Brooks Range - Epilogue

I have received several questions asking why I cut my wilderness trip short. I thought I had mentioned the reasons in successive posts, but as I often think about what to write long in advance of writing it, I often end up writing something and forgetting that I didn't write something else. Anyway, here they are in case I had not made everything clear.

1. Tundra hiking was a LOT tougher than I expected. When it was level, the terrain choices were bog tundra or rocky riverbeds. The bog tundra sucks your boot into a murky muck up to your ankle-- you expend a lot of extra energy just pumping your legs up and down. The rocky riverbeds are less fatiguing, but harder on the ankles and knees. In both cases, you need to watch almost every step carefully to avoid stepping on something that could cause an ankle sprain. And your feet get wet in both cases; in the bog for obvious reasons, and in the riverbeds because you are constantly crossing through small streams.
2. Some of the non-level parts were extremely steep, and usually covered in what's called talus. Talus is gravelly, sand-like rock that would actually be a pleasure to hike in on a level surface, but when going up hill, you slide down about 3/4 step for each step you take up. This of course means it takes a lot longer to get up a hill, and it makes you more tired and more likely to fall backward, which almost happened several times.
3. Many times I would wonder whether I would be able to safely go down a hill I was in the process of climbing. Many times I would also wonder whether I could continue to climb, because the steepness of the ascent would increase. This combination was stressful.
4. Without better detailed maps, I found myself many times in a situation where I hiked into either a dead end or one where there was otherwise no chance to go in the direction I intended. This would involve backtracking, sometimes for hours, to find a suitable path.
   
5. When I got to the top of the ridge of the Continental Divide, my choices were to turn back or to basically slide down a very long, very steep talus chute. Returning that way may have been impossible.
6. I was time-constrained. With the possibility of not being able to return in the way I arrived, I could not accurately estimate the length of my return trip.
   
7. Rain. More specifically, thunderstorms.
   

Almost all of this stems from a lack of preparation due to a lack of experience. More detailed maps would have helped, as would better (e.g. more waterproof) boots and rain gear. I should have also packed lighter.

With all this said, I still had an amazing time and in the short three days, saw some amazing views. I didn't see as much wildlife as expected, but I got an experience of nature and solitude, and got to feel what it was like to possibly be the only human to walk where I walked in years (if not forever?) I am already thinking about doing it again, but with more preparation and probably some companions. Anyone out there want to go?