Brooks Range Voices: Tom Phillips
Alaska resident and veteran Kobuk River rafter shares his love of the Brooks Range and why he thinks the proposed Ambler Road would be terrible for the region.
For more than twenty years, Tom Phillips used his allotted two-week vacation to float, fish, and hunt the Kobuk River. Now retired, which means the pressure to return to work has faded and time can move at the river’s pace, he continues his annual tradition. Because of this deep connection, Phillips doesn’t mince words when it comes to what he thinks about the proposed Ambler Road.
If built, the Ambler Road would be a 211-mile industrial corridor through the southern flanks of the Brooks Range that would open the region to mining and other industrial development. The road would cross 3,000 streams and several rivers, including the headwater tributaries of the Kobuk. Philips believes the Ambler Road would ruin the region and the opportunity for future hunters and anglers to experience the Brooks Range.
Here is his story.
How long have you had a connection to the Brooks Range?
27 years. For the last couple of decades, I’ve floated the Kobuk every year except for a year or two during Covid. It’s one of my most favorite places. Okay, it is my most favorite place.
What do you love most about the Brooks Range?
I love the peace, quiet, and solitude. The Brooks is mostly untouched, especially the upper Kobuk River. We’ve done this trip and not seen another person for 10 days. When that plane takes off from Walker Lake and leaves you at the start of the float, there’s no one else in the world.
The nights out there are special. The wolves sing you to sleep. The hoot owls come out and visit—they keep you awake for a while. The northern lights are always really vibrant up here if the moon leaves you alone.
Please describe the types of activities you enjoy in the Brooks Range.
I like to raft in the fall and see the impressive display of colors. I like fishing, especially for sheefish. I like the peace that comes with fishing. It’s all catch and release these days for me. I’ve caught char, lake trout, and salmon but sheefish and grayling are my favorite.
What makes the Brooks Range so special?
It’s one of the last truly pristine wildernesses.
What do you think most people would be surprised to know about the Brooks Range?
The remoteness, and lack of most everything people are used to. The Brooks has peace and quiet like you’ve never heard. Its beauty and diversity is unlike any other place in Alaska. It’s not for everybody, though. There are some people I’ve done the Kobuk float with and it scares them to death. Then, there’s some people I’ve done the float with, and they can’t believe how pristine and quiet it is.
Please share at least one piece of essential gear you recommend and a piece of advice you’d share with someone planning their first trip in the Brooks.
Rain gear, the best you can get.
For advice, be self-sufficient.
Is there a part of the Brooks Range that you haven’t had the chance to explore but would like to?
I’ve been to most places I wanted to see and explore. I just love the peace of the Kobuk River.
Please share a favorite hunting or fishing memory or story from your time in the Brooks Range.
In 2004, I spent 14 days rafting the Kobuk River with my wife. The weather was perfect and there were no bugs. We fished every day and harvested a large bear on that trip.
What concerns you the most about the proposed Ambler Road and/or the associated mines?
The Ambler Road would ruin the area. It’ll never be the same.
What might you say to someone who said, “I don’t understand why this road is such a big threat?”
In that wilderness, any development is a threat to the remoteness and wildness of the area. The best trip I ever made was with a group of friends from Missouri who’d never been up here before. Those guys were just in awe of the Brooks and the Kobuk River. Every morning they’d just get up and couldn’t believe where they were.
Why is it important that hunters and anglers across the nation speak up against the proposed Ambler Road?
The Ambler Road is another example of where progress does not belong. It’s an abomination on the land. That’s my opinion on it. I know a select few people are going to get rich off it. A select few are going to get short term work out of it. But it’s not going to do this place any good overall. This place is not going to be pristine anymore. It’s not going to do any good for the Brooks Range. The worst thing they could do is put a road through here. Ever since the project has been getting pushed harder, I wondered if every trip was going to be my last year floating the Kobuk.
Photo credit: Tom Phillips
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The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the above blog are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of Hunters & Anglers for the Brooks Range or partners. HABR does not accept responsibility for these views, thoughts, and opinions.
