Brooks Range Wilderness

Hike Name: Brooks Range Wilderness Location: north AK Length: endless Submitted by: Dan Ritts Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more Alaska trail reviews Alaska national parks Alaska state parks
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Description
For the ultimate in remote wilderness, I can't imagine a more awe-inspiring place than the Brooks Range. Gates of the Arctic Park (8 million acres) and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (20 mil) span the greatest scenery and are unbelievably vast, beautiful and unforgiving to the inexperienced. I spent about a month in the ANWR, starting out from Coldfoot, AK and Wiseman, AK and traveling (hitching) up the Dalton Highway over the Continental Divide to Atigun Gorge. I spend about three weeks trekking east of the Dalton highway, getting resupplied by hired bush plane once on a high mountain tarn. It was truly unforgettable and I would encourage anyone with the (considerable) desire to try it. BUT NOT WITHOUT MUCH PREPARATION! The mosquitos in the early summer are appauling. Hiking conditions and terrain vary from acceptable to heinous. Worry about grizzlies too. I would carry a .44 if I went back, but this is a personal decision. It's a lot of pain, but those few moments of piece and solitude make it all worthwhile.

Write me if you're considering such a trip. I've made all the mistakes and would do alot different if I could do it all over again. Send email to "dritts@bates.edu"

Directions to Hike
Fly into Fairbanks, take Dalton Highway out of Fairbanks (it's the only road leading north!) to start of hike. It's not too hard to hitch out of Fairbanks on a tractor-trailer headed to Prudhoe Bay. Without a car, the only alternative is to fly by bush plane to Coldfoot. Expect to pay about $180 - $220 one way per person. (I would recommend hitching).

Contact Information
dritts@bates.edu

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