daytime temperatures generally range between 50°-70° F with nighttime temperatures dropping 10-20°.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to always pack essential items such as appropriate identification, money, eyewear, a change of clothing, hiking boots and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed.
• Windchill can be a significant feature of this trip. Air temperatures are not very cold, but when the wind is constant you can be robbed of body heat quickly. Wind or rain gear is very important.
• Cotton is wonderful in warm weather. However, once it becomes wet, it will drain your body heat. Bring wools or synthetics such as Capilene®, MTS® and Thermax®.
• Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up.
• Make sure boots are broken-in. Bring moleskin for foot treatment. Thin liner socks worn under regular hiking socks may minimize the risk of blisters. The liner sock should be synthetic, not cotton. Test your sock combination before you go on the trip. Consider bringing a pair of light trail runners to give your feet a break in case blisters do occur while wearing heavier boots.
• Bring heavy-duty garbage bags to line your duffel bag and keep you gear dry, should inclement weather be encountered.