Gates of the Arctic Rafting | Alaska Adventure Travel | Arctic Wild/title>  <link href="../../../main.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <script language="JavaScript" src="../../../menu/js/menu.js"></script>  </head> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-1483423-1"); pageTracker._initData(); pageTracker._trackPageview(); </script> <body> <div class="TheBody" id="TheBody"> <div class="NaviBar" id="NaviBar"> <ul id="dd"> <li><a href="../../../contact/index.html" class="menu">CONTACT US</a></li> <li><a href="../../../about/index.html" class="menu" id="mmenu6" onmouseover="mopen(6);" onmouseout="mclosetime();">ABOUT US</a> <div class="submenu" id="menu6" onmouseover="mcancelclosetime()" onmouseout="mclosetime();"> <a href="../../../about/index.html">ABOUT US</a> <a href="../../../about/guides.html">OUR GUIDES</a> </div> </li> <li><a href="../../../links/index.html" class="menu" id="mmenu5" onmouseover="mopen(5);" onmouseout="mclosetime();">LINKS</a> <div class="submenu" id="menu5" onmouseover="mcancelclosetime()" onmouseout="mclosetime();"> <a href="../../../links/index.html">LINKS </a> <a href="../../../links/aw_web.html">ARCTIC WILD ON THE WEB</a> </div> </li> <li><a href="../../../trips/faqs.html" class="menu" id="mmenu4" onmouseover="mopen(4);" onmouseout="mclosetime();">FAQS</a> </li> <li><a href="../../../arctic/index.html" class="menu" id="mmenu3" onmouseover="mopen(3);" onmouseout="mclosetime();">THE ARCTIC</a> <div class="submenu" id="menu3" onmouseover="mcancelclosetime()" onmouseout="mclosetime();"> <a href="../../../arctic/index.html">THE ARCTIC</a> <a href="../../../arctic/anwr.html">ARCTIC REFUGE</a> <a href="../../../arctic/gates.html">GATES OF THE ARCTIC</a> <a href="../../../arctic/subarctic.html">SUBARCTIC</a> <a href="../../../arctic/western.html">WESTERN ARCTIC</a> </div> </li> <li><a href="../../../trips/index.html" class="menu" id="mmenu2" onmouseover="mopen(2);" onmouseout="mclosetime();">OUR TRIPS</a> <div class="submenu" id="menu2" onmouseover="mcancelclosetime()" onmouseout="mclosetime();"> <a href="../../../trips/index.html">OUR TRIPS</a> <a href="../../../trips/backpack.html">BACKPACK TRIPS</a> <a href="../../../trips/basecamp.html">BASECAMP TRIPS</a> <a href="../../../trips/river.html">RIVER TRIPS</a> <a href="../../../trips/custom.html">CUSTOM TRIPS</a> </div> </li> <li><a href="../../index.html" class="menu" id="mmenu1" onmouseover="mopen(1);" onmouseout="mclosetime();">SCHEDULE AND PRICING</a> <div class="submenu" id="menu1" onmouseover="mcancelclosetime()" onmouseout="mclosetime();"> <a href="../../index.html">SCHEDULE AND PRICING</a> <a href="../../details.html">TRIP DETAILS</a> </div> </li> <li><a href="../../../index.html" class="menu">HOME</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="LandscapeLogo" id="LadscapeLogo"><img src="../../../images/top_landscape_photo.jpg" width="970" height="186" alt="Arctic Landscape" /></div> <div class="WhiteSpace" id="Whitespace"> <div class="ArcticWildLogo" id="ArcticWildLogo"> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </div>  <h1>Arctic Wild: Trip Itineraries </h1> <div class="TextBody" id="TextBody"> <p align="right"><span class="breadcrumbs"><a href="../../../index.html">Home</a> > <a href="../../index.html">Schedule and Pricing</a> > Trip Itineraries </span></p> <p> </p> <p class="style1"> <strong>Nigu River Raft</strong> Trip </p> <p>Download a copy of the <a href="Nigu_River_Raft.pdf"><strong>Nigu River Raft</strong> Trip Itinerary</a> (PDF, 124 KB) </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p><strong>• Dates:</strong> July 23rd through August 2nd </p> <p><strong><br /> • Region: </strong>Gates of the Arctic and Western Arctic (NPR-A) The Nigu is a north flowing river which joins the Etiviluk and then the Colville.<strong><br /> <br /> • Cost:<em> </em></strong>$4,400 per person from Fairbanks. See details below. Affordable rental camping gear available. </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><strong><em>Sketch of the trip…</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><img src="images/nigu-1.jpg" alt="Gates of the Arctic National Park photo" width="200" height="258" hspace="3" vspace="3" align="left" />The Nigu River flows north into the Colville River, then on to the Arctic Ocean some 380 miles away. We join the Nigu where it flows among vegetated sand dunes and small river bluffs. As it rolls slowly through the mountainous Brooks Range, it makes a bend to the north, and plunges downhill in a series of swift Class II riffles, and joins with the Etivluk River for the rest of its run to the mighty Colville. On its way, the Nigu cuts through the low, weather-swept hills of the arctic slope, which makes for expansive views and intimate moments beneath sheer river bluffs. </p> <p><br /> This area was a seasonal home to Eskimos. It is a rich land in the fall as the animals from the Western Arctic Caribou Herd migrate through. Hilltop lookouts alongside the river allow us to scan for caribou - and wolves, and grizzlies - moving over the open terrain. Lakes along the river nourish migratory waterfowl like Northern Pintails and Lesser Scaup. </p> <p><br /> On our paddle from the headwaters to the Nigu’s confluence with the Colville River, we have long days to absorb this fantastic landscape. Hiking is excellent along the way, perhaps the best hiking in the Brooks Range in terms of variety. In the headwaters we can hike tall peaks, and downriver we can spread out on the long and colorful ridge systems that rise from the arctic plain like whale backs. Fishing for grayling is good enough to keep us in fish, but not diverse or active enough for serious anglers.