2010 Trips

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Spring Basecamp in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Early June is an exhilarating time in the Arctic when, in just a few days time, the land breaks loose from the grip of winter. As snow and ice turn to running water, new leaves and the first flowers begin to brighten the tundra, along with the songs of birds who are arriving daily after flying hundreds to thousands of miles to once again nest and raise their young. This is also the time when the caribou give birth after migrating hundreds of miles north from their wintering grounds, following the melting snow and ice, to reach calving grounds on the coastal plain.

Because this is such a dynamic-and often unpredictable-time of year, we leave our exact trip location open until shortly before the trip leaves. The final decision is based on such factors as which landing areas are open and snow free, where the caribou might or might not be, and where other groups might be going. As always, the primary deciding factor will be choosing the location that will provide the highest quality wilderness experience. This trip has a relaxed pace, with plenty of time for hiking and individual interests such as photography and bird watching, and endless hours under the never-setting sun.

Trip Details
We don't have set "daily itineraries" since all of our trips are true wilderness expedition-style trips, where we build in flexibility to respond to weather and other conditions, animal sightings, etc. Here is a sense of the general flow of the trip:

Each trip leaves Fairbanks in the early morning of the trip start date, so you need to be in Fairbanks by at least the day before that. We're scheduled to be back in Fairbanks by late afternoon/early evening of the trip end date. We recommend leaving at least a day's leeway at the end of the trip in scheduling other travel plans, since there's always a chance of getting weathered in at the pickup point.

Since a basecamp trip means that we don't have to move camp or travel from one place to another, these trips have the most flexibility and are the easiest physically. While the guide will generally lead a day hike every day, not everyone has to do the same thing, or hike the same distance-and just relaxing in camp and enjoying the beauty and quiet of the wilderness is a great option!