Sadlerochit River Packraft - June 2023

On a Friday night in the middle of June of 2023, Nyssa, Tony, Zack, and I flew north out of Anchorage for ten days in the Brooks Range. In Fairbanks we sardined into a small room at Pike's Waterfront Lodge, poached the Princess Cruise's greasy breakfast buffet, then crammed into Kirk Sweetsir's Cessna 185 for the flight into the Arctic.


Our route was based on that of many that came before us. From the Marsh Fork we planned to float down the Canning River to Cache Creek. We'd hike over the Cache to the Sadlerochit River for the float to the edge of the mountains. Then, a short crossing to the Hula Hula River for the paddle to the coast. Finally, there would be the slog across the lagoon to Barter Island for the flight home from Kaktovic.

As Kirk's taildragger climbed above the taiga forest and bending rivers of the interior, we left civilization behind.


Flying with legends like Kirk is always a treat. I love to live vicariously through the stories of these cowboys of the north.