State tundra travel closes for the season

On May 17 the Alaska Department of Natural Resources announced the closure of the Lower Foothills, Western Coastal and Eastern Coastal areas for off-road winter tundra travel. With the Upper Foothills area already closed, the announcement marked the effective end of this winter’s off-road exploration and development season north of the Brooks Range.

The department said that temperatures in the areas had been above freezing during the day and that varying degrees of snow deterioration had taken place.

Given that the snow cover might still be adequate for travel at some specific locations, the department said that it would consider travel extensions on a case-by-case basis. Otherwise, off-road travel already in progress had to be completed within 72 hours.

Summer off-road travel using vehicles approved for this purpose this may commence on July 15 but will require a valid permit, the department said.

—Alan Bailey