North America, United States, Alaska, Brooks Range, Traverse of the Lisburne Peninsula

Publication Year: 1997.

Traverse of the Lisburne Peninsula. In June, 1995, the traverse of the Lisburne Peninsula was accomplished across the spine of the western Brooks Range descending the Ipewik River to Point Hope. This is the westernmost reach of the American Arctic. The Ipewik descent was plagued by high winds and pack ice along the arctic coast. For the mountaineering portion, 12 passes were crossed from the Wulik Peaks to Nunavikeak. This is not good Dahl sheep habitat, but grizzly and wolf populations are very high here along with the half million caribou of the western arctic herd. Musk ox are thriving and expanding toward the headwaters of the Colville. Following a class four ascent in the DeLong Mountains, a lost lake was noted and mapped at the base of a limestone rampart, as were various stone age hunting camps. Twelve persons crossed the DeLong Mountains, four the Wulik Peaks and two the Ipewik. Paul Lencioni persevered valiantly throughout.

Dennis Schmitt