</p> <p><br /> By any standard, the Nigu is about as far as you can get from towns or roads in the United States of America. This river trip offers excellent opportunities for solitude and remoteness. The Nigu is one of the few wilderness study areas in Alaska, and may one day be included into Gates of the Arctic National Park.</p> <p><br /> This is a moderately difficult, 90-mile river trip. In the beginning, the river is slow-moving and shallow, and will require that we get out to nudge the boat over shoals if the water is low. Later on, the river is swift, though still shallow in places. Everyone has a paddle and everyone will have to use it. Experience is not required as instruction paddling the raft is provided and each raft is captained by an experienced guide. </p> <p align="center"><strong><em> </em></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><em>What follows is a forecast of the trip, a general idea of the flow of events.</em></strong><br /> <strong><em>As a forecast, it may be amended to meet conditions and opportunities in the field.</em></strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Day 1:</strong>Fly north from Fairbanks across the Yukon River to Coldfoot, a little “Outpost of Progress” in the central Brooks Range. Here we load our gear into a DeHavilland Beaver that will fly us northwest over Gates of the Arctic National Park to the remote Nigu River. We’ll portage everything to the river, then make camp on a nice gravel bar, and settle into our surroundings. </p> <p><br /> <strong>Days 2-10:</strong> We’ll paddle about fifteen miles per moving day, and this will take us up to five hours each day, longer when you include lunch and the daily stops watch wildlife along the way. Making and breaking camp is everyone’s job, but after that, free time is yours to enjoy. Guides will lead natural history hikes every day, and on layover days, but you are also free to strike out on your own. We’ll take at least three layover days at places with good hiking and other activities nearby. At our last camp, we can climb a tall bluff this evening to see waaaayy back into the Brooks Range and re-imagine the course of the river.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Day 11:</strong> Await our pickup flight back to Coldfoot. And in the meantime, do what you please. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Included in the price of the trip:</strong> Transportation beyond Fairbanks, food while in the wilderness, stoves, cooking & eating utensils, safety & repair gear and trip leaders.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Not included in the price of the trip:</strong> Lodging, non-camp meals, personal clothing, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent, backpack, boots, fishing gear and fishing license, gratuity. An equipment list will be provided upon registration or request. Rentals are available through Arctic Wild.<br /> <br /> <strong>Weather & Bugs:</strong> A variety of weather is likely, including rainy periods and bright sunny conditions. Temperatures can range from the 70's down into the 30's. Snow is possible. Although the worst of the bug season is over, there will still be remnant mosquitoes and gnats around. You should carry a head net and one bottle of insect repellent.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Suggested Reading</strong>: <u>Alaska Wilderness,</u> Robert Marshall; <u>We Live in the Arctic,</u> Constance Helmericks; <u>Arctic Wild,</u> Lois Crisler; <u>Make Prayers to the Raven</u>, Richard Nelson. <u>North Alaska Chronicle</u>, John Martin Campbell. </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer"> <p class="footer"><br /> <a href="../../../index.html">Home</a> | <a href="../../../site_map.html">Site Map</a> | <a href="../../../contact/index.html">Contact Us</a></p> <p> </p> <p class="footer">Arctic Wild – 907.479.8203 – Toll-Free 888.577.8203 – Box 80562, Fairbanks, Alaska 99708<br /> <a href="mailto:info@arcticwild.com">info@arcticwild.com</a> – <a href="http://www.arcticwild.com">www.arcticwild.com</a></p> <p> </p> <p class="footer">© 2007 <a href="http://www.duffyinfodesign.com" target="_blank">Duffy Infodesign</a></p> </div> </body> </html>