Arctic Wild: Trip Itineraries
Kickback Backpack
Download a copy of the Kickback Backpack Itinerary (PDF, 136 KB).
• Dates: June 5th through June 10th.
Want more time in the wilderness? Combine this trip with the “Hulahula River Raft” for a 16 day adventure not to be forgotten. June 5-20 $5200
• Region: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Alpine Tundra – The Hulahula is a north-flowing river in northeast Alaska. It drains into the Arctic Ocean.
• Cost: $2,700 per person includes everything north of Fairbanks. Affordable camping gear available.
Sketch of the trip…
For years clients on our river trips have been telling us that they would love to backpack in the Brooks Range. Unfortunately many are intimidated by the heavy packs and challenging terrain. The Kickback Backpack is the solution. The trip is brief, six days to help minimize the weight of our packs. The route is short, only seven miles down a river valley. This trip may lack rigor but there is no lack of adventure. Starting high in the glacially carved valley of the Hulahula River we will have time to explore upstream without the burden of our backpacks. Opportunities for day hiking are endless and the ridgelines offer vistas south into the forested drainages of the Chandalar River and north towards the Arctic Coast. Dall sheep are abundant and we often see wolves and grizzly bears in the area. Early June is early spring in the Brooks Range and we will be there to see the land awakening from its 9-month slumber. Migratory birds will be arriving and singing in the sunny midnight hours, soil will be warming and giving birth to the first spring flowers. Mosquitoes will still be, thankfully, just larva. After a couple of nights in the upper valley we will shoulder our packs and head downstream. There are no trails here except the ones made by caribou and bears so we will follow gravel bars when we can, caribou trails when we can, and hike over the tundra when we must. The hiking might be a bit wet at times or a bit uneven but mostly the footing is good. After three or four miles of leisurely hiking it will be time to once again kickback and enjoy spring in the mountains. After another layover day spent day-hiking or lounging we will again shoulder our packs for the final miles down river to our pick-up point. Then it will again be time to kickback and feel proud that you are a Brooks Range Backpacker.
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, kickback and watch the sun refuse to set! Welcome to the arctic! We can climb a small hill for a view of the valley ahead.
Days 2 - 5: We’ll hike our way down the Hulahula River covering seven miles total with our packs on. This will allow for three layover days of hiking, lounging or exploring.
Day 6: Kickback and wait for the plane to come and take us to points south. Or better yet, if you are joining us for the Hulahula Raft trip you can kickback and wait for the plane to bring rafts, more food and clean 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.
Recommended 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.