So this was a DIY float trip in the Brooks range AK. I went with 3 friends (whom all live in anchorage). They have done trips like this before, but this would be my first. We went lite and mobile; ex, (we had two, two man tents for four grown men).
We flew on float planes out of Kotzebue to an undisclosed lake near the secret river. Now when I say "lake" definitely a pond in my definition. Those pilots made it work though! I was like, "oh no way dude"! Pilot says, "piece of cake.......I think". Haha..
So we unload our gear which now looks like a lot! We have a mile to cover over the boggy wet tundra to the river. It took us a day and a half to get all the gear, including two rafts, frames, seats, oars etc, down to the river.
We had 2.5 weeks to float/hunt and had 67 miles to cover to the only area the pilots could get a plane in to get us out (some small random sandbar along the river). I just remember looking at the map with the pilot on flout day and him specifically saying, "If you guys can't get to this spot, then you are on your own out there". While flying in over miles and miles of mountains and tundra, it definitely sunk in...Im never walking out of this place! luckily we made it to that spot on the river!!
Toughest hunt I've ever been on! Couldn't feel my frozen feet the last 3 days and took about three weeks to get all the feeling back in my toes. We heard and saw wolves almost every day. Had them howling by camp most evenings along the river (was totally awesome)! Saw a ton of wildlife, beautiful wilderness and had a great time with some friends.
we took 3 bull moose, 6 caribou and one HUGE wolf, oh and countless fish (graylings). I was lucky enough to harvest one hell of a caribou and a real nice moose as well! Best adventure I've ever been on and not sure if it will ever be topped!
