We intend to explore America's energy situation as we ski the crest of the Brooks Range, from the Canadian Border to the Alaskan Pipeline and Pruedoe Bay oilfield.
Our planned route is 300 miles of rugged ridgeline that separates tundra and the arctic from the more friendly Boreal forests. Our trip is expected to require 40 days of cold winds off the Arctic sea ice, unskiied terrain and whiteouts. Along the way, we will send out dispatches from the trip.
Our mission is to look at the need for further developing the North Slope of Alaska, from the environmental, economic and sovereignty (both national and state) perspectives.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

similarities to the Serengeti

I am taking a day in town between trips for International Mountain Guides, facilitating two of their Kilimanjaro/safari trips. We climb Kibo in 7 days and finish up with 3 days of safari on the Serengeti.
As I was bouncing along, looking out over the square miles of the plains, forests and sparse wetlands (we are here in the dry season), I was struck by the similarity of the Tanzanian parks and their vision, with America and ANWR.
The Serengeti, it appears was established to protect the migration of the wildebeast. My first response was, "Why just one animal?" This migration is like a convention coming into town. A year's business is done then. Often, every animal is benefiting from it.
It appears there are several layers of protection, from allowing herding, to residence, to hunting. However, let me tell you, these protected areas are a BIG place.
In ANWR, the coastal plains are the calving place for the cross continent Caribou migration. If we wanted to set up some form of preserve.... that would be one.
I do another safari after one more Kilimanjaro climb. I will focus my attention on the development and layout of the preserves.
Sorry no pictures, my camera did not make it into the luggage, but it was spectacular to watch two of the last remaining 20 some black rhinos feeding off in the distance. I felt it was fitting, somehow, to only see them from afar.

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