Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Gates of the Arctic
National Park and Preserve
Backpacking through this park is probably on the bucket list for wild-eyed mountain men
but as beautiful as it appeared from the road, it's a tad too much wilderness for the likes of
me. There are nodeveloped facilities inthe park: noroadsorsignage oreven trails tofollow.
There are 8.4 million acres to get lost in and hikers are reported to be lucky to complete 5
miles a day through this difficult terrain.
The park protects critical habitat for the western arctic caribou herd of which there are more
than a million in Alaska. It is said that when the migration is on, a virtual sea of antlers un-
dulates over the plains, stopping traffic on the Dalton Hwy for hours while they cross.
Caribou are a member of the deer family with reindeer being the more domesticated version
ofcaribou. Unlike other deer,bothsexes growaset ofantlers each year.The female'santlers
developfromJunetoSeptember butarenotsheduntilcalvinginthespring.Themalesbegin
their growth in March with older bulls dropping their antlers by November or December,
younger males retaining them for a few months longer.
In the worst of winter they retreat from the plains to the forests for shelter, venturing into
areas where they can paw away the snow to reach the mouldy looking lichen they feed on.
I would love to see that migration …from the road. I will leave the more adventurous trip-
ping to others. If that is you, contact the Arctic Interagency Visitor Centre
Search WWH ::
Custom Search