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The Trip

Imagine yourself journeying through the Alaskan wilderness on the runners of your own dog sled, urging your team on before you. During the day, you hear the crisp crunch of the snow at zero degrees. At night, from the comfort of a cabin, you hear the howling of wolves in the distance. Peeking outside, you see the shimmering northern lights overhead.

With tales of the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race fresh in their minds and hearts, our hosts, Scarlett and Wayne Hall and their son, Matt, will share with us their in-depth knowledge of raising and racing sled dogs as we journey with them through the frozen wilderness. After a short bush flight from Fairbanks to Eagle, we travel by dog sled down the Yukon River to the Halls' homestead. Over six days, we will receive instruction on dog mushing and will drive our own sleds on a circuit of bush cabins. Each day will be filled with the daily chores of living in wild Alaska, including hauling water, melting snow, and caring for the spirited Alaskan Huskies that will quickly become our friends. All this will occur against a backdrop of serene stillness and breathtaking natural beauty, with opportunities to observe wildlife including moose, Dall sheep, wolves, lynx, wolverines, goshawks, marten, and possibly even caribou, which sometimes winter in the area.

Itinerary

This seven-day trip begins with our flight to Eagle on March 12, 2013. You are advised to arrive two days prior in Fairbanks so as to be able to recover from missed connections and give any lost luggage time to catch up with you. The days of rest in Fairbanks will be important as we prepare for total immersion into the Alaskan dog-mushing lifestyle the following day. While jet lag and time changes pose their own challenges, be aware that the 15 hours of darkness of the Alaskan winter can also play havoc with your internal clock!

Day 1: We make a 75-minute bush flight from Fairbanks to Eagle, Alaska. The Hall family will be waiting with their dog teams at the airstrip. After brief introductions we will be off for the 45-minute, seven-mile run by dogsled to their homestead. After settling in, we will venture outdoors where we will begin learning how to handle the dogs and sleds, starting with the names of the dogs, their positions, and basic commands and trail finding skills.

Day 2: Today you will learn to care for and handle your own sled and team of 4-5 dogs. Harnessing and unharnessing dogs will become second nature. An initial trip from the homestead will help us learn to travel up and down hills and over broad pathways before moving on to more challenging terrain.

Day 3: We will mush our individual dog teams to a cabin approximately 30 miles from the homestead.

Days 4-6: We will travel up to 50 more miles, returning to the homestead on the evening of day six. On any of these days, routes and distances will be dependent on weather and snow conditions. We will pass through extraordinary and varied landscapes that may include sections of tight, twisting, tree-lined trails, canyons, frozen rivers, summit crossings above treeline and descents into boreal forests. We will have numerous opportunities to view the wildlife that live in this harsh climate.

Day 7: In the morning of March 19, we will fly from Eagle back to Fairbanks. Trip members should allow some time for weather delays and are advised to not plan their departures from Fairbanks until after 3 p.m. Although the trip will officially end on arrival at the Fairbanks airport, the trip leader will be happy to help those trip members who want to spend the night in Fairbanks make reservations at a guest house or hotel.

Getting There

We will meet in Fairbanks at a B&B near downtown for final gear check and a hearty breakfast before our departure to Eagle. It is important to book your flight at least a day ahead of time to reclaim any lost baggage and have a day to get your gear ready. Fairbanks has great and inexpensive shopping in walking distance from our B&B for any needed winter items. After the trip, you may book an evening flight south or stay an additional night in Fairbanks. The leader can offer recommendations on places to stay.

Accommodations and Food

On this trip you will experience all aspects of life in a remote area of Alaska (see http://bushalaskaexpeditions.com). At our hosts' home on the Yukon River we'll be housed in a rustic cabin, sleeping in sleeping bags on bunks and reading by propane or Coleman lamps. As our dog-sledding journey takes us on the trail we'll be sheltered in more remote, one-room cabins heated by wood-burning stoves. Sleep will come easily at the end of a long day on the trail as we make nests on a sleeping pad on the floor and climb into our sleeping bags.

As is fitting on a self-sufficient trip into the Alaskan wilderness, you'll enjoy the bounty of the land with hearty meals that include berry pancakes, seven-grain cereal, moose and caribou meat, and wild Alaska salmon. Although the meals will generally feature wild game, vegetarians can be accommodated with advance notice. Trip meals begin with lunch on Day 1 in Eagle, and end with breakfast on Day 7 in Eagle.

Our hostess, Scarlett Hall, has tried-and-true recipes that will warm and nourish us through our chores and travels. Breakfast will usually be served at 7:30 a.m. in preparation for a full day on the trail. Lunches will be packaged for individual snacking along the trail or for sharing during a break in travel. At the end of the day, when we have settled our dog teams for the night, dinners will provide a welcome opportunity to recount stories from the day.

