AK hiker Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 I went on a hunting trip this August in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge of northern Alaska. This was in the Brooks Range which was mainly composed of limestone in the 2 areas we hiked. Our base camps were setup with aircraft tied down, bear fence around camp and all food in bear proof containers when we left on the hikes. Fossil corral was present in all the river bars we traversed. Hash block with shell material. Stromatoporid fossils were abundant. Dall sheep ram tracks. Crinoid Cotton grass and cloud berries at 4,500 elevation meadow. Ewe sheep crossing the meadow after we did. The first 4 days of the trip was hampered by smoke from fires burning in the Yukon Territory, Canada. We camped in the same meadow and awoke to no smoke and fog the rolled in from the coastal plane over night. I was constantly examining the abundant fossils on this trip which was a big part of my enjoyment. It would be interesting to know time it took for the limestone to be etched from this corral. There is liquid water maybe 4 month of the year at this latitude and elevation. The limestone cap rocks erode vertically leaving these dramatic land forms. These stromatoporid fossils were present in all areas we traversed. Most common were the black forms of various ovoid and loculated shape. Dall sheep rams below where we camped one evening. Sheep in camp the following morning. More amazing land forms from the on end limestone. Fossil corral eroding slower than the limestone. The whole scree slope had pieces of corral in the limestone. A massive landslide with some blocks of limestone being bigger than most homes. This area is part of the Porcupine caribou herd and had trails used for 100's of years cut into the mountains. Parka squirrel as the natives call them, used to make winter parkas in the past. Last one, shell fossils were uncommon and when I saw them heavily metamorphized. For the hunters we saw 27 rams and elected to harvest none as no older ones located in 10 days of hiking. 4 20 Link to post Share on other sites
hemipristis Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 This is one of those trip posts where I'd want to tag along just for the adventure. You could keep my fossils. I'll carry gear! Gorgeous scenery! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
RJB Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 Been awhile since your last post. I saw you made one and I knew I had to go read it. I always enjoy your post. RB 1 Link to post Share on other sites
debivort Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 what an adventure! Link to post Share on other sites
traveltip1 Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 Beautiful area and nice finds Link to post Share on other sites
Top Trilo Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 I would love to visit Northern Alaska one day, Very jealous of your trip! Link to post Share on other sites
Cris Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 What a beautiful looking area. I would love to travel up that way at some point. Thanks for sharing! Link to post Share on other sites
AK hiker Posted August 31 Author Share Posted August 31 Thanks for the nice comments on my trip. I have been reading about the geology/paleontology of the eastern Brooks Range and believe the fossils are of Upper Mississippian age where we were. Will share a few more pictures from the end of the trip as we moved east for a second hike. Close up of previous fossil hash plate River worn corral pieces were abundant. Lots of variation on the corral types present. Vertical erosion in the side valleys. With water being the main erosion force This is the biggest fossil I have ever seen. It is composed of stromaporid deposits through out the limestone. I’m already looking forward to returning next year for another adventure in northern Alaska this time with my next Labrador who will be old enough to carry her own pack with gear and her food. 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Echinoid Express Posted August 31 Share Posted August 31 Very cool! That area is gorgeous, and it looks like there is a lot of neat things to find as well. Thanks for sharing! Link to post Share on other sites
Sjfriend Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 Very cool trip! Great fossils. Bummer about the ram but that's AK for ya. I often have the problem of spending lots of time looking at the scenery / rocks then wondering how much wildlife I missed seeing due to nose to the ground lol. Link to post Share on other sites
AK hiker Posted September 3 Author Share Posted September 3 On 8/31/2023 at 3:18 PM, Echinoid Express said: Very cool! That area is gorgeous, and it looks like there is a lot of neat things to find as well. Thanks for sharing! I have been going to the Brooks Range since the late 1980’s and and agree in your assessment. 14 hours ago, Sjfriend said: Very cool trip! Great fossils. Bummer about the ram but that's AK for ya. I often have the problem of spending lots of time looking at the scenery / rocks then wondering how much wildlife I missed seeing due to nose to the ground lol. All part of the fun to explore seeing the sites/sights and share. Link to post Share on other sites
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