Tag: brooks range

The first winter Daniel Skarzynski trapped, he joined a friend on a short, 15-mile line near where he lives in Coldfoot in the Brooks Range. Neither had trapped before. They had four dogs and a sled, an old snow machine and a dozen #1 long spring traps for marten. Wolves had killed a moose nearby and they found the tracks of a wolverine that had been feeding on the carcass. Soon, the wolverine began running their line and stealing marten from their traps. They were using pole sets for marten, a method where a trap is fastened on a leaning pole (usually a dead or bent over spruce tree) in front of a wired down piece of bait. The marten gets caught in the trap as it runs up the pole to try to access the bait.  

One day, the two men were coming up on one of their sets and were surprised to find an extremely alive, angry wolverine caught in the small trap, hanging and thrashing about. For a wolverine’s relatively small size—an adult weighs 18 to 45 pounds—they have big paws and are immensely powerful. There are stories of wolverine occasionally being caught in small marten traps but generally a much bigger and more powerful trap is needed to hold the largest terrestrial member of the weasel family. The two men, not expecting they’d need a gun, left their .22 five miles back at camp. Skarzynski’s buddy roared back on the snow machine to grab it to dispatch the animal. 

“It was a long wait,” Skarzynski said. “By the time he got back, that wolverine had nearly chewed through that 5-inch pole.” 

North to Alaska  

Two years before this surprise wolverine encounter, Skarzynski was living in Massachusetts, working a job he didn’t like. That’s when a friend who’d done a few summers of field work in Alaska told him about the Brooks Range. 

“I’d never heard of the Brooks Range, and I’d never thought much about trapping,” Skarzynski said. “But the way my friend described the Brooks made it sound like the wildest place on Earth. I wanted to see it for myself.” 

Skarzynski found a job working as a tour guide in Coldfoot and quickly fell in love with the Brooks Range and the lifestyle if afforded. It was during his second winter there that he began trapping.  

When he started to set a line for wolves, Skarzynski didn’t think he wanted to catch more than one. If he was lucky enough to have success, he planned to use the wolf’s fur in part for the ruff of his parka. With temperatures -50 and below in the Brooks Range, having a wolf or wolverine fur ruff adds invaluable insulation for your face and neck.  

As luck would have it, wolves killed a moose near Skarzynski’s camp. He had two wolf traps, so he made two sets. When he returned to check, the area around one of the sets was torn up. Snow and debris scattered all over. The trap held a bit of fur but no wolf. He was feeling bad about there being an injured wolf wandering around suffering when he found a severed paw lying in the snow. A little farther off he found a tail in the brush. 

“We found what little remained of that wolf. Other wolves had torn it out of the trap and eaten it,” Skarzynski says. “I had beginners’ luck that first season and ended up catching four. After that I was hooked on wolf trapping.” 

Old School 

These days Skarzynski runs a 40-mile line that he extends a bit farther each year. Most trappers now use snowmachines, but Skarzynski prefers running dogs to check his line. He acknowledges that there is a lot to be said for machines, but he likes the work that comes with using dogs. 

“They’re tuned into what’s going on and act as a bridge to nature. It makes you work more with the country,” he says.  

Skarzynski targets marten and wolves. It doesn’t take a lot of learning to be an efficient marten trapper, but Skarzynski says being a good wolf trapper basically involves a Ph.D. education in trapping. To be successful, you have to get in a wolf’s head and understand how they think, how they travel and use the land. The more Skarzynski pursued wolves, the more he appreciated them. 

“Some people hate and want to get rid of wolves. I love having them around. They are incredibly smart. They are a symbol of this place being totally wild,” Skarzynski said.  

Skarzynski’s annual marten catch is around 50. Last season was a good one for wolves and he caught eight. He usually picks up a wolverine or two. He’s hopeful lynx will start bouncing back as the cyclical snowshoe hare population continues to grow, but right now, there are not many cats in the country. It’s difficult to make much money if he sells his furs raw to buyers, so he tans them and sells them himself. 

The South Fork Bandit 

The Brooks Range is hungry country, and trapping brings you in direct contact with the constant struggle between life and death that makes up the ecosystem. Trapping can be challenging and has its highs and lows. Coming off his first season, Skarzynski felt good about his efforts. The following winter he ran a line alone and wolf trapping was so challenging that at times he questioned whether he should call it quits, pack up and leave Alaska. He laughs it off now and says the country was teaching him a lesson.  

Despite having several seasons under his belt, there is still one wolf in his territory that continues to evade him. 

“I call him the South Fork bandit,” Skarzynski says.  

The wolf has a habit of digging up sets to show other wolves his traps. Skarzynski has even tried dummy sets—traps placed in front of a trail set—but the animal is always on to him. 

“Finally, I found a wolf in a dummy set, and I thought I had him,” Skarzynski says. “But I was wrong. The next time I ran my line, the South Fork bandit had dug out a few of my sets. He’s still out there as far as I know.” 

