Arctic

Three Rivers Traverse Expedition

In June of 2007 we set off on our most recent adventure— a two-month wilderness canoe journey from Skagway, in Southeast Alaska, to Arctic Village at the foot of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).  Our route took us on a 33-mile portage over the historic Chilkoot Pass, 1000-miles by Ally pack canoe down the Yukon River, and on foot for more than 200-miles up the seldom visited Chandalar River.   

Our original route had included a third month traversing the Brooks Range and the coastal plain of ANWR but hunger, fatigue and time constraints forced us to end the trip 180-miles short of our goal.

*UPDATE* IN JULY 2010 WE ARE HEADED BACK TO COMPLETE THE JOURNEY!

Packs crammed with a month of food, trekking, mountaineering and packrafting equipment we’ll pick up right where we left off— the Gwich’in Athabascan community of Arctic Village.  Our route follows the East Fork of the Chandalar River north before swinging east into the Romanzof Mountains and a crossing of the continental divide.  From there we’ll ascend the south side of the Okpilak Glacier basin— the largest active glacier system in the Brooks Range, then follow the silty green waters of the Okpilak River out of the mountains and down the coastal plain of ANWR.  Our destination is the tiny Inupiat whaling village of Kaktovik, on Barter Island and the Beaufort Sea coast. 

Rob Walker Karen Holm Bend Oregon Mountain Minded Skagway Chilkoot Pass Klondike Trail Yukon River Canoe Trip Lake Bennett Lake Carcross Whitehorse Carmacks Minto Dawson City Eagle City Alaska Circle City Fort Yukon Venetie Landing Venetie Chandalar River Canoe East Fork Chandalar River Canoe Arctic Village Backpack  Backpacking Canoe Okpilak River packraft Okpilak Glacier Mountaineering Okpilak Hot Springs Hiking Okpilak River Barter Island Kaktovik

[Home] [Arctic] [Chile] [IP] [Articles] [Sponsors] [Links] [Show Dates] [Contact] [The MM Story]

If you don’t see our link buttons at the left of your screen—you’re not seeing the whole page.

Click here to get all of www.mountainminded.com

Copyright © 2000-2010 Mountain Minded. All Rights Reserved.