Keeping Current: Gates of the Arctic

We headed north from Coldfoot towards our destination of the Gates of the Arctic National Park and the North Alaskan Slope.

Our first view of the foothills of the Brooks Range along the Dalton Highway.

This was our view of Sukakpak Mountain at a rest stop along the highway. As you can see the aspen are in full color and it is only August. The river in the foreground is the Middle Fork River I believe.

Fall colors covered the hills on both sides of the road.

The highway climbs upward into the Brooks Range and towards Atigun Pass.

This picture is taken from the North Slope looking at the north side of the Brooks Range. Lake Galbraith lies in the foreground.

A view of the tundra that comprises Alaska's North Slope.

Looking east at the northern foothills of the Brooks. The isolation and the desolation was amazing. Despite that however, the ground was covered with plants, floors and other forms of wildlife.

At a small rest area along Lake Galbraith we stop to stretch our legs. We pose for a photo to celebrate the northern most point either one of us has ever ventured. (Latitude ~68.5 degrees)

Pat rests on the "Moose" Guard on the front of the truck. The truck was on loan from Quentin's brother, Nate, who was generous enough to let us borrow it for a couple of weeks. Thanks Nate!

Another shot of the Brooks, looking south.

The Alyeska Pipeline traveling south from Prudhoe Bay, approximately 200 miles to the north.

Afternoon shadows fill the valley as the day draws to a close.

The sun broke through the clouds perfectly to create this amazing view of Sukakpak Mountain as we saw it again going back south.

The Wiseman Post Office. The unique climate of Northern Alaska can play havoc on a buildings foundation. The heated post office thawed the permafrost below which ultimately caused over a foot of settlement. The geotechnical engineer among us found this particularly fascinating.