Floating Birch Creek, Alaska

Trip Notes

I mapped the locations of rapids and more technical boulder sections using satellite images in (Google Earth and my GIS) and then transferred the locations to our GPS. Just before we launched, I was able to confirm these locations with data provided by BLM Fairbanks Office. Having these mapped out was very helpful as it’s easy to get complacent in the calmer water and there’s not much warning of the approaching rapids which can take someone off guard. BLM has now added a georeferenced pdf of the Birch Creek Wild and Scenic River. Georeferenced pdf’s allow the user to track their location on the pdf map using one of a variety of Android and iPhone apps designed for this purpose. Note that you do not need cell service to use these apps with the GPS functionality of your smartphone.

Although some guide books and web sites suggest scouting Double Barrel Rapids on the right bank, it can be done from either side. We found it much easier to scout the rapids from river left as there wasn’t a trail or eddy on river right that allowed clear access above the first rapid (this may have been due to higher water level?).  Also the positioning for a safety person seems better on river left. Shotgun Rapids were also scouted from river left.

Due to the pandemic we were concerned with how we would do the shuttle between launch and takeout. We were taking the Van from Anchorage but didn’t want to drive an extra vehicle all that way. The launch at mile 94.7 of the Steese Highway is already a long drive from Fairbanks and the takeout is at mile 137, so the cheapest shuttle we could arrange was from a company in Fairbanks and would cost us $450. We considered doing a bike shuttle for the 45 miles, which would have been a decent workout but would have also cut into our timing. On a hunch I went online and discovered we could rent a car in Fairbanks for pretty cheap. (Probably due to the lack of tourists.) This worked out great allowing us to stage the van at the takeout and avoiding any pandemic-related shuttle issues.

Considering the flooding at the lower sections, I think that our experience may not have been a normal float for this time of year, but I don’t really have any personal comparison. In looking back at the river gauge, the flow peaked at 3.17 on the 25th – so I expect that’s fairly high. Overall, it’s an amazing and beautiful float and we want to do it again soon – and hopefully we will get in some fishing at a more normal water levels.

Gear Notes

I’m not going to list all the gear we used on this trip, but like any trip, there were some good takeaways as to what items added significantly to the trip experience.

• Alpacka Explorer Packraft – This is my third Alpacka and it’s an amazing piece of equipment. I can’t say enough about the utility and craftsmanship of these boats. We both have this model and the only reason we didn’t take them both was so we could bring Taiya in the IK.
• Kelty Noah’s Tarp – A good tarp can make the difference between suffering in the rain or enjoying the show. The Noah is heavy but comes with all the lines you need and holds up to just about anything. I wouldn’t take it backpacking, but I always take it rafting.
• Mosquito Coils – Maybe these are old-school, but they really do work. When it wasn’t raining it was buggy. A few of these strategically placed can dramatically reduce the number of biters around camp.
• MSR Hubba Hubba 2 tent – This has been our go-to tent on all our adventures. Relatively light and hugely capable, we never worry about weather and it’s been in Kori’s equipment quiver for a very long time.