Brooks Range Advocate  

Skarzynski is a staunch opponent to the proposed Ambler Road. The 211-mile industrial corridor, designed to support the development of an unknown number of foreign-owned mines, would alter the wild freedom the Brooks Range offers. If built, Ambler would damage the most Alaskan part of Alaska—the trapping, hunting, and fishing lifestyle—to benefit foreign interests while leaving local and visiting hunters and anglers to bear the cost.  

“When I’m running my trapline, I’m reminded of how special the Brooks Range is,” Skarzynski says. “Most people can’t even imagine a place like this exists.”  

_{Photo credits: Daniel Skarzynski}

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Paul Forward is a physician and backcountry ski guide who splits his time between Girdwood and Kotzebue, Alaska. He’s also an Alaska Backcountry Hunters & Anglers board member and a hardcore traditional long bow hunter who’s well known for going on long, usually solo, epic hunts. We recommend checking out the film The Hard Way, which features Forward spending a month in pursuit of Dall sheep.  

Forward is a staunch opponent of the proposed Ambler Road. If built, the 211-mile industrial corridor, designed to support the development of an unknown number of foreign owned mines, would cut through the southern Brooks Range. Forward has made more than 20 hunts, river floats, and wanders in the Brooks Range. He knows full well what future generations of hunters and anglers stand to lose if the Ambler Road is built. 

Here is his story.  

Describe the activities you enjoy in the Brooks Range. 

Aside from hunting, my favorite thing to do in the Brooks Range is river trips. I’ve done whitewater kayaking trips on one of the more technical rivers, but I mostly prefer long family trips with my wife and young children. 

I live part-time in Kotzebue, at the western end of the Brooks, where I’ve worked as a physician since 2016. I’ll spend as much time in those mountains as possible for the rest of my life.  

Think of your first trip to the Brooks – what was different than you expected? 

I first came to the Brooks when I was 12 years old for a caribou hunt. Before I ever went there, I expected the whole area to feel massive in scale. The more time I’ve spent up there, the smaller the range feels to me. I’m constantly surprised how interconnected the drainages are and how easy it is to walk from one whole drainage into another. It may look vast on a map but, after years exploring, it really doesn’t feel like such a huge place. 

Share a Brooks Range memory that stands out to you. 

The year after my first Brooks Range trip, when I was 13 years old, I went bowhunting for caribou with my dad and brother. On the last day of our hunt, we watched a group of bulls moving along a ridge as heavy fog moved in. Using the fog as cover, we made our best guess as to which direction the caribou would go and then moved to cut them off. We heard the clicking of tendons before we saw them emerge from the dense fog. A whole herd of large bulls shuffled past under 20 yards. More than 30 years later, the thought of those bulls emerging from the fog still gets my heart racing. 

What is most special about this place?  

Despite some human development that already exists up there, the Brooks Range and its connection to the Arctic plains to the north is the last true wilderness left in North America. It’s one of the only true wilderness areas left on the planet. The older I get, the more I realize how special that is.  

Share one piece of advice you’d share with someone going to the Brooks for the first time. 

Don’t just do something, sit there! I have spent a lot of my life alpine skiing, whitewater kayaking, and doing other fast-paced and intense outdoor activities. I used to approach hunting and fishing in much the same manner. As I’ve gained experience, I’ve realized that often the best way to experience a landscape is to spend long periods of time just watching. The best strategy for hunting the Brooks is often to find a good vantage point and allow the landscape and animals to reveal themselves.   

Please share thoughts on hunting the Brooks Range with a traditional long bow.   

There’s nothing quite like spotting a legal Dall sheep ram after a week or more of looking. 

Most of my hunts consist of long, solo, backpack-based trips. Especially on sheep hunts, after a week or more of glassing, my mind starts to spin. Should I make a big move to a whole other drainage? Did I walk past a ram? Should I stay right here and keep watching? Will I ever see one? And then, when a legal ram finally appears—if one ever does—there’s an odd mix of excitement, nervousness, and even a little sadness. The search is over and now the long, painstaking process of planning an archery stalk begins. 

How do you think your experience in the Brooks would change if the Ambler Road was built?  

I’ve had the privilege of hunting and fishing along the Brooks from east of the Canadian border all the way west to where I’m sitting right now in Kotzebue. As I’ve already said, despite the perception that it’s huge, the drainages of the Brooks are interconnected. If you spend enough time in the Brooks, the range can begin to feel much smaller than you’d think. Cutting a road through the heart of North America’s last great wilderness would be a devastating change to the most elemental parts of being up there. There is consensus among biologists that an east to west road would have serious adverse consequences for the already imperiled Western Arctic Caribou herd. It would also cut across some of the best and most popular river country for fishing and float trips. Those wilderness trips and the country would never be the same again. 

