This summer, rather than connect the Arrigetch Peaks with the upper Noatak drainage via the Triple A (http://packrafting.blogspot.com/search/label/Triple%20A) or Arctic Circle (http://packrafting.blogspot.com/search/label/Arctic%20Circle) routes, which cross some sketchy passes (in my opinion), and because I wanted to see how treeline was advancing in an area that seems very climate responsive, I checked out a new route shown here.
Also I'm sensitive now more than ever to giving route advice to people who take it---see "No Place for Novices" in the print quarterly Adventure Journal 21.
Along those lines, the creek/river crossings of Arrigetch Creek (slimey granite boulders), Awlinyak (wide, potentially high volume but not bouldery), the unnamed creek leading to Akabluak Pass (potentially high volume) and the unnamed stream leading up to the pass just south of Gull Pass (a lot of criss-cross, re-cross, cross and an un-hikeable gorge but with a great bear trail along its river left rim), as well as the hillside route-finding at the lower end of Lucky Six Creek are all difficult enough that this is not a route for novices. That is, if you think that hiking from Circle Lake to Arrigetch Valley is one of your more challenging days of hiking you have mustered, then this route may not yet be comfortably/safely within your ability.
Nevertheless, I liked it a lot and this summer found it to be one of my favorite segments between the Hunt Fork of John River and Kivalina on the Chukchi Sea.
Posts
Hi Roman,
ReplyDeleteAppreciate all your posts. Quick question for you. I have a group that’s planning a trip to Gates of the Arctic for the first time. Could you provide your recommendation of which location would provide a better experience for a first-time visit to the park? Right now the options we’re looking at are (I) the Arrigetch Valley area, and (II) the Weyahok Valley area (from the Noatak up to around Gaedeke Lake).
Any insight you have on these areas would be appreciated! Thanks!
Thanks and glad the posts are appreciated. I'd say that the Arrigetch is a good first time visit. The trail in is relatively easy to follow and the conditions give you a taste of what the more remote sections are like without the commitment.
DeleteI’m very interested in attempting this this summer, but I’m wary in that I am a newcomer to the Brooks. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, as it’s so costly to access. I’ve done significant off trail backpacking in the lower 48 (Sierras, Winds, Sawtooths, and denser bushwhacking in New Hampshire), but I know the misery of the Brooks is very different. Is this the kind of route I could reasonably backtrack and bail down to the Alatna or Noatak corridor if I find myself in over my head? Is the scrambling more akin to pure climbing along this route? I’m very excited to get to know this area, but it’s so difficult, having only read, watched, and spoken with those who’ve been there, trying to determine what it will feel like in my body. I admire your experiences so much.
ReplyDeleteHi Sage, Somehow my response from my phone never arrived here....Yes, I'd assume the challenges here are different than in the Sierras, Winds, Sawtooths and NH but the misery may be similar (bugs, bushes, bears, bad weather, boulders). It should be reasonably straightforward to find and follow bear trails between the creeks and the hillsides on all the creeks you cross, should you decide to head back to the Alatna. As for Lucky Six, it looked best to go down high on river left, but we could see caribou trails high on river right and the smooth gorge-looking creek bottom looked interesting, too. We took the most conservative line and the one that offered us the most opportunity for data collection. This route had no climbing or scrambling, unlike the "Triple-A" route over the top of Ariel and down its backside. All the steep parts near this route can be avoided. Anyway you can email me to ratpacker at gee mail dot com.
ReplyDeleteoops! raftpacker not ratpacker!
ReplyDelete