Have you ever wanted the freedom to travel just about anywhere you want in the wilderness? Join us on a backpacking/packrafting trip in the Brooks Range. Packrafts are ultra-light inflatable rafts that allow access to places not easy to reach without a boat. We first used packrafts in 1982 on the Outer Coast of Glacier Bay, while hiking from Lituya Bay to Dry Bay at the mouth of the Alsek River. We were able to cross bodies of water impossible to cross on foot. The boats we used, Sherpa Rafts, disappeared from the market, and it would be years before any company could be convinced to craft a durable watercraft for cross-country travel down wilderness waters. In the mid-90s, we explored the Escalante, using cheap Sevylor PVC trail boats to float down the Escalante River. They were usually great for one run - that is, unless you were a bit on the heavy side, like some of the guys on our trip - in which case they spent a lot of time putting Thermarest patches on the bottoms of their rafts. Then there was the day that someone forgot to partially deflate a packraft while we ate lunch. Suddenly, there was a huge pop! Expanding air had burst a seam.

Today, the modern packraft is a high-tech tool, and a fun craft, allowing us to travel cross-country in Alaska, where there have traditionally been no trails. The logical contours of land, animal trails, and bodies of water provide our trails. We are not locked into a direction of travel; north, south, east, west - any direction is fair game. Hike when the going is good, and paddle when we need to cross a body of water, or when we want to descend a river.

We provide you with a sturdy packraft, PFD and paddle for the trip.

We fly into a remote spot in the Brooks Range by bush plane, and take off with our backpacks, food supply, and packrafts. When we need to cross a river, we inflate the rafts, strap our backpacks to the boats, slide into the rafts, and paddle across. When we want to float down a river to the next destination, we re-inflate the packrafts, don our waterproof clothing, and put in some miles. Don't worry if you have never packrafted before. We'll teach you the proper techniques. If you come to a section you don't feel comfortable paddling, you can always hop out of the boat and hike with your pack and boat.

Our groups are small, our routes somewhat exploratory in nature. Often, these are routes we've trekked before, or floated previously, but have not yet "linked the dots" for the complete hike/paddle journey. Join us for an intimate exploration of the Arctic. We're almost convinced that you'll want to buy a packraft by the time you finish the trip!

For more information on Packrafting, please click here for the New York Times article.

If you're interested in a more introductory packrafting trip, to Alaska's Arctic National Parks, check out our Gates of the Arctic/Kobuk Valley National Park Packraft and Hiking adventure.