Threading the Needle: An Early Summer Traverse in the Brooks Range
This trip wasn’t supposed to go the way it did, but that’s part of what made it so good.
Long-time readers will know that my partner Luc and I make a point to take a backcountry trip together every summer. This summer was a little bit different – scheduling conflicts and important events kept Luc from being able to attend what would have been the window for the first part of a trip, so I decided that instead of not going or going solo, I’d ask a couple of girlfriends to join me for the first half. Then Luc and our friend Pat would fly in later to meet me for the second half. Â
That singular decision ended up setting the theme of what this trip would be full of – flexibility, creative problem solving, and trusting the process.
Plans changing like the weatherÂ
This year, as always, we were trying to thread the needle between the last of the snow and the hatching of the bugs. It’s the sweet spot we always try and hit – but it can also be a pretty big gamble. This year, the wild card f...
Brooks Range Backpacking and Wulik River Packrafting
The Brooks Range is Full of MagicÂ
Something really special about summer in Alaska is the short but magical window when we can access some of the most wild, remote places. One of the most special? The Brooks Range. Located within the Arctic Circle, I can’t help but keep coming back to these mountains.
This trip consisted of myself, Luc, and our good friend Will. The three of us hiked and packrafted our way around the Delong Mountains, surrounded by wildlife, sweeping vistas, and endless sunlight
How We Planned Our Brooks Range Trip
Planning to spend time in this extra-wild area takes a lot of effort. The Brooks Range does not have any roads or developed trails. A successful trip in this wild place requires hiring a bush plan to take you to a remote landing strip and doing lots of research to find good routes nearby.
Lining up the timing also feels like threading a needle. We try to go late enough so that the snow has had time to melt away for easier walking, but early enough tha...