About This BlogIt’s a BIG country out there. The national parks in northwest Alaska cover 12 million acres. With a boat, snowmachine or sturdy set of legs, a person can immerse themselves in a little of that territory, but no one sees it like a pilot who experiences the parks from the air. The park service pilots fly a small tandem Scout on patrols and surveys for the National Park Service. Tundra, mountains, and sand dunes are what he sees from their “desk,” and from the sky, they takes notes on wildlife, ice on the rivers, plant green-up, storm cells, and smoking fires. On this blog, our pilots will share the view from 800 feet up. In turn, we hope you’ll be inspired to follow along virtually or get your feet out on the ground and enjoy the riches of these parks. Tune in for weekly observations from: Kobuk Valley National Park, Noatak National Preserve and Cape Krusenstern National Monument. Autumn Flight in the Mountains
September 15, 2018
NPS Biological Science Technician Sara Germain and SCA Intern Lauren Utykanski describe their backcountry flight over the Brooks Range in search of collared caribou calves. Photos from the Brown Bear Survey
June 17, 2018
NPS researchers and biologists conducted an aerial survey of brown bears in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. From the cockpit of their bush planes, they saw lots of bears, but they also saw other interesting wildlife in the Brooks Mountain Range. Interpretive Rangers Visit the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes
August 15, 2018
On August 8th, 2018, seasonal Interpretive Park Rangers Rachel and Thea joined one of our NPS pilots to visit the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes in Kobuk Valley National Park. Kobuk Valley from the Sky: First-Time Flier
July 10, 2018
Have you ever flown in a small aircraft? Well, SCA Intern Lauren Utykanski hadn’t until just recently. In this post, Utykanski shares her first experience flying in a bush plane. Along with other National Park Service employees, she flew over wild rivers, mountain ranges, and the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes of Kobuk Valley National Park. Ranger Pilot
October 25, 2017
Interested in obscure jobs with the National Park Service? Check out what Ranger Pilots do! Aviation and Archaeology
August 31, 2017
A team of archaeologists descend upon Noatak National Preserve in August 2017 for fieldwork. Where are all the Loons?
July 25, 2017
We're surveying loons again! Find out how and why, and check out photos from previous surveys! Searching for Dall's Sheep
July 25, 2017
In the Baird and DeLong Mountain ranges of Noatak National Preserve, researchers are looking for Dall's sheep, valued as an indicator of overall ecosystem health. Fireweed in Bloom!
July 27, 2016
Even from the sky, you can see bright pink fireweed blooming on the tundra. Landing in the Backcountry
July 26, 2016
Planes are the best way to see parks in remote Alaska, but what happens when you want to get out of the plane? Biologists at Work from Above!
July 15, 2016
National Parks Service biologists fly all over Noatak National Preserve in search of Dall's sheep. Backcountry Ranger Stations
July 08, 2016
Ranger Tyler makes a quick trip up to one of the backcountry ranger stations in Noatak National Preserve. A Visit to Kobuk Valley National Park!
July 07, 2016
It's not just park rangers who can see Kobuk Valley National Park from the sky. Visitors can also enjoy a bird's-eye view. Looking for Loons
July 06, 2016
Researchers use airplanes to survey large swaths of the Cape Krusenstern National Monument for wildlife. Sand Dunes in the Arctic
June 29, 2016
From the sky, you can see the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes, the largest active sand dunes in the Arctic. The Growing Green
June 23, 2016
The tundra isn't always snowy. In the summer, it's a profusion of green. Muskox on the Tundra
June 23, 2016
If you're lucky, you'll spot muskox grazing on the tundra while flying over Cape Krusenstern National Monument. Icy Polygons from Above
June 21, 2016
A flight over Cape Krusenstern National Monument reveals hints of the icy geology below the surface. Caribou Tracks on a Snowy Tundra
October 08, 2015
Ranger Tyler flies to a snowy Shungnak, passing over signs of a recent caribou migration. |
Last updated: July 19, 2017