Photo: Eric Rorer Western Broooks Range Ramble, Alaska Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 09012A Price: $2695 Deposit: $200 Capacity: 10 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Eric Rorer Some of us dream of experiencing a place that is so pristine that there are no signs of civilization as far as the eye can see. The area that we will visit in the western Brooks Range is one of those places. It does not get the media attention that other parts of Alaska receive and hopefully it will remain out of controversy. This area is home to the Western Arctic Caribou herd, a herd nearly twice the size of the more famous Porcupine Caribou herd in eastern Alaska. We plan on starting our trip right in the traditional calving grounds of this magnificent herd. With luck we hope to see cows with their calves and then a short time later, the bulls arrive in small and large groups. The caribou are only one chapter in this story. Year round residents also include barren ground grizzlies, wolves, and arctic fox. Muskoxen, large mammals unique to the arctic have been seen in the area. Birds that have flown from several continents to mate and raise their young will nest at our feet. During our trip the tundra will turn from winter's brown to summer's green punctuated by a surprising variety of colorful wildflowers. The sun will not set on our trip but it will skim along the northern horizon at “night”. This richness of light provides opportunities for wonderful evening strolls. Then we will head south through a very scenic mountainous region. The route loops around and returns to the landing spot. The trip plan allows for several layover days. These layover days will allow us to explore the area without our heavy packs and or lounge around and soak in the landscape. The pace will be one that will keep us moving but allow us to stop and smell the bog rosemary.
 Photo: Eric Rorer Day 1: We begin the trip in Kotzebue, an old trading town on the coast of the Chukchi Sea. Day 2: On the morning of June 8 we will take a bush flight over the Noatak wilderness to a landing spot near the Kokolik River. You may want to have your camera ready for these spectacular flights. From our landing spot we will spend a day or so discovering what these calving grounds have to offer. Day 3 – Day 10: We will take the first couple days and observe the activity at the calving grounds. Day hikes with light packs will be the order of the day. Wednesday or Thursday we will begin our hike up river towards the mountains. Even though we will have 24 hours of daylight we will keep to a relaxed routine for breakfast, breaking camp and getting on our way. Lunch will typically be on the “trail”. As we traverse the tundra and notice any interesting geological or biological points of interest, we will stop for photographs and/or read the short passage about it in the “Naturalist Guide to the Arctic”. By mid to late afternoon we will search for a camping spot. This should give enough time to set up tents and air out the socks before dinner. The evenings will be free to explore the countryside or relax back at camp. Once in the mountains, we will then turn and follow the base of the ridges that form the boundary with the Noatak Preserve. A layover day is planned here to investigate this change in terrain. We will eventually make our way to a stream drainage and follow it downstream to our landing spot. Day 11: We will be ferried again in bush flights back over this incredible place to Kotzebue and enjoy the marvels and comforts of modern civilization. Day 12: We’ll take a bush flight back to Kotzebue.Getting There Our trip officially begins in the town of Kotzebue, in western Alaska, on June 8. To allow for weather or baggage delays -- which, in the Arctic, is unlikely but possible -- trip members are advised to arrive in Kotzebue by the evening of June 6. Similarly, don't make flight reservations to leave Kotzebue before June 20.
All meals and snacks, from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 12 are included in the trip price. Our vegetarian friendly meals will be lightweight backpacking food. As usual on Sierra Club trips, all members help with cooking and cleanup chores, each person assisting for two or three days
This trip is rated moderately strenuous. Group gear and food may weigh 20 pounds each beyond the personal gear you will carry. With no trails and often uncertain footing, the difficulty of the hiking should not be underestimated. Good physical condition will allow participants to enjoy the trip with more comfort. Because the weather in the Arctic is unpredictable, previous backpacking experience with field-tested gear i s essential. Temperatures in June can range from well below freezing to t-shirt weather. Rain is likely for some portion of the trip. If you are prepared, and can greet adverse weather as part of the adventure - not as an ordeal - you will enjoy this trip.
Trip participants are expected to furnish their own personal gear. Each person will be limited to 40 pounds total, including group gear. The leaders will mail out a detailed equipment list. The Sierra Club provides group equipment including pots, cooking utensils, stoves, fuel, cooking tarp, two-way radios, satellite phone, bear repellant spray, repair kit, and first aid kit
The trip will be covered by two U.S.G.S. 1:250,000 maps, “The Delong Mountains” and the “ Mishiguk Mountain ” maps. Conservation As with all public lands in Alaska , there is always a threat of natural resource extraction. Travel in Alaska and the Arctic Sierra Club outings in Alaska are special experiences in true wilderness, but they also carry an element of risk. Trip locales are often remote, away from the amenities of civilization, including sophisticated medical care and immediate evacuation possibilities. Many of our Alaska trips now carry satellite phones, but even with this technology, communication with the outside world can be difficult and emergency assistance can be days away. Weather in Alaska is unpredictable, and inclement weather can be severe. Among other hazards are cold river and stream crossings, tidal activity, calving glaciers, the psychological effects of remoteness, and the presence of large wild animals. You’re in good hands, though, so don't worry: Your trip leaders have vast experience in the Last Frontier, and they’ll provide all the guidance you need.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Gary Keir has led backpacking trips in Alaska for the Sierra Club since 1997, and this will be his eleventh trip in the Arctic. For fun, he enjoys rock climbing, playing the guitar, flying to Paris for the weekend, and making souffles. As much as he enjoys the solitude and serenity of the landscape, he also enjoys the camaraderie of the group during these trips. Gary is a computer whiz for the YMCA in New York City. 
From the days of car-camping with her family in an old VW bus to backpacking in the Arctic Refuge with her husband, Amy has spent enough time in the outdoors to consider herself an "enthusiast." Amy is a physical education curriculum specialist in Spokane Washington and really enjoys the company of like-minded outdoorsman that she encounters on these trips. She's excited about returning to Alaska and looking for caribou.