A sauna at the homestead and at one of the distant cabins will be available for a delightful treat. A battery-operated shower at the homestead can also provide a chance to clean up.

Trip Difficulty

Moderate strength and agility will be assets on this trip with an overall requirement that trip members be in good-to-excellent physical condition. Daily activities will begin early with each participant engaged in instruction about and, ultimately, the care and handling of their own dog team. By Day 2, most daylight hours will be spent riding the runners of your own sled as you explore the depth of your relationship with your own team of dogs. Some days will be spent traveling from camp to camp at distances of up to 50 miles, which will take most of the available daylight hours.

The exhilaration of traveling by dog-powered sled through the Alaskan wilderness can be tempered by the cold weather conditions. The trip leader and the Hall family will help you prepare for the extremely cold temperatures we will experience. When it is exceptionally cold, the group will stay close to cabins and do short day trips. Most people who go on winter trips with the Halls learn very quickly how to dress to stay warm, how to vent to stay cool, and report that -20 degrees Fahrenheit is a dry cold and not nearly as frigid as they expected it to be. However, even with these assurances, trip members must be mentally prepared for the challenge of being outdoors and active throughout the day at sub-zero temperatures.

Although showers are not possible every day, the sauna will provide an opportunity to clean up when at the homestead.

Equipment and Clothing

Winters in the interior of Alaska are extreme. Temperatures in mid March can range from +20°F to -70°F. Layered clothing is essential to accommodate indoor and outdoor activities and varying levels of exertion. Thin underlayers of silk, capiline, and/or polypro form the necessary base layer. Polar fleece or tightly woven wool pants and a shirt can be worn comfortably over the base layer, followed by windbreaking and heavily insulated outerwear in the form of ski pants and a hooded jacket.

In this extreme climate, special care must be given to the selection of gloves, hat, boots, and face mask, as the extremities are most susceptible to the effects of cold. One thinner layer of gloves is necessary so that you can quickly perform duties requiring manual dexterity under cold conditions. Our guides will provide each trip member with outer mitts, face masks, and, if necessary, outerwear that is appropriate for use in an arctic environment.

Personal toiletries, a small duffle or backpack for extra gear, your one change of clothes, and a camera (with extra batteries) round out the list of necessary items. Small digital cameras that can stay tucked inside your parka (to stay warm) work well in the frozen north. A complete list of clothing and equipment will be provided prior to the start of the trip. The trip leader will help each trip member develop his/her own personal set of clothing and may supplement these items with clothing from the local guides or the Sierra Club.

Specialized equipment needed for dog sledding will be provided. Trip members may bring their own sleeping bag (if rated as a four-season bag) or borrow one from our guides.

References

Trip members can find all of these books at Amazon.com or borrow the copies that will accompany the trip leader:

• Balzaar, John, Yukon Alone.Wayne Hall, our host, was the guide for the author.
• McPhee, John, Coming Into the Country. The third section in this classic book is about living in bush Alaska in the Eagle area. This book can give you a real feel for the country that you will be traveling in.
• Shore, Evelyn B., Born on Snowshoes. Evelyn was born and raised near Eagle and has traveled extensively by dog sled.
• Neil, Dan, A Land Gone Lonesome. This book describes the history of the area and current issues, a great read that provides insight for discussions.

Conservation

Most of the conservation issues in this region of Alaska concern the balancing of fish, moose, and caribou populations while still providing for the needs of people and predators such as wolves, bears, and eagles. Most of the people in this region live a subsistence lifestyle where they are dependent on wild game and fish populations and are intimately involved in decisions made by local, statewide, or national entities that manage these resources. The Hall family lives off the land, and they are very concerned and politically active in all conservation issues to ensure that the wilderness remains wild and unspoiled while providing a way of life that blends with the environment. The Halls will be happy to discuss all of the conservation issues that affect their subsistence lifestyle and give us the chance to experience their lifestyle for ourselves as we travel with them.

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. 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.

Travel in Alaska and the Arctic

Sierra Club outings in Alaska and Arctic Canada 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 and Arctic Canada 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 and Arctic Canada 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.

Trip Price

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.

Staff

Don Murch is a father, organic farmer, commercial fisherman, and wilderness guide with extensive travels in the wilds of Alaska. He has thirty years experience planning and executing backpacking, dog-mushing, rafting, and group tours in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Gourmet cooking is one of his favorite pastimes.

E-mail: dwmurch@gmail.com

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Carpooling
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback
• Wilderness Manners