Rafting in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

                                         www.ARCTICWILD.com

                                    Hulahula River Raft

Dates:      June 10th through June 20th, 2009

Region:    Arctic National Wildlife Refuge—mountains, northern foothills, coastal plain, and coast.  The Hulahula is a north-flowing river in northeast Alaska.  It drains into the Arctic Ocean.

Cost:        $4000 per person includes everything north of Fairbanks.
        Affordable rental camping gear available.

The Hulahula is an elemental river.  We begin our 90-mile paddle in the Hulahula’s headwaters, where the river is narrow and swift. 9,000-foot peaks tower over the tundra valley.  Even with the spring thaw and “breakup” weeks past, there may still be ice clinging to river bluffs and lying stranded on gravel bars.  This is the arctic!  After several days paddling and hiking in the mountains, we paddle the canyon’s Class III rapids, and spill out into the foothills, an entirely different biome.  Two more days of Class II rapids take us to the coastal plain, a wilderness region unlike any other—with stunning views and superb camping.  Then we continue on through the river’s delta to the Arctic Ocean, where we make our last night’s camp next to the Arctic ocean.   

The Hulahula River is great place to see musk oxen, wolves, grizzly bears, and arctic fox.  On this trip, we also have good chances of seeing peregrine falcons and golden eagles, jaegers, plovers, and other migratory birds.  The weather is likely to be warm, though always variable.  As we approach the coast, cool and even downright cold winds could bear down on us.  The landscape along the Hulahula will be in full green—willows along the river corridor, Equisetum sprouting from the gravel bars, and wildflowers like Wooly Lousewort, River Beauty and Arctic Poppy.

Hiking in the mountains and on the tundra is excellent.  Our travel schedule allows three layover days to explore the country, and plenty of free time each day.  No experience is required for paddle rafting, as instruction is provided. Everyone joins in the fun of paddling the boats under the guidance of a raft captain. Early summer travel in the arctic is rigorous.  Participants should be ready for anything, including low water levels that require us to get out of the boats and drag them over shallow spots.  A half-mile portage is typical at the end of this trip. If water levels are really low, we will have to slog for three to four miles to our take-out.  Then again, we could float right out to the ocean.  On a wilderness trip like the Hulahula, one never knows.  This is the nature, and the honor, of wilderness travel.


What follows is a forecast of the trip, a general idea of the flow of events.
As a forecast, it may be amended to meet conditions and opportunities in the field.


Day 1:  Fly north from Fairbanks across the Yukon River, the Arctic Circle, and the Brooks Range, to the headwaters of the Hulahula River.  We’ll make a comfortable camp, have a good dinner, and watch the sun refuse to set!  Welcome to the arctic!  We can climb a small hill for a lovely view of the valley ahead.

Days 2 - 10:  We’ll paddle and hike our way down the Hulahula River, allowing for three layover days for hiking and exploring.  We’ll take a layover in the mountains, another on the coastal plain, and another on the river’s delta en route to the Arctic Ocean.   

Day 11:  Awake this morning at the northern edge of the continent.  Weather permitting, we fly first to the village of Kaktovik, (pop. 400) then back south across the Brooks Range, the Arctic Circle, and the Yukon River to Fairbanks.  Change socks!


Included in the price of the trip:
Transportation beyond Fairbanks.
Outstanding guide service.
Wholesome, delicious, and mostly-organic food while in the wilderness.
Stoves, cooking & eating utensils.
Repair and safety equipment such as firearm (guide will carry) and one bear spray per guest.
All boating gear, including boats and paddles.
The use of one life jacket and one medium-sized dry bag per guest.

Not included in the price of the trip:  
Non-camp lodging.
Non-camp meals.
Personal clothing, backpack (if applicable), and footwear.
Sleeping bag & sleeping pad.
Three-season tent.
 Large waterproof drybag (one with shoulder strap recommended).
Waterproof camera case.
Fishing gear and fishing license.
Gratuity for guide(s).




Arctic Wild rents high quality gear at affordable rates.  Rental gear includes:
Three-season tents
Sleeping bags
Sleeping pads
Rubber raingear bibs
Rubber raingear jackets
Rubber boots
Large dry bag

A River Trip Equipment List is provided upon registration or request.
Weather & Bugs:  
Temperatures vary dramatically in the Arctic and can range from the 20s to 70s.  When the wind comes from the north, the temperature can drop to below freezing. Cold rains and snow are possible, but we get lots of sunny weather this time of the year.  This trip happens during mosquito season, though bugs are made more bearable by cool, coastal breezes as we near the coast.  Bring along a mosquito head net and a small bottle of DEET repellent.
 
Suggested Reading:  
The Brooks Range: The Ultimate Mountains, John Kauffmann; North Alaska Chronicle:  Notes from the End of Time, John Martin Campbell; Brooks Range Passage, Dave Cooper; Koviashuvik, Sam Wright;  Alaska Wilderness, Robert Marshall; We Live in the Arctic, Constance Helmericks; Arctic Wild, Lois Crisler; Make Prayers to the Raven, Richard Nelson.  Two Old Women, Velma Wallace; Mind of the Raven, Bernd Heinrich.

www.arcticwild.com