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1st Departure:
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07.28.2009
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Provider:
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Alaska Alpine Adventures
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Destination:
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North America > USA > Alaska
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Duration:
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12 Days
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Skill Level:
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Advanced
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Challenge:
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Comfort:
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Gates of the Arctic National Park, despite being the recipient of frequent media attention over the past 45 years, remains one of the most remote and unspoiled places on earth. Its 8.4 million acres cover an area twice the size of Connecticut and only slightly smaller than Switzerland. The park is essentially a road less wilderness area and, except for limited and difficult access along the Dalton highway; most recreational visitors choose to enter the park via chartered airplane. The aviators who make their livelihood flying this area know this remote and mountainous region better than anyone. They provide us with access to places like the Arrigetch Peaks! Arrigetch, which means "fingers of the hand extended" is an area comprised of a tilted intrusion of granite that has been hailed as the hallmark of Gates of the Arctic. Perhaps Bob Marshall described the area best when he called Arrigetch ".a series of sensational needlelike peaks extending in a horseshoe around a gushing creek which rose in the glacier."
Our exciting 12 day combination adventure will take us backpacking amongst the Arrigetch range and rafting down the Alatna River. The area of the park we will be visiting involves two separate bush flights. Our first takes us from Fairbanks to Bettles, a small gateway community and the field headquarters for the National Park Service. From Bettles, we'll then hop onto a float plane for the flight to Circle Lake and the start of our six day backpacking and hiking excursion into the Arrigetch region. This part of the park offers the full spectrum of Alaska hiking, from bushwhacking and talus hoping to tundra romping and creek crossing. After our exploration of this small portion of the Brooks Range, we'll hike down to the confluence of Arrigetch Creek and the Alatna River. Here at the union of these two watersheds, we'll set up camp on a gravel bar, inflate our boats and savor the Arctic midnight sun.
By noon the following day, we'll be drifting down the wild and scenic Alatna River directly through the heart of the Brooks Range. The Alatna's clear water, stunning vistas, good fishing and moderate whitewater (mostly class I & II) make it the perfect river for a novice floater. Not to mention the subdued nature of Alaska river life is always the perfect compliment and contrast to a hard backpacking trip. We'll spend the next four days floating and hiking along the Alatna until we reach our pick-up point at Help Me Jack Lake.