Frequently

Asked Questions

Mush your own sled dog team of Alaskan Huskies through the Alaska, Yukon Wilderness.

What do you offer that is different from other tours?
It would be easier and more financially advantageous to run groups of 4 to 6 people but our goal is to optimize the wilderness experience for all of us and keep the experience one to one or one to two, unless you ask for a larger group. This allows for individual attention and training with your guide. It definitely allows the individual to experience the remote wilderness in all its peace and beauty without the noise that larger numbers of people and dogs create. You get to enjoy true wilderness and step back into a world very few people get to experience.

What do you provide in the way of gear and clothing? We provide all camping gear and most outter wear winter clothing. You will need to verify that we have the sizing to fit you.

What are your prices? Price--$400.00 per day, per person, $375.00 per person if coming as a team or group. You are not charged for your final day with us in Eagle. Fee includes training in mushing and survival techniques, camping and survival gear, all food, transportation and lodging from the time you arrive in Eagle until you leave. There are no hidden costs. We have winter clothing and boots available and in most cases are able to help outfit you in outer gear with advance notice.

Do I need travel and medical insurance?
Yes, while you are here you will be exposed to a variety of hazards and risks, which are inherent in each trip and cannot be eliminated without destroying the unique character of what you want to experience. Rescue and medical facilities are not easily available. A medivac to one of these facilities can be very expensive. And on the off chance that you have to abort your trip at the last minute, travel insurance will come in very handy.

How would we get to Eagle?
You would arrive in Eagle by way of flying into Fairbanks and taking a small mail plane into Eagle. We normally book the flight into and out of Eagle for you but you are responsible for payment at the time of your flight. During the 2009 season round trip tickets to Eagle and back to Fairbanks were $340.00.

Is this mail plane located at the main terminal?
No, the terminal for the mail plane is located on Airport Industrial Road, within walking distance of the main terminal.

Do you have any advice on returning flights?
Yes, when you are booking your flight out of Fairbanks take into account that a local mail plane does not travel on the same timetable as larger airlines. For example: if you are leaving Eagle on the 10am flight, that flight may not actually take off out of Eagle until 2pm due to weather delays, so do not book any flights out of Fairbanks until later in the evening.

Is air expense figured into the rates?
No, we would make the reservation for you with a mail plane for your travel from Fairbanks into Eagle and back to Fairbanks but you would be responsible for payment. The cost of the round trip ticket for the 2009 season was $340.00.

What should I wear on the plane ride to Eagle?
It is always a good idea to wear your winter gear on the flight into Eagle, as these planes are not always warm. Also, on arrival at the Eagle airport there are no buildings available for you to change into your winter gear. It could be a cold few minutes getting geared up.

Will you be meeting the plane at the airport in Eagle?
Yes, but we always set up a contingency plan. For example: this past winter we were waiting at the airport with 3 dog teams in very cold windy weather. We were advised, by the agent, that the plane would be another hour before it arrived and we did not want the dogs or us sitting in the wind so we took the dogs back into Eagle, out of the wind. The plane arrived 5 minutes after we left.

The agent meets each plane and if for some reason we are not there, the agent will give you a ride into town. If a café is open, he will drop you there, if not, he will drop you at the local store. We usually contact you the morning of the flight while you are waiting at the airport in Fairbanks. That gives us a better idea of the exact time of the flight into Eagle. It takes an hour to get into town with the dogs and harnessing takes additional time.

What is a good time for a tour with you?
During a normal temperature year the prime dates would be mid-February thru March. January and early Feb are also good times but daylight is short and temps can often plunge into the minus 40 to minus 50 F. range.

Will I see Northern Lights?
We can never guarantee Northern Lights/aurora borealis. In the winter they can grace the night sky with color at any time or any night, for minutes or hours. If you are out and looking and it is not cloudy, there is a good chance that you will get to experience this phenomenon.

What kind of temperatures should I expect?
Normal winter temps can range from minus 10 to plus 10 F. during the day and minus 20 to plus 10 F. overnight. There can be extremes of high and low with temps bottoming out at minus 60 F. for short periods of time and highs can make it up to a sweltering plus 30 F. During the month of March, daytime temps can be quite balmy and warm. Even if the nights drop to the minus 30 range or colder the daytime temps warm it up to shirtsleeve weather.

What type of meals will I get to eat?
If you have any dietary needs we try to accommodate them but our food fare is pretty simple. If you are on an extended type of trip and weight is a factor then you would have something like Mountain House meals, with a lot of wholesome snacks (granola bars, breakfast squares, salmon jerky, raisins, trail mix/nuts, power bars, etc.). We will add candy bars if someone has a really sweet tooth.

If there is room for more weight we will have packed for you moose or caribou meat to add to soups. You might have lasagna or a salmon casserole. Sometimes salmon (King Salmon, Chinook taken out of the Yukon River) patties are added as a special treat. If weight permits you will have sandwiches or burritos that help round out meals.

