Floating to the Hunt: Lessons from Alaska's River Expert, Barry Whitehill

Floating the wild waterways of Alaska is a bucket-list adventure for many outdoor enthusiasts. For Barry Whitehill, however, it became a way of life. With decades of experience as a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service professional, including a tenure as Deputy Refuge Manager at the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Barry has navigated some of Alaska’s most remote and stunning rivers. Retiring in 2009, Barry channeled his expertise into countless float trips, including over 1,000 miles in a single summer, becoming a seasoned authority on Alaskan river travel. 

In September Barry was kind enough to share his tips and tricks for having a successful float. This event came together through a collaboration with the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges. The friends group does a wonderful job of highlighting the importance of the National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) system to both the residents and visitors of Alaska. Our state has 16 national wildlife refuges which consist of the largest land holdings for the NWR system in the country. One of the priority recreational uses for the refuge system is hunting, and all the refuges allow for some manner of hunter harvest. The Friends group had not in recent history had an event that highlighted hunting on the refuge system. Since both BHA and the Friends of Alaska NWR’s share common values of public land management, and love of wild spaces, the gathering was value added for members of both. 

Barry’s talk, brimming with jaw-dropping photos of pack rafts loaded with moose and caribou meat, captivated an audience of both seasoned hunters and those aspiring to new adventures. His practical advice for successful float hunts was sprinkled with humor, hard-learned lessons, and awe-inspiring tales of encounters with grizzlies and wolverines. 

Barry had more than a few nuggets of useful information in his presentation. His lessons over his thirty years of floating Alaska’s rivers were self-admittedly often learned “the hard way.”  

1. Start every trip by giving up something of importance such as a peace offering following a native tradition.  
2. Mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.   
3. Take your time and don’t rush through difficult areas on the water.
4. Be prepared to deal with the unexpected; consider taking a swift water navigation and wilderness medicine course. 
5. Don’t push the river, it floats by itself
6. Bring good quality gear that is ideally as light as you can. Quick-drying clothes are also helpful. 
7. Ensure you are respectful of the land and others on the river. A portion of this is to be mindful of the presence of native communities and land      allotments on the rivers. 
8. Avoid transporting meat across obstacles like tussocks and rapids. 
9. Be prepared to deal with the meat and try not to shoot an animal in the water.
10.  Listen to your “little voices.” If they say don’t fly, then do not do it.  

Filled with images of breathtaking scenery and pack rafts full of moose and caribou meat, sprinkling in his stories of grizzly bear encounters and wolverine sightings, even lifelong Alaskans were impressed. The talk ended with a litany of questions from members of both groups in the audience and our raffle of an Alpacka Mule, generously donated by Alpacka. 

Following the talk most of the audience met across the street at Midnite Mine Brewery for one of BHA’s signature Pint Nights. Stories of past adventures and newly devised plans for next season's hunt were the primary topic of conversation. One lucky attendee had purchased the winning raffle ticket and was one step closer to making his pack rafting dreams a reality. I appreciated the time that Barry took to share his experiences floating the backcountry on National Wildlife Refuges, and Poppy Benson from the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges, who played a lead role in this event coming together. 

I highly recommend that you check out Barry’s talk and get more tips on how to float to your next hunt!