Upper Foothills open for tundra travel

The Department of Natural Resources Division of Mining, Land and Water said that soil temperatures and snow cover within the Upper Foothills area have met the criteria for opening (9 inches of snow and colder than minus 5 degrees Celsius at 30 centimeters depth) for off-road travel. The opening was effective at 9 a.m. Jan. 4.

The division said the opening applies only to those operators with valid off-road vehicle travel permits to operate on state-owned lands on the North Slope.

DNR staff will continue to travel to the North Slope to determine when the Eastern Coastal and Lower Foothills areas can be opened. The Western Coastal area was opened Dec. 28.