What aspect of the proposed Ambler Road project concerns you most? 

Cutting a busy industrial road across one of the only remaining wilderness areas on the planet should simply be a non-starter. I’m concerned about adverse effects on the ecosystem. I’m concerned about the impact on subsistence living for the people of the region. I’m concerned about the massive and growing economic implications for tourism. More than anything though, as a father, I want there to be wilderness areas left for my kids and their kids long after I’m too old to explore this area. The value of intact wilderness for future generations is far greater than anything a mine could ever produce. 

What’s the biggest misconception you’ve heard about the project?  

The thing that I really struggle with is the comparison to the Dalton Highway regarding caribou and hunting access. There has been a lot written by wildlife experts about how the proposed Ambler Road, with its east-to-west orientation would create a very disruptive boundary to the north-to-south migration pattern of the Western Arctic Herd. Biologists compare it to the road at Red Dog mine which has been demonstrated to interrupt migrations. The Western Arctic Herd has already declined to about a quarter of what it was twenty years ago. The current population is the lowest recorded in 40 years. The last thing that herd needs right now is this road. 

Similarly, I’ve heard people talk about how the Haul Road provides access for hunting and fishing and how having more roads would be beneficial. On the contrary, the Ambler Road project has zero plans to be opened to the public. 

What might you say to someone who said, “I don’t understand why this road is such a big threat?”  

I would compare it to Pebble Mine. From the perspective of conserving Pacific salmon runs, it’s hard to imagine a worse place on the planet for an open pit mine than Bristol Bay. Similarly, it’s hard to imagine a worse place in the world to develop a road than the Brooks Range. The road would literally cut a highly disruptive industrial corridor through the last wilderness on the planet. 

There are thousands of people living in the region who rely on the animals, fish, and landscape for their subsistence food sources and many of them have ancestors who have been in this landscape for thousands of years. This proposed road would have a dramatic effect on this lifestyle. 

Why is it important that hunters and anglers across the nation speak up against the proposed Ambler Road?  

This road would be an existential threat to one of the greatest hunting and fishing areas on earth. It will have no benefit to hunters and anglers and will dramatically alter the ecosystem and change the area for generations to come.  

Photo credit: Paul Forward

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Kevin Fraley is an avid hunter and angler who lives in Fairbanks and works as a fisheries ecologist in Northern Alaska. He recently completed a study to compile baseline contaminants data from fish in sections of the rivers that the proposed Ambler Road would cross if constructed, which revealed that current levels of metals and industrial contaminants in most Arctic grayling, sheefish, and northern pike are low or normal compared to other areas of Alaska. The 211-mile industrial corridor would require nearly 3,000 culverts and bridges over every river flowing south from the Central Brooks Range.  

On a 1 to 10 scale, Fraley rates his level of concern over the project at 9. Fraley points out that, if built, the Ambler Road would likely facilitate additional development, including more mines and spinoff roads. As a fisheries professional, Fraley’s biggest worry is the risk of contamination to these fragile Arctic watersheds. And as an outdoorsman whose favorite place on Earth is the Brooks Range, Fraley sees the region as an invaluable part of hunting, fishing, and wilderness heritage that’s well worth safeguarding for future generations.  

Here is his story.  

How long have you had a connection to the Brooks Range?   

I have had a connection to the Brooks Range ever since I was a child growing up in Northwest Montana. My Dad gave me the middle name “Marshall” after Bob Marshall and the wilderness area bearing his name. My Dad read me Marshall’s books describing his travels in the Brooks Range, so I often dreamed about adventure in Alaska and in the far north. This was a major reason why I later moved to Alaska for university and remained in the state. Since then, I have enjoyed many of my own adventures in the Brooks.  

What do you love most about working and recreating in the Brooks Range?  

The thing I love most about working and recreating in the Brooks Range is being in a place of total escape from the mechanized world. A place of solitude, quiet, beauty, and physical challenge.   

Please describe the types of activities you enjoy in the Brooks Range.   

I enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, and floating along the rivers of the Brooks Range. It is my favorite place to recreate in Alaska. I take time every year to embark on a new and exciting adventure there.   

Are there particular species of fish, wildlife, or plants that are especially important to you?    

I focus on Arctic grayling, sheefish, Dolly Varden, and slimy sculpin for my fish ecology research projects. Currently, I am summarizing data on contaminants in the tissues of these species to provide baseline information in light of climate change and industrial developments on the aquatic ecosystems of the western Brooks Range. Recreationally, I enjoy fly fishing for sheefish in Northwest Alaska and for sea-run Dolly Varden on the Arctic Slope. Caribou are also important to me. They are the primary species I hunt for, and I love having the lean, healthy meat from them—I very rarely purchase red meat from the store.  

What makes the Brooks Range so special?   

