Brooks Range Backpacking

We’ll meet at the hotel for an introduction, gear sorting, and shared dinner. Fairbanks, while remote, is still a real city with plenty of places to get groceries or outdoor gear if you’ve forgotten something at home.

Backpacking in Alaska is no joke! We’ll be hiking 4-7 miles per day off trail across scree slopes, over mountain passes, and through the occasional but notorious thick Alaskan alder. That being said, if you’ve backpacked a bit before and physically prepare before the trip, you’ll do great! If you’re an expert backpacker you’ll still find this to be a rewarding and at times challenging trip. Guests will be expected to practice excellent self-care, pack and unpack their own packs, setup and breakdown their own tents, and carry a portion of group equipment. All the challenges of off-trail backpacking are overwhelmingly worth it for the splendor, the views, and the deep knowing in your gut that you did something powerful and profound.

The price includes accommodations on the first night in Fairbanks, all bush flights in and out, all ground transportation, all breakfasts and dinners in the field, all group supplies—cooking equipment, water treatment options, group shelters, bear canisters, toilet supplies, emergency communication devices, maps, GPS, first aid kit, National Park entrance fees, and the support of your experienced and trained guides.

The price does not include travel to Fairbanks, transportation to the hotel, extra room expenses (i.e. room service), travel insurance or rescue insurance (both recommended), or gratuity for your guide (10-20% of the trip cost recommended). The price doesn’t include personal gear— backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, layers, rain gear, personal bowl, personal eating utensils, headlamp, and personal toiletries. If needed some of this gear can be rented for an additional fee. The price also does not include the cost of lunches / snacks. On our trips lunches are really just extended snacking throughout the day.

Our trips in Gates of the Arctic have a max of 7 guests and 2 guides. If you trip has more than 6 guests you will have 2 guides.

Meals will be delicious backcountry cuisine. We’ve spent a lot of years in the backcountry and we like to eat well! That being said, we also don't love heavy packs. Our meals strike a balance between dehydrated backpacker food and gourmet fresh — in that balance are delicious meals without crazy weight. We can accommodate most dietary restrictions. Please reach out with questions. We will supply all the breakfasts, dinners, and occasional desserts for the trip. We ask guests to pack their own lunch snacks. On our trips lunch is between when breakfast ends and dinner begins — snack away!

Any expedition in Alaska requires flexibility, patience, and a big sense of adventure. We always try our best to follow our itineraries as written, but rarely do. That’s part of the fun of it! Alaska weather is always changing and shifting and we will always respectfully honor what the weather allows or doesn’t allow us to do. We get the incredible luxury of flying into these beautiful places, but with flying also comes a need to defer to the conditions. Sometimes flights may be delayed for a day or more as we wait for an appropriate weather window. Trip itineraries may also shift due to group skill, pilot availability, or any number of unforeseen circumstances. Please come with an open mind, a spirit of enthusiastic adventure, and a willingness to see where the trip takes you. We do not offer refunds or cover incurred costs when trips have to be rerouted or itineraries changed due to weather or other circumstances out of our control.

If arriving by plane you will want to fly in/out of Fairbanks International Airport. Please plan to arrive in Fairbanks no later than 3 pm on Day 1 and book your flights for no earlier than 11 pm on the final day. You can check into your hotel after 4pm on day 1!

We have people come on our trips by themselves all the time! There’s nothing like travel through remote wilderness to build community.

Indigo Alpine Guide trips are run by the owner Jack and an awesome crew of guides from all over the country. All the people who work for IAG have over a decade of experience guiding trips in the most remote places on earth, have wilderness medical training and advanced guiding certifications. They are some of the best and most experienced guides you’ll find anywhere.

Our trips aren’t tours. We don’t march the same trail again and again. Your guide may not have done your exact route before — and that’s part of the adventure! We change routes from season to season, sometimes for practical reasons, sometimes just to keep things fresh. People are sometimes surprised by this, but it’s never a drawback — if anything, the journey feels more alive for everyone, including them.

Deposit (non-refundable)

• $1,000–$2,000 per person, depending on the trip.

• Required to confirm your booking.

• The deposit is refundable if you cancel within 72 hours of booking. After that, they are non-refundable.

Final payment due:

• 90 days prior to trip start date.

Cancellation by client:

• >90 days before trip: Refund of all payments minus deposit.

• 61–90 days before trip: 50% refund of total trip cost.

• 60 days or fewer before trip: No refund.

• Replacement option: If you are able to fill your spot by finding a new guest, 100% refund (minus deposit).

Cancellation by Indigo Alpine Guides:

• Full refund of all payments including deposit, but we are not responsible for any additional expenses incurred (flights, hotels, etc.). We recommend booking refundable airfare when possible.

Trip delays / itinerary changes:

• No refunds for weather delays, itinerary changes, or other factors outside our control.

Travel insurance:

• Strongly recommended to protect your trip investment.

We always encourage folks to purchase trip cancelation insurance in addition to the mandatory medical evacuation insurance. We require that you have at least $200,000 in medical evacuation insurance. Your insurance policy should cover hazardous sports and we recommend that your policy cover search and rescue. Since we cannot confirm each client’s policy individually, it is your responsibility to make sure your policy will cover you while you participate in your activities of choice on the expedition.

For US citizens, we recommend Global Rescue. You will have a choice of purchasing it with or without the cancellation coverage–so make sure to select the one that gives you the coverage that you need. Other commonly used companies include World Nomads and Squaremouth.

You are welcome to seek out other insurance options, as these are only recommendations. When selecting a policy, please make sure they insure all the activities you’ll be participating in (many don’t include roped climbing, skiing, mountaineering, etc).

Backpacking in Alaska can be pretty tough. If you’re super athletic and up for adventure, coming out here for your first trip could work. But be prepared for a steep learning curve.

You’ll likely have a better time if you have at least 4-5 trips of any length under your belt before coming to Alaska. If you’re unsure, reach out!