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How To Canoe the Noatak
Here is a brief list of the important points about planning a trip to
the Noatak:
- We were able to take commercial flights from Seattle to Fairbanks
to Bettles. In Bettles we got a bush plane to fly us into the head of
the Noatak river where canoes were waiting for us. We paddled to Noatak
village were we dropped off the canoes and arranged for a plane to take
us to Kotzebue. From Kotzebue we had commercial air flights back to
Seattle. It is also possible to paddle to Kotzebue, but involves an
open water crossing.
- Find an outfitter in Bettle's Alaska to provide you with canoes and
flights. We used Sourdough Outfitters
and found them very reasonable to work with.
- Learn about bear safety before traveling here. We never had a problem
with Grizzle bears, but we took precautions. After our return I heard
that during our time there someone was killed by a Grizzle near the
Noatak headwaters.
- There is not much one can do to protect food. The Park service rented
us two bear barrels for our food, which was enough to hold the most
meager of emergency food. The rest of the food we carried in a large
dry bag and 3 white 5 gallon buckets. The buckets kept food from getting
crushed, were easier to search through, and made good seats, but the
dry bags severed quite well.
- Bring enough food.
- More information is available at:
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