I’ve read a lot of historical accounts of wilderness exploration, hunting, and fishing in Alaska. Particularly, from Bob Marshall. He spent time in Wiseman and the Brooks Range in the 1930s and wrote the book Alaska Wilderness about his experiences hiking around, floating rivers, and encountering wildlife. When I visited the areas described in his book, I noticed that they are almost the same as when he was there more than 80 years ago. Even in Alaska, there’s not many places that are unchanged, undegraded, and still have such abundant fish and wildlife. That’s part of what makes the Brooks Range so special.  

What do you think most people would be surprised to know about the Brooks Range?     

One thing that would surprise people about the Brooks Range is that it is so remote that even many Alaskans have never visited it or enjoyed its landscapes. This includes lifelong residents of the state. It’s pretty far away from everything.   

Please share at least one piece of essential gear you’d recommend with someone planning their first wilderness trip in the Brooks.    

An essential piece of gear I’d recommend for someone planning their first wilderness trip to the area, if they will be spending time on the water, is a drysuit. Rain, snow, wind, and cold water can lead to hypothermia even during the summer months. A drysuit will keep you as happy as a duck in a storm through the worst weather. I have gone on float trips and worn good rain gear and waders, but I have still gotten wet and cold at times. A drysuit is essential for my water-adjacent travels.   

Is there a part of the Brooks Range that you haven’t had the chance to explore but would like to?  

The eastern rivers in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are places in the Brooks that I have not yet been able to explore and want to. Particularly the Kongakut River, to float it, hunt Dall sheep, and catch sea-run Dolly Varden in its gin-clear water.   

Please share a favorite hunting or fishing memory from your time in the Brooks Range.    

My favorite memory of hunting and fishing in this region is taking my younger sister on a packraft trip on the Arctic slope side where she harvested her first caribou and caught her first sea-run Dolly Varden—a beautiful fish all colored up in orange and dark green.   

What concerns you the most about the proposed Ambler Road and associated mines?     

As a fish ecologist, the potential impacts of the Ambler Road and associated mines on aquatic ecosystems concern me greatly. The populations of fish in the region, such as Kobuk River chum salmon and sheefish are incredibly important subsistence resources and represent world-class angling opportunities, could be threatened by contamination, siltation, increased harvest, and chemical spills resulting from the industrial developments. To me, the risks to these special fish populations from the Ambler Road are not worth the supposed benefits, which would mostly be the enrichment of foreign mining companies.  

How might you be impacted if the proposed Ambler Road were built?   

If the Ambler Road were built, people like me who enjoy a true wilderness setting for fishing, hiking, rafting, and hunting would have fewer rivers to float and game trails to follow out of sight and mind of human noise and degradation. There are not many places, even in Alaska, where an experience like this can still be enjoyed. These undegraded landscapes are chipped away at and eliminated year after year. Because of this, the few wild places we have remaining should be conserved all the more fiercely against unneeded development.  

What’s the biggest misconception you’ve heard about the proposed Ambler Road?   

The most common misconceptions I hear about the Ambler Road are that the road will likely be open to public use someday, and that local people overwhelmingly support it. There is no guarantee or hint of the road ever allowing access to the public for recreational activities. Many of the villages and tribal organizations of the region are opposed to the road.   

 What might you say to someone who said, “I don’t understand why this road is such a big threat?”   

If someone were to ask me why the Ambler Road should be considered such a big threat, I’d ask them about national parks or highly valued public lands in their neck of the woods. Do they want to see those places bisected by roads and mines and the fish and wildlife potentially harmed? For example, would a Montanan, who cares about public lands and outdoor recreation, support a new road bisecting the Bob Marshall Wilderness or Glacier National Park to access some undeveloped mining prospects? Surely not! And it is a similar situation for Alaskans when it comes to the Ambler Road and the rest of the Brooks Range.  

Why is it important that hunters and anglers across the nation speak up against the proposed Ambler Road?   

For hunters and anglers, this is an opportunity to shape the outcome of the Ambler Road decision. They are often people who are out on the land and waters the most and know the ins and outs of Brooks Range geography, fish distribution, and wildlife habits. If hunters and anglers can be vocal in this debate in the Ambler Road, there’s a chance we’ll see a better outcome.   

Is there anything else you think folks should know?  

When I think about resource development in Alaska, I think going into the future we can be a lot more strategic and treat our environment a lot better instead of taking, pillaging, and then leaving a lot of nasty stuff behind, which has unfortunately been a big part of the history of the state. We should be more selective in the future about industrial development and avoid megaprojects with high risk like the Ambler Road.

Photo credit: Kevin Fraley

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The Brooks Range spans 700 miles across Alaska and Canada’s high Arctic and offers no shortage of challenges and rewards to intrepid outdoors folks. This vast region is one of the largest, continuous, undeveloped areas remaining in the world, and is home to some of Alaska’s finest fly-in hunting and fishing opportunities. A trip into the Brooks can be daunting, so good risk management skills are key to making sure your dream trip doesn’t turn into a nightmare.  

