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To the Arctic Desert

Our Arctic expedition didn’t end at the Arctic Circle. I rode the Aurora Winter Train from Anchorage to Fairbanks, and drove to Coldfood Camp, 10 miles north of the Arctic Circle. We visited Jack in Wiseman, a small Arctic village near the Koyukuk River. Now, it was time to drive into the Brooks Range. 

The Books Range is a mountain range in northern Alaska stretching from west to east Alaska to Yukon Territory in Canada. The Atigun Pass is a high mountain pass across the Brooks Range. It is where the Dalton Highway crosses the Continental Divide (at mile marker 244), and is the highest pass in Alaska that is maintained throughout the year.

We started the five-hour day slowly when the sun was still hiding behind the mountains. It was a clear day, without a cloud in the sky. Soon after departure, the sun started shining across the mountainsides. The golden rays, so precious because they are only visible for a few hours in the winter days, are what make the Arctic so charming and mysterious.

There are still several important landmarks, even this far north. As we drove further north, I could see that we were reaching the tree line. And soon after we passed the northern most spruce tree, with a sign and everything. After that, it was mountains covered with snow and frozen rivers. We crossed the Great Continental Divide, the northernmost reaches of the Divide. The Trans-Alaskan Pipeline continued, and we kept on moving.

Our driver Nikolai, my temporary Arctic expedition companion  Davidssun,  and I talked a lot about life, philosophy, and nature. We all had similar background stories – worked in difficult environments and realized there was something more to life than work. I mean, is there a more perfect place to talk about this? I’ve always been fascinated by deserted areas, such as deserts and glaciers. That’s why I love off-season, and winter travels. There’s something romantic about winter scenery. Surrounded by this great nature, I realized once again, the precious meaning of life.

 

Farthest North Spruce Tree of the Alaskan Pipeline: Trees grow north to the south facing slopes of the Brooks Range. The mountains block cold air coming off of the Arctic Ocean.
Farthest North Spruce Tree of the Alaskan Pipeline: Trees grow north to the south facing slopes of the Brooks Range. The mountains block cold air coming off of the Arctic Ocean.
Unique marble mountain in the Brooks Range
Unique marble mountain in the Brooks Range

Sun is rising slowly in the Arctic
Sun is rising slowly in the Arctic
Where the Dalton Highway crosses the Continental Divide (at mile marker 244): the northernmost reaches of the Divide, those river systems that drain into the Arctic Ocean.
Where the Dalton Highway crosses the Continental Divide (at mile marker 244): the northernmost reaches of the Divide, those river systems that drain into the Arctic Ocean.
The view of Brooks Range from Atigun Pass
The view of Brooks Range from Atigun Pass
There's no tree growing after the treeline
There’s no tree growing after the treeline
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline runs parallel to the Dalton Highway
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline runs parallel to the Dalton Highway
Sun is setting early, and slowly in the Arctic
Sun is setting early, and slowly in the Arctic
Jagged peaks of Brooks Range
Jagged peaks of Brooks Range

Early sunset in the Arctic
Early sunset in the Arctic
The Dalton Highway between Coldfoot and Atigun Pass
The Dalton Highway between Coldfoot and Atigun Pass
Snow covered mountains
Snow covered mountains
Early afternoon sunset in the Arctic
Early afternoon sunset in the Arctic
A rare scene in the Arctic - airplane in the sky
A rare scene in the Arctic – airplane in the sky
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11 thoughts on “The Atigun Pass and Brooks Range”

  3. Jen

    Incredible photos of phenomenally beautiful place Juno. I really looks like you had the time of your time. Thanks for sharing your inspiration.

    Reply
  5. Alex

    I’ve just returned to the US and while it’s not quite cold enough for snow, I am pretty traumatized by the weather! So all I can focus on is how FREEZING this looks!!

    Reply

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