“Just don’t surprise a bear” was the last thing Ranger Chad called after us as we headed for the door. Little did I know how much that phrase would repeat in my head during our eight-day trek in Gates of the Arctic National Park. We were at the Interagency Arctic Visitor Center in Coldfoot, AK, checking in with the National Park rangers, giving our itinerary and trip details. Ranger Chad was kind enough to show us some good spots to leave our truck near the town of Wiseman. After filling up our gas tank for $5.75 per gallon, we drove the 13 miles north to Wiseman road and found a place to organize and pack our gear. Leaving me at the intersection with the backpacks, Mat drove the truck down Wiseman road to park it and walk the 3 miles back, because he’s an awesome husband like that.
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| "Next 416 miles" |
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| Dalton highway going on and on |
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| Reached the Arctic Circle |
These weren’t our usual light packs we are used to carrying with sub-ten pound base weights. In addition to our typical backpacking gear, we were also carrying packrafting kits (around 10 lbs of packraft, drysuit, paddle, lifejacket, neoprene gloves, goretex socks, etc) and we brought extra sets of warm, synthetic layers. Forecasts call for a wet week with highs in the 40s & 50s. Although down is warmer & lighter than synthetics, it becomes useless when wet; heavy synthetics was the choice for this trip. Nine days of food (approximately two pounds per person per day) then add in proper safety & first aid equipment and we got ourselves some rightfully heavy packs. Mine started at 43 lbs, Mat’s at 48 lbs.
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| The town of Coldfoot |
We set out to hitch on the Haul Road at 6 pm. We waited… and waited… and waited. By 8:00pm only three pickups had passed by and maybe just as many big rigs, nobody stopping to pick up hitchhikers on a Friday night. We called it a draw and cut cross country from the highway to the shores of the Middle Fork Koyukuk to set up camp and sleep, we will try again in the morning.
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| Dalton highway over the Middle Fork Koyukuk River |
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