Luc Mehl, a renowned Alaska adventurer, knows full well the challenges, risks, and rewards the Brooks Range has to offer. Mehl grew up as a “helper hunter” in McGrath, Alaska. He left the bush after finishing elementary school but tries to make it back to McGrath each year to help hunt moose. Mehl is quick to poke fun at his hunting skills, admitting that his 88-year-old stepdad is a much better shot than him. He does consider himself an expert Ronco Pocket Fisherman, though. He carries the tiny fishing pole (as seen on TV!) on his Brooks Range treks. 

“During a trip in the western Brooks Range, we could reliably spot an Arctic char or grayling, catch it in one or two casts, and then boil it in our JetBoil,” Mehl says. 

When asked about his first trip into the Brooks Range, Mehl admits he was intimidated. It was spring, temperatures were well below zero and the ski-trail breaking conditions were the worst he’d ever experienced. Since then, he’s made a dozen more journeys across the Brooks Range. Mehl recalls one magical experience from a summer trip. 

“We started noticing a lot of loose caribou fur, hairs, in the river. It was novel, and also kind of gross, since the river was our drinking water. We got off the river late that night and noticed movement on the horizon like a shifting landscape as opposed to the sharp motion of a single animal. It turned out to be thousands of caribou. We spent the next few hours watching silently as the herd drifted across the tundra,” Mehl says.  

Plan for things to go right. Train for when they don’t. 

There’s an old saying that everything is bigger in Alaska. That’s especially true of the Brooks Range. Most outdoorsy Alaskans have had close calls and have known people who’ve lost their lives in the woods and on the water. Survival stories may be entertaining to read about, but they are miserable to live through. The Brooks Range presents some serious challenges, from pushy grizzly bears to wildly fluctuating rivers to its sheer remoteness. Mehl is a firm believer in learning good risk management skills before going into the field. 

“Unfortunately, we don’t usually care about something until we have experienced loss. I was invincible into my 30s,” Mehl says. “That mindset was shattered when, within a few years, I triggered an avalanche that buried two people, was buried in a very remote avalanche, lost a former girlfriend to an avalanche, and had a friend drown in the Wrangell Mountains. The message couldn’t be clearer. I needed to get smarter about my time in the wilderness. Since then, I’ve been proactive about learning how to make better decisions.” 

These days Mehl lives in Anchorage and is the owner of Triple Point Training, Rescue and Outdoor Education. Triple Point Training’s motto is “Plan for things to go right. Train for when they don’t.” This simple statement resonates especially true when it comes to venturing into the Alaska backcountry. Mehl studied geology and geophysics in graduate school, worked in the GIS sector, and developed a data driven approach to planning backcountry trips and understanding risk management. He’s spent a lot of time experimenting with different planning tools and refining which ones work. Those tools have enabled him to complete creative and ambitious trips throughout Alaska—over 10,000 miles by foot, pedal, paddle, ski, and ice skating.  

Mehl offers a variety of outdoor skill courses, including Wilderness Risk Management and Trip Planning. Half of that course focuses on creating a trip plan using tools like Google Earth, CalTopo, near-real-time satellite imagery, weather forecasts, and more. Mehl makes sure that participants end up with a shareable intended route and clear backup plans for when things are most likely to go wrong.  

The other half of the course focuses on decision-making, managing group dynamics, and formally preparing an emergency plan. 

“Like, at what point of ‘overdue’ do we want someone to look for us, and who would that be?” Mehl says. “There is a lot of value in doing that work ahead of time so that your friends and family don’t have to figure it out on their own.” 

Big Country Big Consequences 

When asked to relate a specific Brooks Range risk assessment story, Mehl recalled an encounter he had with a grizzly. He expected the bear to react by sprinting away, same as the other dozen bears he had encountered during that trip. Instead, this bear came toward him. 

“We eventually stood up and slapped our packraft paddles together to make noise. The bear stood and circled toward us—curious and definitely not running away. My knees got wobbly. Finally, the bear reached a downwind position, at which point it turned and ran,” Mehl says. “The lesson, which was conveyed to me later by a wildlife biologist, is that it is a mistake to project bear behavior based on previous experience. This goes against most risk management strategies, which are all about using pattern recognition to anticipate what will happen next. But bears, like people, can be unpredictable.” 

In addition to teaching risk management, Mehl teaches outdoor skills courses on packrafting and whitewater rescue, “wild” ice skating and ice rescue, and works for the Alaska Avalanche School. He’s the author of the award-winning book, The Packraft Handbook. He’s also a staunch opponent of the proposed Ambler Road. If built, the Ambler Road would be a 211-mile industrial corridor through the southern flanks of the Brooks Range to develop an unknown number of foreign-owned mines. Mehl points out that a road of this scale and length in this location would fundamentally alter one of the largest continuous tracts of wild lands on earth.  

