Arctic Wild: Trip Itineraries
Photography across the Latitudes
Download a copy of the Photography across the Latitudes Itinerary (PDF, 92 KB)
• Dates: July 5th through 11th.
• Region: Western Arctic, Brooks Range.
• Cost: $4300 per person from Fairbanks. Affordable rental camping gear available.
Sketch of the trip…
The expanse of wild land north of Fairbanks provides extraordinary opportunities for photography. A single road, the Dalton Highway, which the locals know simply as the Haul Road, crosses this land. We will drive north on the Haul Road from Fairbanks and pass through the lake-filled northern reaches of the boreal forest.
In these woods and wetlands breed millions of birds and mammals. Along the way we will look for many species of wildlife, from moose, black bears, and wolves to northern hawk owls and solitary sandpipers. The rolling forested hills provide a subtle but beautiful backdrop to our journey. Mid-way to the Brooks Range we will pass over the powerful Yukon River where we will stop to eat lunch and to create images of the swirling water and surrounding bluffs. As we near the mountains, the forest fades slowly into alpine tundra and in this mosaic lays our first destination, the historic community of Wiseman where we will spend our first two nights.
During our time based in Wiseman we will venture into the peaks and valleys of the Brooks Range. In this area lives an entirely different suite of animals from those in the boreal forest. If we are lucky we will find Dall sheep, grizzly bears, and a collection of upland breeding birds including the rarely seen yellow wagtail, northern wheatear, SmithÕs longspur, gray-crowned rosy finch, and arctic warbler.
After a full day exploring the range we will continue north across Atigun Pass where the land falls away toward the Arctic Ocean in the enormous sweep of the Coastal Plain. This is the land of the caribou and we may see members of the Central Arctic caribou herd as we travel. Eventually we will find ourselves at Galbraith Lake where we will camp for a night before boarding a bush plane the following morning for Teshekpuk Lake.
Teshekpuk is a little known gem of the Arctic Coastal Plain and is home to thousands of geese, ducks, eiders, shorebirds and the Teshekpuk caribou herd. This exquisite area is threatened by oil development and lease sales for the region are pending. This trip is a rare opportunity to see the place and share its wonders. We will spend three days exploring the tundra and creating images of the wildlife and landscape before returning to Fairbanks by bush plane.
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 0: : Pre-trip meeting in Fairbanks to discuss the trip and get to know one another.
Day 1: We will get an early start and drive north up the Elliott Highway from Fairbanks to where it joins the Dalton Highway at the remote community of Livengood. Here we will leave the pavement and head due north through the boreal forest. We will stop for lunch near the Yukon River then pass across the Arctic Circle and into the land of the midnight sun. Sometime in late afternoon we will arrive in Wiseman and settle into Igloo #8, our Bed and Breakfast.
Day 2: We will venture into the Brooks Range to hike and photograph. We may explore the Chandalar Shelf, a broad glacial valley that provides long views of the surrounding mountains. We will go as far as Atigun Pass to look for Dall Sheep on the rugged mountains above and search for alpine breeding birds before returning to Wiseman for the night.
Day 3: : We will rise early and drive across the Brooks Range and down onto the coastal plain. We will make stops in the foothills of the range to take photos of yellow wagtails and SmithÕs longspurs in Atigun Valley. Then on across the tundra with another stop where we will, with luck, find and photograph bluethroats. We will spend the night at Galbraith Lake Campground.
Day 4: : A pilot will pick us up in the morning and fly us to Teshekpuk Lake. Located some distance southeast of the community of Barrow, the land and wetlands surrounding Teshekpuk are remote and rich. We will establish a camp in an area promising for wildlife and spend the next days exploring and photographing the area.
Day 5-6: : In the midnight sun, we will spend our waking hours when the light is best for photography, sleeping when we wish. Many species of ducks and shorebirds will be present on the tundra and lakes, and if we are fortunate, the Teshekpuk Herd of caribou may be in the area. We may also see arctic foxes, arctic hares, arctic ground squirrels, bears and other mammal species.
Day 7: : In the morning or early afternoon, depending on the weather, the plane will arrive to shuttle us back to Coldfoot, south of the Brooks Range. There we will catch our return flight to Fairbanks where the trip will conclude.
Included in the price of the trip:
Transportation and lodging beyond Fairbanks.
Outstanding guide service.
Wholesome, delicious food while on the trip.
Repair and safety equipment such as firearm (guide will carry)
Not included in the price of the trip:
Lodging beyond the duration of the trip
Food beyond the duration of the trip.
Waterproof camera case.
Fishing gear and fishing license.
Warm clothingGratuity for guide(s)
Weather & Bugs: A variety of weather should be expected including foggy periods and bright sunny conditions. Temperatures can range from in the 80's down into the 30's or lower. Snow is unlikely on this trip in midsummer. Mosquitoes could be an issue on this trip. Your guide will find a campsite which moderates their presence. You should carry a head net and one bottle of insect repellent.
Suggested Reading:; Our Arctic Year, Vivian & Gill Staender; Arctic Village, Robert Marshall; We Live in the Arctic, Constance Helmericks;