Trip report on Noatak/Colville Rivers in Gates of the Arctic NP and National Petroleum Reserve?

[Monel]

The reason I ask is that I paddled an inflatable kayak, not a canoe. There was one Grabner inflatable canoe, several IK's and, believe it or not, a Feathercraft tandem folding sea kayak. Would a trip report on this 6 week 700+ mile trip be welcome?

Best,

Monel

 

[Monel]

 

[Mason]

I spent a month on the Noatak this summer. How did you get 700 miles out of it?

 

[Monel]

By paddling 330 miles, more or less, on the Noatak, from Ivahuna Creek to the mouth of the Kugururok River, catching a shuttle flight north over the Brooks Range to the mouth of Amo Creek on the Colville River then floating roughly 340 miles of the Colville down to Umiat.

Monel

 

[JackL]

We paddled the Noatak many moons ago using Ally Pack fold up back pack canoes. On one stop we climbed a mountain, which the guide said had never been climbed before. On the lower section we left our "Juneau Sneakers"
after we got above the tussocks/perma-frost. It was a wonderful trip
Jack L

 

[Mason]

By paddling 330 miles, more or less, on the Noatak, from Ivahuna Creek to the mouth of the Kugururok River, catching a shuttle flight north over the Brooks Range to the mouth of Amo Creek on the Colville River then floating roughly 340 miles of the Colville down to Umiat.

Monel

That's neat! Looking forward to the report.

 

[Higgster]

What is the question?

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Many open canoeists, including members here, sometimes use an alternative paddle craft in certain circumstances, such as what are essentially foldable or inflatable pack canoes to fit a group onto a bush plane to get into remote areas. If you post your trip report, Monel, I'm sure lots of folks would enjoy seeing pictures of the Noatak and Colville Rivers—places we've never been and may never go—especially during this winter slow time for canoe stuff for most of us.

 

[Alan Gage]

Would love to see a trip report on this!
Please post.

Alan

 

[Woodpuppy]

Yes please!

 

[NikonF5user]

Old thread I know - but I'm doing the Noatak next summer and was curious about the tent you took - do you see any need for a true 4-season tent, or do you feel the Mountain Hardware backpacking tent I typically use while tripping will suffice? My Vision 2 is decently robust and with aluminum rods can stand alone (minus the rain fly, which needs stakes or rocks to hold out over the vestibule space), but I know weather can be mighty unpredictable above the circle...

 

[Mason]

Old thread I know - but I'm doing the Noatak next summer and was curious about the tent you took - do you see any need for a true 4-season tent, or do you feel the Mountain Hardware backpacking tent I typically use while tripping will suffice? My Vision 2 is decently robust and with aluminum rods can stand alone (minus the rain fly, which needs stakes or rocks to hold out over the vestibule space), but I know weather can be mighty unpredictable above the circle...

I'm not the OP, but I paddled the Noatak a few years ago. We had one day of wet storm. We had an inReach forecast, so found a nice place to hole up in expectation of hunkering down, but it was in an exposed area. It was quite windy, winds expected over 22mph (which seems to be some type of threshold for inReach weather), and the tent (4 season--REI ASL2) shook quite a bit, with sustained wind/rain for most of the day. Everyone else was in their Hillebergs. I think with a net tent I'd have gotten wet, and I don't like wind coming through the tent. I don't do any committing trip without a 4 season tent however (I use Hillebergs in the Barrens).

 

[dramey]

I have lived in Alaska for 42 years. A 20 mph wind is normal up here. I have camped with 40 mph winds gusting to 60 mph frequently. I have always used Eureka tents and they seem to hold together in the wind.

 

[Monel]

I used a 4-season Hilleberg Keron 3 on the combined Noatak/Colville. It's pretty when big traveling solo and bombproof. With no portages weight is not an issue so long as you make the limit on the bush plane flight in so I don't skimp on my tent. I've seen days long wind events with 30 knots sustained with stiffer gusts. It threatened to flatten some lighter tents. I've also seen 36 hours of torrential rain. Others got wet while the full coverage fly on the Hilleberg kept the splash out. In both cases the large size makes it much more comfortable when forced to hunker down for an extended period.

I wouldn't say storms are essentially stronger on these rivers vs anywhere else, however, given the latitude there is frequently verry little cover to break the wind and the river valleys tend to channel and concentrate the wind.

Freestanding is nice but not critical as there is usually either decent ground for lots of stakes, or enough big rocks around to solidfy your anchors. Make sure you've got extra guy lines in place and be ready to use them. I make a habit of staking out all the guy lines on the Hilleberg on every pitch. Takes just a minute or two and can prevent some late night shenanigans if the wind picks up during the night. I do carry rock bags just in case.

All that being said you don't really need a certified 4-season tent. Just make sure your tent can handle wind, rain, and is comfortable for a couple days of extended hunkering down. A net innner can work if the rest of the tent is robust enough but I much prefer a solid inner. A decent sized vestibule also helps.

Have a great trip.

Monel