“I keep emphasizing continuous,” Mehl says, “because that’s what makes Alaska so special for its inhabitants, on two legs and four. Alaska’s continuous tracts of wild lands are unique within the world. Development only has to happen once to take that away, especially in wetlands, which make up so much of the Brooks Range. I’ve seen 40-year-old tire tracks up there. The frustrating thing with conservation efforts like Ambler is that you only need to lose the battle once.” 

We at Hunters & Anglers for the Brooks Range recognize Mehl, with his decades of hard-earned experience and conservation ethic, as a valuable resource for safely experiencing the big wild the Brooks Range has to offer. Whether you’re planning your first trip to the Brooks or your 20^th, we and Mehl encourage you to be prepared before you go. 

To learn more visit Things To Luc At & Triple Point Training – Stories, Safety, and Stewardship from Alaska

Photo credits: Luc Mehl

During negotiations over the Senate’s budget reconciliation bill, a controversial provision was successfully removed from the final legislation that would have mandated the permitting of the 211-mile Ambler Industrial Road. The language was ruled ineligible under the Byrd Rule, which limits non-budgetary provisions in reconciliation bills.

This is a major win for hunters and anglers. The Ambler Road would cut through one of the wildest and most remote landscapes left in North America, threatening high-quality hunting and fishing grounds, subsistence resources, and the integrity of the Brooks Range.

This outcome would not have been possible without the collective voice of sportsmen and women across the country. Thank you for raising your voice and standing up for the lands, waters, and traditions that make this region so unique.

As President Trump has defined his America First agenda, it’s become increasingly clear that the Ambler Road runs counter to his priorities. The President has emphasized the need to reduce our reliance on foreign-controlled mineral supply chains, especially from China. Yet, according to the international companies behind the Ambler project, ore concentrates would be shipped, with a significant focus on the Chinese market.

Building a taxpayer-subsidized industrial road through the Brooks Range to export raw minerals abroad does not serve American hunters, anglers, or our national interest. Moving forward, sportsmen and women remain committed to maintaining a wild Brooks Range and ensuring the Ambler Road does not pass in any future legislation. We encourage the Administration to take a hard look at this proposal, which conflicts with President Trump’s priorities and would not only undermine the interests of hunters and anglers, but the interests of our nation as well.

Follow Hunters & Anglers for the Brooks Range on Facebook and Instagram for future updates.

Image courtesy of Kelly Reynolds Photography

I’ve made a dozen trips to Alaska’s Brooks Range, spent a fair amount of time in the field elsewhere in the north, and tested many useful products over the last six years as the gear editor for Alaska Magazine. I’ve also talked to numerous experts who have experienced the Brooks themselves. This packing list is tailored to an August or September excursion, and I recommend using it as a guide to help research your own personalized gear system. Get ready: You’re in for the backcountry experience of a lifetime. -Bjorn Dihle 

Tent 

The sort of tent you want will depend on what kind of adventure you are planning and the time of the year. From June through August, I’d consider a 3- or 3.5-season tent for trips where weight is an issue. For the rest of the year, I’d only bring a 4-season tent. [Note: Some brands bill their tent as being 4-season but are not built to weather Alaska’s four seasons. Do your research.]  

Here are my top picks: 

• Best all-around ultralight tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 

• Best light 3.5-season tent: First Lite’s Nemo Kodiak Tent 

• For float or basecamp trips or trips outside of summer months: Eddie Bauer’s Katabatic, Mountain Hardwear’s Trango, and a few different Hilleberg tents—my favorite is the Nammatj GT. I’ve used all of these tents in brutal winter storms, sustained high winds, and pouring rain. They all performed well. 

• If you’re interested in a lightweight tipi tent with a woodstove, check out Seek Outside. 

• For winter or serious basecamp trips: The Alaska Gear Company’s Arctic Oven. I recommend the cabin style. 

 “This is big country, maybe bigger than you might realize from home. An airplane drop in the Brooks Range could turn into a trip for you that’s not only far away, but also back centuries or more. Bring a sharp knife. And your humility.” 

–  Seth Kantner, life-long resident of northwest Alaska and author of A Thousand Trails Home: Living with Caribou. 

Backpack 

There are a lot of good packs out there. I’m most partial to Stone Glacier, as their internal packs are ideal for hunting the brushy and steep country of where I live in Southeast Alaska. Mystery Ranch also makes very high-quality hunting packs. Some folks like external frame packs—I like them for packing moose but, overall, I’ll stick with my Stone Glacier.  

Sleeping Bag 

My best recommendation is that you bring a bag that uses Downtek, a water-repellent down fill. Treated down is way better than a synthetic or traditional down bag.  

For temperature rating, make sure you have something appropriate for the time of the year you’re going. I recommend a 20-degree bag or colder for mid to late August trips. Consider a 0-degree or colder bag for September trips.  

