For my final ride in 2010 I decided to travel north, back to the Brooks Range to rebate myself on my dream to snowboard above the Arctic Circle.

Earlier in March I had wild ideas of snowboarding in the Arctic while simultaneously hunting for caribou. I was successful in the hunt but had reached what seemed like the threshold of survival in the process and thus never did link my boards to make some turns in the Brooks Range http://splitboard.com/talk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8624&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

It was the final week in May. Knowing that the sun had been shining hard on the shallow arctic snowpack, and aware that Southern Alaska likely had much better snow sliding opportunities at the time, I was wary to commit to the trip plan. I had no idea what the snow would be like in the far northern land of endless sun. On one hand, I assumed that since it was “The Arctic” it must be cold and that there would be plenty of snow. On the other hand, I was aware of the immense warmth occurring over the month of May. It was a gamble.

Working my way into the far north the day temps were in the 70’s. It was hot and snow was sparse. I stopped several times to fish for grayling on the drive.

Upon arrival to the Brooks Range the weather was beautiful but the snow situation was bleak.

Heavy melting had occurred and there were slim pickings for easily accessible, rideable terrain. I spent some time scouting my options and settled on the most promising looking zone I could find. I began climbing up this ridge.

Hiking was good. It was simply nice to be out exploring the Brooks, absorbing the ambiance of the Far North, taking in the views.

As I continued up the fun class 3 ridge line the unique snow sliding potential of the Arctic terrain began to reveal itself.

Here’s a look back down the ridge I climbed with the road below

Onward to the summit (notice the receding tracks of a fellow ridgeline traveler of the recent past—lower left).

Yes, it is obvious that Shih’ Tthoo the great bear of the north had explored this ridgeline soon after emerging from his winter den (notice all of the caribou hair in this scat, likely from a successful spring hunt or the scavenge of a discovered winter/wolf kill carcass).

My trail on this aesthetic ridge.

From the summit I can see a wild expanse of mountains. The amazing thing is that the Brooks Range is the furthest northern extent of the Rocky Mountains. Wow, I am in the Rockies! To think of how many peaks in the Rocky Mountains I have climbed, I have skied, from South to North. On this summit I realize that I just need to go make turns in New Mexico now and I will have covered every US State and Canadian Province that contains the Rocky Mountains on my splitboard.

After spending some quality time enjoy the place from high above, I drop into some quality Arctic corn.

The snow gets much softer as I descend. As I enter a couloir I start a small wetslide which rolls through the entire route.

Whatever; It’s the end of my season; its late spring and I am stoked to be doing what I do. The ride ended up being sorta sloppy but good. Here is a view of my route.

Its been real for sure; spending time with the caribou and wolves in this place earlier this year and now returning in spring. Despite the intense sunlight and warmth, The layer of permafrost serves to remind me of where I am; a splitboard nomad on the arctic tundra.

2009-2010 has been a good season. I started out riding cold sugar snow and log rides on a 12” base in the birch trees of the Sub-Arctic boreal forest, ended up in the Caucasus mountains of Russia, then the the Brooks Range of the Arctic for hunting and winter camping, then to the rider’s pinnacle of the coastal Chugach to live the dream, then to the interior Alaska Range for rugged splitting adventures, and then back to the Arctic for one final lap. Now I retreat from the tundra, to the forests below for some more fishing and camping. I cook black bear ribs over my fire and reminisce about it all; I can’t help but dream up more splitboarding schemes for the future…

To be concluded.