2026 Haul Road Hunt

[Larry Bartlett]

high water events have been the norm for 5 years, despite this hunters do okay but operate with caution regarding river crossing safety and efficacy. Caribou don't care much about rain

 

[TAGPUNCHER]

What type of waders did you run? I’m still in the market and have been researching a couple pairs. Trying to decide on hip waders or wading pants. Not sure I want to run my chest waders, but I’m open to any recommendations.

I had a pair of paramount 300.00 waders and high top lace up tennis shoes.

 

[BowMan86]

I have been up there every year for the past 6 years. I have always worn 18 in rubber boots and have never regretted it. Tape your feet good and wear good socks and you should be fine. I have new buddies that go up every year with kenetrek and crispis with gaiters and always end up with wet feet. I have tried it myself and always end up wet. Not the end of the world but I hate walking in wet boots. You wake up in the morning to wet, cold, and even frozen boots. Not fun. Don’t have that issue with rubber boots, even if they are less comfortable.

It will also depend on where you hike out. There are certainly areas that are dryer than others, but it seems inevitable that you will have to cross a section mid calf level water with no way around.

Last year 4 of us split up a 12man tipi and titanium stove and hiked it out the five miles. Game changer being able to dry out everyday.

 

[wildwilderness]

What type of waders did you run? I’m still in the market and have been researching a couple pairs. Trying to decide on hip waders or wading pants. Not sure I want to run my chest waders, but I’m open to any recommendations.

I would get the wading pants- so much easier to take a leak! The simms G3 have a zipper and are noticeably lighter than the full chest wader. You can wear them as pants- no need for a second layer unless cold.


I wear them all the time with the G3 boots.

I hunt in waders most the time except for sheep.

And if insistent on bringing both rifle and bow you should plan to share a rifle- pretty easy to do and will save a hassle especially if successful killing

 

[Geewhiz]

I have been up there every year for the past 6 years. I have always worn 18 in rubber boots and have never regretted it. Tape your feet good and wear good socks and you should be fine. I have new buddies that go up every year with kenetrek and crispis with gaiters and always end up with wet feet. I have tried it myself and always end up wet. Not the end of the world but I hate walking in wet boots. You wake up in the morning to wet, cold, and even frozen boots. Not fun. Don’t have that issue with rubber boots, even if they are less comfortable.

It will also depend on where you hike out. There are certainly areas that are dryer than others, but it seems inevitable that you will have to cross a section mid calf level water with no way around.

Last year 4 of us split up a 12man tipi and titanium stove and hiked it out the five miles. Game changer being able to dry out everyday.

What on earth did you find to burn out there aside from finger size sticks?

 

[Meanderthal]

A lot depends on how far north you end up going. Close to Deadhorse and west of the highway it's mostly flat terrain with ankle to knee deep water. You won't be able to traverse on high and dry ground in anything resembling straight lines. Best to live in waders out there. The closer you get to the Brooks the more boots and gaiters start to make sense.

 

[BowMan86]

What on earth did you find to burn out there aside from finger size sticks?

We had a camp set up at the road and left the camp set up outside the 5 miles corridor. After our initial trip back to the truck with our first caribou, instead of hiking back out 5 miles empty, we each loaded like 10-15 lbs of firewood and carried it out there. We camped on a dry part of a creek bed off the west side of the road, but we walked the creek line and from where it flooded before was tons of driftwood. It was all the diameter of a quarter or so with some occasional bigger pieces, but we were able to collect enough to keep that thing burning as long as we wanted.

 

[hereinaz]

I have been up there every year for the past 6 years. I have always worn 18 in rubber boots and have never regretted it. Tape your feet good and wear good socks and you should be fine. I have new buddies that go up every year with kenetrek and crispis with gaiters and always end up with wet feet. I have tried it myself and always end up wet. Not the end of the world but I hate walking in wet boots. You wake up in the morning to wet, cold, and even frozen boots. Not fun. Don’t have that issue with rubber boots, even if they are less comfortable.

It will also depend on where you hike out. There are certainly areas that are dryer than others, but it seems inevitable that you will have to cross a section mid calf level water with no way around.

Last year 4 of us split up a 12man tipi and titanium stove and hiked it out the five miles. Game changer being able to dry out everyday.

I agree, muck boots are the way!

It doesn’t make sense until you run them, but they are so much easier than the Kenetrek that I wore the first year. It is also easier on my ankles, knees and hips. I was on the river, but did 3+ miles in one day, and multiple miles other days.

Drying out was nice, we could burn wood, I also had some charcoal.