I’ve had good luck with Big Agnes bags in the past. I also like Kelty Cosmic Ultra 20 for its price and quality. A good sleeping bag system for colder times of the year takes more consideration—Wiggy’s is somewhere to start. 

“Bring a high-quality sleeping bag that’s rated 10 to 20 degrees colder than you think you’d need.” 

–Oliver Ancans, Air National Guard 

Sleeping Mat 

I like foam mats, such as this one by Nemo, but each person has their preferred comfort level. I like to place my outerwear between two mats for more insulation. If it’s going to be cold, consider pairing a foam mat with an inflatable mat – but make sure you bring a repair kit. Overall, Therm-a-rest makes the most reliable inflatable mats I’ve slept on. 

If you’re considering a cot to minimize the morning aches, take a look at the lightweight models by Helinox. 

Communication 

Garmin makes the best two-way satellite communicators. I love my Garmin inReach Explorer and wish Garmin had not stopped making this model – I’m not a big fan of satellite phones. There’s still the inReach Mini 2, and Garmin told me their Montana 700 Series is similar to and even better than their inReach Explorer. I’ve yet to use that model, so I can’t comment on it.  

The Starlink availability map shows that it covers the Brooks Range. This is very likely the way of the future for remote communication. That said, I haven’t used Starlink and the technology is pretty new. I would not use Starlink as my sole means of communication in the Brooks Range at this point. 

“I highly recommend you bring an inReach so you can let people know you are OK. It is so remote that no other devices will work very effectively.” 

– John Gaedeke, Owner of Iniakuk Wilderness Lake Lodge 

Stove 

My go-to stove for the Brooks is the MSR XGK EX Stove—it burns the hottest, uses different types of fuel, and is the easiest to clean. The MSR Dragonfly Stove is good if you want to expand your cooking options, since its heat is easier to control. The MSR Whisperlite is decent, too. Regardless of which stove you choose, make sure you bring an extra pump or two and that you know how to clean your stove.  

While Pocket Rockets, WindBurners, and Jetboils can be convenient, you can’t always count on being able to get gas canisters up north. Call your air service ahead of time to figure out camp fuel possibilities.  

Meat Care 

I only use a lightweight pillowcase style, having learned the hard way early on in my hunting career that mesh game bags can lead to lots of fly eggs and even maggots in your meat. Argali offers a good range of high-quality game bags. Heavy game bags are not ideal for most backcountry hunts.  

I also bring a small tarp to protect meat from rain. I carry several heavy-duty plastic garbage bags for lining my backpack while packing meat and for the bush flight out. I pack a couple of small knives, a small sharpener, and a lightweight bone saw.  

Food Storage 

Since the Brooks Range is so remote, I recommend being careful with your food storage so you don’t end up losing your provisions and having a real survival situation. It’s not just bears you have to worry about—foxes, ravens, and wolverines are also known to raid food.  

I store my food using either canoe barrels or bear proof cans with my pots and dishes stacked on top to alarm me if an animal messes with my store. Ursack Bear Bags are also an option—just make sure yours is tied off to a tree.  

“Ensure you give yourself extra time on each end of your trip, in case of weather delays.” 

-Kelly Reynolds, Alaska Pilot, Hunter, and Trapper 

Electric Bear Fence 

You don’t necessarily need a bear fence, but the Brooks has a surprising number of grizzlies. They tend to be more inquisitive and, at times, aggressive than coastal brown bears. On one trip to the Brooks, in the middle of the night, I had a bear trample my tent—it woke me up to say the least. If you’re hunting, it’s more likely that you’ll want a fence to protect your meat than to string around your tent.  

Eagle Enterprises has kits and parts to build a bear fence. [Note: Do not sleep inside an electric fence with meat.]  

Water Purification System 

There are many on the market, but I recommend Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System or Aquamira Drops. I often bring both.  

First Aid Kit 

Adventure Medical Kits makes good, lightweight kits tailored to backcountry hunting. I recommend  packing extra Ibuprofen and athletic tape for blisters, rubs, and other issues. I also pack extra Pepto-Bismol tablets, Benadryl, and a topical antibiotic like Neosporin.  

“Respect cold water and places where a bad fall could get you in trouble.” 

– Bruce “Buck” Nelson, Retired Alaska Smoke Jumper, Hunter, and Adventurer 

Watercraft 

You may want an inflatable boat depending on the sort of adventure. There are some rental options in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or from a local outfitter. It might be worth just purchasing a boat depending on your future plans. If you’re going with a guide, they should already have a boat figured out if your trip warrants one. 

• Alpacka Raft makes the best packrafts, which weigh as little as 6 pounds and take up a small portion of a big backpack on ultralight float hunts. Some models are designed specifically for hunting and fishing. There’s a saying that packrafts have redefined the way you can look at a map, and it’s entirely true. 

