All North Slope winter tundra travel closed

With the May 5 closure of the state’s upper foothills area for off-road winter travel and a similar closure announced on May 10 for off-road travel in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, all areas of Alaska’s North Slope are now off limits for off-road vehicle usage. The state’s eastern coastal area closed on April 26 and the western coastal area closed on May 3. Because of poor snow conditions, the state’s lower foothills area did not open for off-road travel at any time during the past winter.

In closing the upper foothills area, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources said that, with widespread snow pack deterioration and large swaths of visible vegetation, conditions in the area are no longer suitable for off-road vehicle operation. However, the snow cover is very variable, with adequate cover is some areas but not others - the agency will consider travel extensions on a case-by-case basis, where the snow cover is appropriate.

Summer off-road travel using vehicles approved for tundra operations may begin on or after July 15 but will require a state permit, DNR said.

The Bureau of Land Management, the federal agency that manages the NPR-A, said that snow and weather conditions in the NPR-A are no longer adequate for winter overland tundra travel.

- ALAN BAILEY