Rafting adventures & custom river trips in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge & throughout Alaska!
At Sundog Expeditions, we love floating. But we also love flying. And we really love flying and floating! We’re pumped for our first trip of the year next week, it’s always magical in ANWR post-thaw. Kongakut River, here we come!
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There is simply no better way to describe how we’re feeling about this year’s Sundog Expeditions trips. We have only 2 spots left—join us for the adventure of a lifetime.
Into the unknown we go again. Copper River here we come. We’ve got a great crew, excited to discover new places together, both across the landscape and within ourselves.
Running rivers in Alaska never disappoints. One moment you’re awestruck by the enormity of a place and the next moment you can be mentally and physically pushed beyond your comfort zone. Either way, the experience is life affirming and something you will carry with you for quite some time.
Our first Copper River Expedition of 2023 was no exception. Big water and humbling weather matched with spectacular views and the richness of the Alaskan Wilderness. It was an extraordinary trip and we’re thankful for the team who joined us on the adventure. We’re psyched to be back in a few weeks.
Some 📸 by .tobey
It’s a beautiful day in the Wrangells. Let the Copper River season begin!
Happy Solstice from the land of the midnight sun! 🌞
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First trip of the 2023 season is a wrap! We are back and prepping for trip #2! The Kongakut gave so many gifts, including a campside visit from an Arctic fox one evening.
Did you know the Arctic fox has the warmest pelt of any animal found in the Arctic, enduring temperatures as low as -70 °C (-94°F). 😳
Sundog may have fresh faces, but we would be severely remiss if we did not pay homage to wonderful souls who started it all - the founders of Sundog Expeditions Lonnie Hutson and Gail Siegel. These two are very much enjoying their retirement, but still along for the ride in many ways, with Lonnie making a celebrity appearance in July on our Copper River trip. After having shoulder surgery last fall, Lonnie enrolled himself in the YouTube university and has been learning how to make jewelry with all the rocks he's collected on rivers over the years. He claims to be "a rookie, but is learning," although we all know he'll likely be a master of this new craft in no time. Gail is enjoying her retirement with lots of art, writing, and dog walks. They're both excited that Sundog lives on and they look forward to seeing old friends on Alaskan rivers!
Last but definitely not least in our get to know Sundog Expedition owners series is Trevor Fulton (pictured here with partner Whitney).
After nearly 20 years in outdoor education and guiding, Trevor took a new position last year at the University of Idaho. He stepped into the department head of Recreation and Wellbeing where he works with an incredible group of people helping students balance health minds and bodies. Although this has resulted in increased desk time, he is still able to get outside and spend time with great people. Trevor is currently on the Kongakut, and looks forward to spending the rest of his summer pursuing as many days as possible rowing and tossing flies with Whitney and their pack of dogs.
Next up in our get to know Sundog Expedition owners series is Chris Currie (accompanied by his lovely partner Hillary in this photo).
In the off season, Chris is a flight paramedic for Life Flight out of Lewiston, ID. This is a new career update for him (he launched into flight this past fall) and he is loving the challenge! Chris is very excited to be taking folks down the Copper River in both July and August this summer. But most of all, he is excited for the post trip visit to Baja Tacos in Cordova. ;)
Let's get to know the new owners of Sundog Expeditions!
First up is Brian Chaffin (accompanied in this photo by his wonderful wife Jenni). Professor Chaffin has been on a sabbatical this year from his normal off-season duties at the University of Montana, where he teaches climate, water, and natural resource policy. Even on sabbatical the work has not stopped! Brian has been diving deep into his research for a new book on donuts (yes, that is right, the delicious wonder that is fried donuts!) and American Culture. Expect this to hit Oprah's book club list in 2027. ;) When not writing and researching, Brian and Jenni can be found hiking, cross-country skiing, and dreaming of Alaska river trips from their home in Missoula, MT or from their camper wandering around the deserts of southern Utah.
And they're off! Team Kongakut took flight this morning for 10 days of Arctic adventure.
And it begins… Solar Puppies ride! Fairbanks here we come!
Sundog boathouse vibes. 🌞🌄
And just like that, we are in the final throes of preparing for the 2023 season. See you soon!
Copper River anyone? We’re extending our 2023 season to offer a 7-day Copper River trip in early August! A Copper River trip is stunning journey of rock, ice, and forest on a massive surge of water through the heart of the Chugach Mountains in south central Alaska. The trip begins in Valdez and ends in Cordova, AK. Come join us for a week of glaciers and bears atop one of the world’s most productive salmon-bearing rivers! Give us a call today!
It’s been an exciting fall for Team Sundog—but we can’t help looking ahead to summer 2023! We have spots available on our June 10-20 Kongakut River trip and our June 24-July 4 Hulahula River trip, both of which take place in the spectacular Arctic National Wildlife Refuge under the midnight sun! Join the Sundog family for a trip of lifetime in the ! Visit our website for details and give us a call! Link in bio.
