Arctic Coast Canoe- Trip Itinerary

Canoeing on Alaska's Arcitc Coast in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge- Canoeing at the end of the earth.

• Dates: July 11 - 18, 2012.

• Region: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge—Arctic Coast, Beaufort Sea and coastal plain.

• Cost: $4,300 per person from Fairbanks

This trip can combine with our Canning River Canoe trip July 2 - 11. Discounts apply.

Highlights:

• Canoeing among ice-flows in the arctic ocean

• Visiting old eskimo villages along the coast

• Iconic arctic wildlife such as: caribou, arctic fox, eiders, and musk oxen

• Boat ride along the coast of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with a local Inupiat Eskimo guide.

Sketch of the Arctic Coast Canoe trip…

Alaska’s arctic coast is a storied region. It remains home to Inupiat Eskimos and, over the years, has attracted whalers, mineral-seekers, and adventurers, all chasing their fortunes. It is a region of stunning beauty and richness. Seals haul-out on the arctic pack ice, which lodges on shore, in places 30’ high. Thousands of waterfowl collect in the lagoons and river deltas to rear their young. Tens of thousands of sea ducks migrate along this coast in July. Caribou stampede to the coast to avoid insect pests further inland. Long gravel barrier islands are littered with sun-bleached driftwood--among it, the remains of those who have come before. It is an austere landscape, suddenly vibrant and teeming with life during the short summer.

This arctic canoe trip will explore this rich and interesting area for a week in July. This stretch of the coast is protected by barrier islands and the sea-ice, making the paddling safe and relatively easy. With ample time and endless daylight we can roam the tundra and coast watching the abundant wildlife, gaze for hours at the view in changing light, and/ or learn about life on this rugged coast. This is an ideal trip for birders, photographers or anyone wanting to see this enchanting coast.

Numerous lakes and ponds host nesting loons, swans and other waterfowl. The coastal tundra is thick with shorebirds and other nesting birds from the world over. The 9,000 foot peaks of the Brooks Range dominate the southern horizon, and the pack ice stretches off forever to the north. In many years, the Porcupine and Central Arctic herds of caribou move through this area by the thousands or tens of thousands in early July. If luck is with us we may get to sit in camp while throngs of caribou drift across the tundra. Even if we don’t see great masses of animals, there likely will be foxes denning, bears wandering, or even, as happened one year, a wolverine hunting in the tall grass.

We will start our trip where the Canning River empties into the Beaufort Sea near Camden Bay. From here we will paddle around the bay and then follow a series of protected lagoons paralleling the coast. We will spend the first two days near the Canning River and your time will be yours to do as you please whether that be photographing, birding, hiking or devouring a good book. We will provide a knowledgeable guide, good, wholesome food, and as much freedom or guidance as you would like (safety permitting). The small party size allows everyone to focus on the magnificent landscape and its wild inhabitants. Hiking is good on the beach and inland along the tundra. In a typical year there is still sea-ice held fast to the shore and we can look for seals basking on the ice. Archaeological sites are abundant on the islands and mainland and we can visit old Eskimo fish camps, turn of the century cabins, and grave yards. If the winds are with us we can cover 15 miles in a day. After a day of paddling there will still be time to bird watch, photograph or hike.

Arctic Coast Canoe Itinerary

What follows is a general flow of events.

Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.

July 10: Meet your guide for a pre-trip meeting in Fairbanks at 4 pm.

July 11: Fly from Fairbanks, over the mighty Yukon River, across the Arctic Circle, to the truck stop of Coldfoot, population 10. Then catch a smaller plane to the Arctic Coast. On the flight in we cross the Brooks Range and may see thousands upon thousands of caribou migrating towards the coast.

July 12-17: The days and nights are yours to explore and marvel at this unique destination. We will canoe about 40 miles of the coast mostly in the protected lagoons behind the barrier islands. With plenty of time to cover the distance, we will travel when conditions are favorable and explore on foot if the wind picks-up. When not paddling we can hike inland in search of wildlife and birds, explore the numerous old village sites, beach comb for whale bones, observe arctic foxes at their dens, photograph the enormous flocks of migrating sea ducks, or just sit by the driftwood fire and enjoy the sight of sea and sky. No matter how we spend our time, each day will be full of adventure and surprises.

July 18: On our last day we meet a small boat from the Eskimo village of Kaktovik for a beautiful and interesting ride back towards civilization. As we travel the most scenic part of the arctic coast, our eskimo boat captain will teach us about modern eskimo life and the history of this beautiful coast. Once in Kaktovik (Barter Island) we board the "mail plane" and fly to Fairbanks, re-crossing the Brooks Range, the Arctic Circle, and the Yukon River. Weather permitting, we will be back to Fairbanks in time for a hot shower and a late dinner.

Arctic Coast Canoe Trip Details

Included in the price of the trip: Transportation beyond Fairbanks, food while in the wilderness, stoves, cooking & eating utensils, boats, paddles, life jackets, safety & repair gear and professional guide service.

Not included in the price of the trip: Lodging, non-camp meals, personal clothing and gear, waterproof river bag, fishing gear, and fishing license. Gratuity for guide(s). An equipment list is provided upon registration. Rental equipment is available through Arctic Wild.

Weather & Bugs: Expect a variety of weather. July tends to be mild by arctic standards. But cold fog and winds are common along the coast. Expect temperatures to range from in the 60's down to freezing. Snow is always possible. Bugs could be an issue on hikes inland so DEET and a head-net are highly recommended.

Suggested Reading: 40 years below Zero, Brower; Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska Geographic; Midnight Wilderness, Debbie Miller; Arctic Dreams, Barry Lopez; Caribou & the Barren-Lands, George Calef; Earth & the Great Weather, Kenneth Brower; National Geographic, Dec. 79; Audubon, May 88, July 76; Vanishing Arctic, T. H. Watkins; North Alaska Chronicle, John Martin Campbell; My Life with the Eskimo, Vilhjalmur Stefansson.