
STYLE
🌶️🌶️ Spicier. Rugged and wild, but within reach. These trips are for strong hikers looking for a real taste of off-trail Alaska—without going full sufferfest.
THE WILD
Gates of the Arctic National Park | The ancestral and unceded lands of the Iñupiat, Koyukon, Kuuvaan KaNianikiq, and Denendeh.
JOURNEY
Days: 8 or 12 | Group: 5 - 7
Minimum Age: 16
Gates of the Arctic & The Brooks Range is one of the last intact ecosystems on earth…
and we’re dropping right into the heart. The Oolah valley has to be some of the most beautiful terrain anywhere in Alaska, but in truth it’s hard to put to words. There’s not much we can say that will give you an accurate image of the magnitude of the place. You’ll just have to come see for yourself. An awesome expedition with a rad group of queer folks in the heart of one of the coolest mountain ranges in the world.
Over 8 or 12 days…
We’re offering this trip in two formations. The first will be a long and epic traverse of the eastern range from Dalton Highway to Anaktuvuk Pass. If you’re up for some big challenge and a bunch of time (10 mountain days, 2 in town days) out this is for you. The second is an eight day trip (6 mountain days, 2 town days) and is also super awesome but just a bit less committing time and effort wise.
Either way, we’ll find our own way through massive valleys, walking mostly on Alaskan tundra, crossing rivers still covered in the winter’s thick ice, and make camp in open meadows keeping an eye out for caribou. There’s an ineffable energy to being above the Arctic circle that you simply have to experience to understand.
MOMENT BY MOMENT, DAY BY DAY
DAY 1
WELCOME TO FAIRBANKS
Welcome to Fairbanks, the "Golden Heart City,” nestled between the mighty Alaska Range to the south and the picturesque Chena River flowing through the center.
Check into our shared AirBnb anytime between 3 and 5pm. We’ll meet at 5:30 to get to know each other, talk about our upcoming adventure, share goals for the trip, go over gear, and share a great meal.
DAY 2
8 Day Trip: In the morning after breakfast (provided) we’ll shuttle to the airport and hop on our charter flight to Anaktuvuk. From Anaktuvuk, we’ll set off into the mountains to start our loop. Our route is created as we explore, changing and shifting depending on our desires.
12 Day Trip: We’ll have an early morning wake up to catch out shuttle driving up the Dalton Highway. It’s a long 8 hour drive, but incredibly scenic and one of the cooler road trips in America. In the early evening the shuttle will drop us off and we’ll head away from the highway to make out first camp.
DAY 3 - 6
We’ll spend the next six days wandering high alpine meadows, climbing small peaks, spotting caribou & bear (from a safe distance), watching the persistent alpenglow of the far-north dance across endless mountains, laughing around camp, eating delicious well-earned meals, and connecting in the deep way wilderness makes possible. There are no trails in Alaska and few people set foot out here at all.
DAY 7
For the 8 day trip this will be your last day in the field. And the feeling is bittersweet.
When you wake to the final morning in the backcountry relishing the memories, the deep sense of connection to a world that moves slower but also excited for your restaurant meal and hot shower. We’ll take some time this morning to soak in the quiet and reflect on how we want to return to the busier world — what we want to bring with us and what we’d rather leave behind.
We’ll cover some final ground to return to the village of Anaktuvuk. In the afternoon, we’ll catch a flight back to Fairbanks, return to our shared AirBnb and have a celebratory meal in town. The trip is officially over after dinner, though you’re of course welcome and encouraged to spend the night in the AirBnb.
DAY 8 - 12 (Long trip only)
These final days, you’ll start to feel the rhythm of each day settle in. We’ll make out way through some of the sweetest parts of the traverse before finding our way in Anaktuvuk Pass feeling incredibly accomplished. Surely there will be a stop by the local grocery store before catching the plane back to Fairbanks and our shared AirBnb on the evening of Day 11. Day 12 we’ll have breakfast in the Airbnb and then say our goodbyes.
The Alaska Factor
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.
WHERE WE SLEEP
“What queerness offers is a chance to realize that it is within all of our nature to nurture and within all our capacity to heal. The earth is so forgiving, the earth is always waiting for us to heal.”
Riverside AirBnb
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We love using Airbnbs for the warm, communal vibe they create—it’s like a big sleepover before the adventure begins! Often, we’re lucky enough to have a sauna or hot tub to enjoy, too.
Unlike hotels, room assignments are a bit more free-form and first-come, first-served. Some folks may even opt for a cozy camping-style spot on the floor. There’s always plenty of space, and the shared energy sets a great tone for the trip ahead.
Please note: depending on group size and scheduling, we may stay in a different Airbnb than the one shown in the photos.
Backcountry Camping
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Backcountry camping can be cozy and comfy.
We like to bring some creature comforts like desert and umbrellas and our favorite coffee press for the mornings. And the best part is opening your tent door to the pinks, purples, and oranges shining on snow capped peaks (or feel super cozy in your tent when it’s raining outside).
And you’ll have the most exquisite bathroom views you’ve ever had in your life.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
““With anti-LGBTQ bills on the rise, it felt particularly important to connect with queer community on this trip. We reminded each other how strong and resilient we all are and continuously uplifted each other. It’s beautiful to return to the ‘real world’ with a new sense of self-love and confidence after such a physically and mentally challenging week in the outdoors surrounded by immense beauty.””
“That trip is one I’ll never forget. The beauty, the people, the hilarious giggling, and the real learning. I actually feel like I could go make my own trip happen now. Thank you soo much for making this happen and creating affinity spaces for learning!”
“Jack is a superstar. 12/10 would recommend. As a queer/trans person, I am often super nervous about going to new locations with new people — but he made sure that I was fully seen as a human.
Also, not only is Jack a total badass pro and really knowledgable outdoors person, but he’s also totally willing to meet people where they’re at.”
BOOK QUEER GUIDED BACKPACKING
3,750 Per Person | 1,500 deposit to hold your spot
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Check out the FAQ’s below, or text or call us at 845-661-3008 to talk it through! Or send us an email. We love hearing from folks.
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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.
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The price includes accommodations on the first and last 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.
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The price does not include travel to Fairbanks, transportation to the AirBnb, 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. The price also does not include the cost of lunches / snacks. On our trips lunches are really just extended snacking throughout the day.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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If arriving by plane you will want to fly in/out of Fairbanks International Airport. Please plan to arrive in Fairbanks no later than 5 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 3pm on day 1.
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We have people come on our trips by themselves all the time! There’s nothing like travel through remote wilderness to build community.
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Indigo Alpine Guide trips are most often run by the owner Jack Bynum and his closest and most trusted friends. 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.
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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.
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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).
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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!
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Let us know. We’re always happy to chat.