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Wow!!
I have been looking forward to last night's lunar eclipse for almost a year, and I feel so lucky that I actually got clear skies for a portion of totality 🤩
This is the last total lunar eclipse that will occur in America for 3 years, so it was very important to me that I experienced it in one way or another. It was quite a bit colder than I expected it to be, even driving through a patch of snow to get to my location at Kalaloch Beach 🥶
Watching the earth's shadow cross over the full moon turning it completely red gives me the opportunity to witness the movements within our solar system first hand. I could visibly see the shadow move across the surface of the moon while experiencing the night go darker and darker until it were as if there were no moon at all. 🌑
Now I wait, for more incredible astronomical events to take place, as it is absolutely surreal to feel connected to the happenings that are quite literally out of this world 🌎
Caribou are amazing creatures!
Here are some of their adaptations to the cold.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=310350784470599&id=100064870380756&eav=AfYmmuiqhHoWaaLTn_2Ye9kJ7efYLV7FAfsgW4y1gfFcvQ47g0tgkRxk205B-Zyu6Is&m_entstream_source=timeline&paipv=0
Winter adaptations of a far northern animal
As Kanuti's First People, Koyukon Athabascan and Inupiat People have called Kanuti Refuge home for thousands of years. On this day of significant observance, we respectfully acknowledge that Kanuti Refuge is the homeland of Koyukon Athabascan and Inupiat People, and we recognize their special place and deep value within the meaning and history of Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge. 💚 Photo; salmon cut with care by Elders, drying on racks built by Elders and students at Henshaw Creek Weir Science Camp (2016), by USFWS.
We don’t remember the days. We remember the moments.
📸 LT Scott Kellerman
It’s National Wilderness Month! We are very thankful for the wilderness areas in Alaska that we operate in. You can click on the link below to help the US Fish and Wildlife Service celebrate wilderness month.
Designated wilderness areas are a refuge for biodiversity. These national treasures provide opportunities for discovery, wonder and serenity.
Wilderness is land and water designated by Congress for special protection under the Wilderness Act of 1964. We manage 20 million acres of designated wilderness in the USFWS National Wildlife Refuge System. Join us as we celebrate National Wilderness Month! http://ow.ly/m1HW50KBw00
Photo: Mollie Beattie Wilderness, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by Danielle Brigida
📅 Join us on September 22nd for a FREE, inspiring presentation and book signing with Amy Gulick, photographer and author of the award-winning book, The Salmon Way: An Alaska State of Mind. With engaging stories and stunning images, Amy will take us to Alaska to explore the remarkable ways of life that wild salmon make possible for people. SOS' very own executive director, Joseph Bogaard, will then reflect on the latest developments in our region’s once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore wild salmon and ways of life in the Snake River of the Columbia Basin.
📖 The Salmon Way: An Alaska State of Mind is the recipient of an Independent Publisher Book Award, a Nautilus Book Award, an INDIES Book of the Year Award, and has been named a Best Indie Book by Kirkus Reviews. Visit www.amygulick.com for more information!
7-7:30pm: Reception hosted by Patagonia with food, drink and raffle items
7:30pm: Presentation with Amy Gulick and Joseph Bogaard
🎉 This event is co-hosted by Patagonia and Braided River. To reserve your ticket, please click here ➡️ tinyurl.com/AmyGulickSeattle
Bristol Bay, Alaska - where the ocean meets the sky. Photo by Willem Hakala.
Midnight rainbow… amazing!
Delta Junction was treated to a full rainbow just before midnight!
Not just another acronym! We are grateful for he amazing lands that were kept in the hands of all Americans because of ANILCA. 👍
Encompassing 365 million acres, Alaska is the current and traditional homeland of hundreds of Indigenous cultures and language groups. Alaska has at least 228 federally recognized Tribes, numerous non-federally recognized Tribal entities, 12 Regional Native Corporations, 11 Native Regional Non-Profi...
Only in AK! :-)
We get some unusual hazards here in Alaska, especially for pilots. A pilot report (PIREP) from Nome this morning noted in the remarks, "Muskox on ramp at 94z rubbing against airplanes AKFSS" - 😳(image courtesy FAA)
Happy Solstice!! 🌞
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Dreaming about those endless arctic days!
Fly into the New Year and join us to explore the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge this summer! We have space available on our June 10-20 Kongakut River trip and our June 24-July 4 Hulahula River trip! There’s nothing like a tundra landing in the magical Helio Courier! . . . . . #ANWR #wilderness #Alaska #Arctic #rafting #sundog #sundogexpeditions #heliocourier #backcountryflying #bushpilot #hulahula #brooksrange #wrightair #wrightairservice
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