Tundra travel opens in NE NPR-A

Following on the heels of the opening of tundra travel in the coastal areas of state North Slope lands, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management opened tundra travel in the NPR-A northeast planning area on Dec. 24. BLM had opened the NPR-A northwest planning area on Dec. 13 — tundra travel stipulations for the northwest planning area differ from those of the northeast planning area. BLM said that the required tundra travel conditions of a 12-inch frost depth and an average snow depth of six inches in northeast NPR-A have now been met.

“Therefore, tundra travel is open using low-ground-pressure vehicles such as Rolligons, ARDCO, Trackmaster, Nodwell, or similar types of vehicles as well as limited use of tractors equipped with wide track for use in pulling trailers and sleighs,” BLM said.

There’s no word yet on when state lands in the lower and upper Brooks Range foothills will be opened. On Dec. 28, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources confirmed both areas remain closed due to insufficient frost and snow. The foothills tundra opening requires nine inches of snow and a 23 degree Fahrenheit soil temperature at a 30-centimeter depth.

—Alan Bailey