Last weekend we traveled from Fairbanks to the Arctic Ocean with Northern Alaska Tour Company. We joined a tour called the “Arctic Ocean Adventure.” Yes, that means we drove about 500 miles in a van (thankfully, we FLEW back from Prudhoe Bay to Fairbanks). The road was well-maintained, but bumpy in spots. Many spots. HAHA. We crossed the Yukon River. We saw the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. We crossed the Arctic Circle. We visited the old mining town of Wiseman and learned a BUNCH from local citizen-scientist Jack Reakoff. Then it was up and over Atigun Pass to see the wildlife. LOTS of wildlife: Moose, caribou, Dall’s Sheep, musk ox, swans, ducks and birds of all manner and size. And incredible scenery. At the top of the world (Prudhoe Bay), we waded in to the Arctic Ocean…just for grins. I did an article for the Anchorage Daily News talking about all the critters we saw along the way. CHECK IT OUT.
At Ground Zero with our guide Barb at Northern Alaska Tour Company in Fairbanks Just about 434 miles to go. Hello Haul Road. Goodbye cell service. Tattered sign…but the van is in good shape! CB, Sat Phone, 1st aid…the works. Barb–at her duty station. Eyes on the road and her hands upon the wheel! The road is straight, but the pipeline is twisted! Crossing the Yukon River! The Yukon River bridge is the only crossing in the state of Alaska. 
Christy makes the leap across the Arctic Circle! Exploring the rocks sticking up through the tundra. Welcome to Coldfoot. Here’s the van, parked in front of Coldfoot’s “Slate Creek Hotel.” We saw bikes, motorcycles + l-o-t-s of BIG trucks 
Jack Reakoff, citizen-scientist and year-round Wiseman resident…shows us around. 
Jack’s garden…the farthest-north cultivation in Alaska. 
An old building in Wiseman…a one-time mining community. Wiseman…on the shores of the Koyukuk River. Sukakpak Mountain. Atigun Pass. Dall’s Sheep on the hillside at Atigun Pass. Rollin’ up on Atigun Pass 
Lunch stop. Caribou…we saw about 400 (really!) Midnight sun at Prudhoe Bay. Prudhoe Bay, with Lake Colleen in the foreground. The dip. Barb–our fearless leader. Warbelow’s PA-31 Navajo. Let’s fly! Over the Brooks Range.
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