Brooks Range, Endicott Mountains. Working for the Park Service, Walt Rogers and I trekked on snowshoes this spring from the upper Negu across the entire Killik basin to Okomilaga and Chandler Lake. The significance of the Killik depression as a snow-free fauna oasis was noted. We encountered 9 grizzly bears, a wolf pack of 5 hunters, 2 lone wolves and a vixen with 3 pups. I concluded that it is elevation rather than the wind pattern that is responsible for the oasis. We made four modest ascents.

Dennis Schmitt, Sierra Club