Trail and Travel Update
April 25, 2019
Ambler: Trails are reported to be good from Ambler to Selawik and Ambler to Shungnak. Nobody has traveled toward Kiana recently so there is no update on that trail. No slush or open water yet.
Buckland: The trails are reported to be in unfavorable travel conditions. The trail up river from Buckland has very thin ice, so do not travel on this trail. On the Buckland to Selawik trail, there are some open spots above Buckland on the river and in front of the camps so do not use that trail.
Deering: Deering trails were reported passable. The river is still okay. Patchy snow on trails toward Clipper Pt. and Kiwalik.
Kiana: The river is open above Kiana by Squirrel, so do not travel that way. Downriver from Kiana, the river was reported in passable condition but is getting worst as the weather stays warm.
Kivalina: The staked trails are good both ways: Kivalina to Noatak and Kivalina to Kotzebue. Kivalina reported that not many travelers are coming up river, so use extreme caution because of that.
Kobuk: The overland trail is still usable and currently the only one used. Do not travel on the river in and out of Kobuk due to open water and slush making conditions extremely dangerous. The river is opening more and more each day.
Kotzebue: Use extreme caution by the areas where the city is dumping snow as the snow is heavy and weighing down ice that isn’t solid. There is open water by each dump site, so do not go near those areas. Trails in and out of Kotzebue are passable at the moment, but as the weather stays warm the ice and river trails out of Kotzebue will become unfavorable very quickly. The trail is re-routed by Lockhard Point due to open water going toward Pike’s Spit, please use caution traveling on those nearby trails.
Noatak: There is open water on the Eli River area toward the village. Trails are being re-routed. Use extreme caution when traveling on the river as the conditions are getting worst by the day.
Noorvik: Noorvik reported trails are still passable, including the short cut behind Snyder’s. Take caution as warmer weather is causing more unfavorable travel conditions.
Shungnak: The river is still okay, but Ambler Air reported open water around Kobuk. Only use the overland trail only to Kobuk as there is open water outside of Kobuk.
Trails and ice continue to deteriorate as the weather is staying warmer. Always use extreme caution if you are traveling on the ice or rivers. We encourage anyone to call in and report poor or unfavorable travel conditions by reporting to Jimmy Brown at 907-412-2038.
If you’d like to file a planned trip report or report any missing/overdue travelers, please call Jimmy Brown at 907-412-2038.