Breakfast usually consists of oatmeal, breakfast squares, and/or a breakfast energy drink such as is put out by Nestles. Sometimes peanut butter or raisins are added to the oatmeal. Occasionally cereal is taken along on the trips. Depending on the trip you might get egg sandwiches, breakfast burritos, pancakes and other items that can be taken on the trail.

Drinks on the trail are Gatorade, tang, caffeine and decaff teas, cocoa and coffee. We do not offer alcoholic beverages and do not suggest that it be carried on the trail. If however, while at the homestead or summit base camp, someone would like to have a drink, they are welcome to bring their favorite drink along.

At the homestead, meals are much more plush.

How many days do I need to stay?
The average trip length is between 7 and 10 days. We will do shorter trips but in order to have time for training and to enjoy the experience you are seeking it is better to have enough days to allow for fully enjoying your time with the dogs in this wilderness setting. There is such a diversity of landscape going from river drainages to above tree line on mountain passes and summits back into boreal forest a true wilderness covered with ice and snow.

What about gear and clothing?
We have an extensive clothing and gear list that we will send to you on request. We are often able to provide much of the outer clothing for our clients which can include parka, bibs, mitts, face mask and boots.

Do I need hand and toe warmers?
Yes, chemical hand and toe warmers can make a cold trip very comfortable. One set for each day is advisable. Maybe you will not need them but if you do it is better to have them on hand.

What kind of camping gear do I bring?
We provide all of your camping gear including sleeping bags and mushing headlamps although we do suggest that you bring a small headlamp such as a Petzel for use around the camp.

How much money should I have on hand?
That is up to you, but from the time you step off the plane in Eagle you are not expected to pay for anything.

What kind of camera should I bring?
Many different cameras have been tried and many have failed. The temperatures have a way of upsetting picture plans. What we have found is that a camera that can be kept in a breast pocket, to stay warm, works best, because you do not have to continually work at keeping it warm. Parts tend to get cold and break, batteries go dead and film can shatter. We have switch to a small digital camera and are very happy with the results.

Many different things have been tried to keep cameras warm, and most things have failed to work sufficiently. We have just discovered that there is a product that is used for packing that lasts for app 60 hours. Chemical hand warmer companies are developing different items all the time and you can now order a small pack of these warmers that give off heat for up to 60 hours. It is worth checking into as we plan to do this next year.

Do you have any videos of your trips?
Yes, you can go to these sites and watch videos of our dogs.

View 3 clips from the 2009 Herchal Island Expedition. These clips are from areas that are within our normal routes and might be something that you would like to experience. We customize our trips and routing to what you want to experience and the difficulty level that we feel is best suited to your abilities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhYc3yKS9P8&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVo6jWtr2Es&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF5QChCgX2s&feature=related

Check out a neat video, "Twenty-four Feet Across the Yukon," that one of our clients, Court, has put together. His video covers so much of what happens while on tour with us.

http://www.vimeo.com/21423713 .

VIEW AN 8 MINUTE VIDEO: Sierra Club member Mickey Murch made this video in Feb 2007 while on a Sierra Club Tour with us. The clip is called Metabolic Transportation and is on vimeo. To watch the video, once the page pulls up, click on the arrow on the window.

http://www.vimeo.com/151967

View a video of some advanced mushing with direction from guide, Matt Emslie: Sometimes mushing can get difficult and exhilarating as this video of Louise directing her team and working her sled around a narrow ledge of ice on an exploratory trip into the headwaters of Eagle Creek. Once the site opens click, click on the arrow on the window.

http://www.vimeo.com/185789

VIEW A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF A 2009 EXTREME TRIP!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAqWKDkDJBI

http://www.exn.ca/video/?Video=exn20020325-icewater.asx/

http://www.yukonman.com/cold_water.asp

Do you have a brochure?
Yes, we can e-mail it to you or send it via postal mail.

Do you have more pictures?
Yes, we can send you a CD of pictures that show a wide range of shots of different locations and our dogs.

Will I be required to sign a liability waiver and fill out a medical form?
Yes, we have a liability waiver that we will have you sign and a medical form that is kept confidential.

CONTACT: For more information and/or questions e-mail us at bushalaskaex@starband.net or bush_alaska_expeditions@hotmail.com ask for our brochure or write us at:  Bush Alaska Expeditions, P O Box 161, Eagle, AK 99738.  No incoming phone calls due to the remote location but there is Internet access via satellite. Phone calls can be arranged via computer and satellite.   

OCT-NOV-DEC each year finds us at our American Summit Base Camp.  Our internet access is limited to once every 7 to 10 days.  Please contact us with any questions but also be aware that during that period you may not receive a reply for a period of time depending on weather and travel conditions.