Picture gallery of the Arrigetch Peaks, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Brooks Range, Alaska. Photos by Patrick J. Endres / www.AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com
]]> http://flycoyote.com/galleries/arrigetch-peaks-gates-of-the-arctic-national-park/feed/ 0 http://flycoyote.com/galleries/a-summer-flight/ http://flycoyote.com/galleries/a-summer-flight/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:10:32 +0000 admin http://flycoyote.com/?p=425 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

Shots taken from the start of the 2011 season, a trip to the Noatak river valley in the Gates of the Arctic National Park by Patrick J Endres

That time of year has come again and we are out an about. This year started with Bousie, our Stinson, doing a survey on the North Slope

Bousie in Coldfoot

Bousie is sporting my Grandfather’s skis which he had on his Stinson in 1948.  It was a lot of fun rigging the skis and heading out the door with it for the first time.  She has on a pair of Federal 2500A Straight skis.

Flying through the Brooks Range

Taking a Break at Galbraith Lake

It was a 4 beautiful days up on the slope, clear sky’s and cold. We then headed down to the Alaska Range where we hauled hay into some remote camps.

Hauling Hay

Picture gallery of the Marsh Fork of the Canning river in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Brooks Range, Alaska. Photos by Patrick J. Endres / www.AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com

Photo gallery of birds, animals and wildflowers from June of 2010. Photos by Patrick J. Endres / www.AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com ]]> http://flycoyote.com/galleries/utukok-uplands-npr-a/utukok-uplands-npr-alaska/feed/ 0 http://flycoyote.com/uncategorized/rain-at-last-flooding-on-the-koyukuk/ http://flycoyote.com/uncategorized/rain-at-last-flooding-on-the-koyukuk/#comments Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:03:43 +0000 admin http://flycoyote.com/?p=299 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

Our usually sweet little Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River is raging and bursting her banks.  She hit flood stage on the afternoon of July 6 after two days of incredibly hard rains.  Up until a few days ago, it had been very dry and water levels in most  rivers were low.

Middle Fork of the Koyukuk during July flood.

There continues to be a flood warning for all rivers on the south side of the Brooks Range from the Alatna River to the Canadian Border.
This should quench the thirst of the land and extinguish or slow the fires.

Middle Fork Koyukuk River Flooding in July, 2010

Update:  The Flood Advisory for the South side of the Brooks Range has been canceled.  However water levels in that area remain high.

The Katakturuk Backpacking Crew

Our crew: 5 kids, two moms and a dog.  Our expedition; 7 days to backpack north on the Katakturuk River from the  south side of the  Sadlerochit Mountains to the Arctic Ocean.   We had stunningly sunny weather with lots of wind and lots of Caribou.

Caribou and the Sadlerochit Mountains

The coast was the perfect place for the kids to do a little  marshmallow roasting.

Kids on the Arctic Ocean

Three Generations of Nickisch Pilots just returned with the newest addition to the Coyote Air fleet.  Dirk, Willard and Bremner flew the Stinson 108 from Texas to Alaska.  She is a beauty and very retro with lovely wood paneled interior.

Three generation of Nickisch Pilots

Middle Fork of Koyukuk April 20, 2010

Break Up has arrived in Coldfoot.  It is a bit early this year, and seems like it might be an easy one.  The ice is out on the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River, and the snow has left the floor of the  valley for for the time being.

Wild Lake

As the winter snow melts and runs onto the lakes, the lakes temporarily flood like at Wild Lake.  In a few more days the lake ice will brake free from the shore and float.  Then all the water will run off of the ice and we will be able to land on the ice for another week or more depending on ice thickness and temperatures.  This is always a fun time of year as the changes that happen are rapid and we are always wet and muddy.  If you look closely you will notice that Jean (the aircraft) is on Skis.

North Fork of Koyukuk River

This year we did not have a large snow pack in the central Arctic.  Valleys on the North side were largely blown clean, so break up on the North side will probably also happen quickly when it starts.  I have seen a few bear tracks in the hills, and the caribou seem to be heading north at this time. Most noticeably  the sun is just setting at 10:00 P:M.  Summer is definitely close.

Base Camp and Drop on the Okpilak River

Yesterday we hauled in our first climbers in the the Romanzof Mountains of the Brooks Range for this season.  They were a joint North Face/Alaska Wilderness League sponsored climbing/Ski team.  From their drop off on the Okpilak they are headed for Mount Michaelson, Mount Isto, and any other peaks that beckon to them.  So here is hoping  that they find the fresh traks that they are looking for.

Mount Michaelson from the 6,700 ft level of the Esetuk Glacier