Matt and I were planning on heading to Alaska for a week of backpacking in the Gates of the Arctic along with our friend Brendan. Once we got there, a few discussions with locals and rangers made us change our minds and head to the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge instead. It's still the Brooks Range, but it should be even more isolated with less brush and tussocks to negotiate. First we've got to head north from Fairbanks via the Dalton Highway. It's quite an adventure in itself stretching over 400 miles to the northern coast of Alaska. We make a stop at the official Arctic Circle marker before continuing north.