• Pristine Ventures makes some good hunting and fishing rafts and canoes.  

• NRS also makes good rafts. 

• Aire makes a range of high-quality inflatable boats. 

Rifle and Ammunition 

I’ve hunted the Brooks with calibers ranging from .243 to .338 win mag—my favorite caliber. You can kill anything with that range of calibers and good shot placement, but I recommend considering a larger caliber if you’re hunting grizzly or moose. I generally bring 20 bullets to be safe – you’ll need more ammo than you think if your scope gets bumped in transit. If you’re bowhunting, fishing, or hiking, I recommend carrying a sidearm for bear protection. There are a lot of opinions out there. I carry a lightweight short-barrel Taurus .44 mag when I’m not packing a rifle.  

Fishing Rod 

If you’re not going to the Brooks to fish, the odds are you’ll have the opportunity to catch Arctic grayling. Consider bringing your fly rod. If space is a big issue, I recommend a collapsible spin rod.  

Optics 

The Brooks is big country, so I recommend bringing a good spotting scope. At least consider a lightweight pair of binoculars. Vortex and Maven have good options.  

Trekking Poles 

For hiking, expect to encounter everything from heavenly alpine tundra to hellish tussocks. Trekking poles can make a big difference, especially when hauling a heavy pack full of meat. I’ve been happy with my Leki poles. 

Clothing 

A good layering system is vital. I stick to fleece and synthetic materials, though some people like wool and fur. There’s no shortage of good brands of outdoor clothing to choose from. The Brooks can have a snow storm any month of the year, so be prepared with good, warm clothing. I strongly recommend a high-quality set of raingear, a puffy jacket, gloves, a neck gaiter, and a warm hat in addition to layers of fleece. Bring extra wool socks—I like Meindl’s, but I most often bring whatever Costco is selling. Also consider neoprene socks or a neoprene-wool hybrid sock.  

“Bring rain gear, the best you can get.” 

– Tom Phillips, Veteran Kobuk River Paddler 

Boots and Waders 

If you’re making a fishing trip to the Brooks, you probably already have your waders figured out. If not, I recommend a pair from Simms. Boots are more subjective. I recommend giving some thought to whatever boot system you decide to go with. Break in your boots beforehand.  

Also consider bringing a good pair of gaiters if you’re going with leather boots. The Brooks Range makes for very wet and often uneven travel, largely due to tussocks. Keeping your feet healthy can be an issue. Wiggy’s lightweight thigh-high waders are popular with many. Strange as it might sound, I often travel the Brooks in sandals and neoprene socks during warmer months. I bring a lightweight pair of hiking shoes or boots for rougher mountain travel.  

Drysuit 

If you’re floating a river that has whitewater, or even if it is mostly flatwater, a drysuit can be a game changer – and even save your life. I have never used a drysuit in the Brooks, but I have packrafted a handful of rivers up there and several times I have gotten soaked and quite cold.  

I have used and liked Kokatat drysuits. Just make sure yours is designed for paddling.  

“An essential piece of gear I’d recommend for someone planning their first wilderness trip to the area, if they will be spending time on the water, is a drysuit. Rain, snow, wind, and cold water can lead to hypothermia, even during the summer months, and a drysuit will keep you as happy as a duck in a storm through the worst weather.” 

– Kevin Fraley, Fisheries Ecologist 

Camera 

My best advice for a trip to the Brooks might be to get a good camera before going. You’re very likely to see some incredible things. My camera of choice is a Sony RX10 iii or IV. I like it because it’s relatively lightweight and has a 24-600mm lens. There are a lot of other great cameras out there that might be a better fit for what you want, but the Sony RX10 is the one I’ve settled on. 

“Not once but twice I found myself in the middle of the caribou migration. Hundreds of thousands of caribou walking just feet away. The first time it happened, I only had a little Kodak film camera. The next day I ordered a real camera. I had just experienced something truly majestic and didn’t have the right gear to capture it. The second time it happened, I still only had my phone camera. It was snowing and the pictures didn’t turn out great, but I did get a little video. Buy – and pack – the best camera you can afford.” 

Lewis Pagel, Hunter and Owner of Arctic Fishing Adventures 

Miscellaneous Items 

• Bug net and bug dope  

• A light pair of gloves  

• Sunglasses – it can snow at any time of year and snow blindness is very real 

• Carpet thread and some stout sewing needles – I’ve lost track of the number of times this has saved me when things like tents, clothing, and sleeping bags have torn. 

• Boat patch repair kit 

• Extra lighters and good fire starter 

• Extra cord and webbing 

• Small tarp 

• Tent-pole repair kit  

• Leatherman or similar multi-tool 

• One or two 5-gallon collapsible water jugs 

• Headlamp – granted, there’s light 24 hours a day from late May through mid-August  

• Sunblock 

• A small roll of duct tape 
  

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