We continue farer northward…
 
 
1. Nolan valley, a side valley accessible by a really muddy small mining road .
 

 
 
2. At this altitude, the marshes are still not frozen.
 

 
 
3. I found the Brooke Range that bars northern Alaska back.
 

 
 
4. We stop a few dozen miles after Coldfoot to go climbing one of the mountains beside the road.
 

 
 
5. While VivaLaVida begins to climb Antigun Pass, the atmosphere becomes wintry.
 

 
 
6. All is already frozen here…
 

 
 
7. … and it is already well below freezing in late afternoon.
 

 
 
8. As it’s already late, we find a nice boondocking site before Antigun Pass, approx. 4,000 feet elevation on the banks of a small river.
 

 
 
9. Despite the cold, I’m going to make some pictures while Mino is preparing the aperitif!
 

 
 
Temp will almost reach 10°F that night and VLV’s heater resume service after resting for a few months…
 
The next morning we cross the Antigun Pass and stop thirty miles down it to go hiking along a beautiful river.
 
 
10. The blizzard that blew here two days previously installed winter before autumn has arrived…
 

 
 
11. Despite a significant current, the banks of the river are well frozen. It was about -5F° in previous days…
 

 
 
12. I enjoy the clear light to play with ice concretions…
 

 
 
13. … sometimes contrasting and twisted…
 

 
 
14. … sometimes carved by running water below.
 

 
 
15. On a bank, we find wolf tracks. It happened here less than two days ago, the snow testifies it.
 

 
 
16. The show is sparkling as the river is freezing and carries plates of ice that break in crystal clear sound…
 

 
 
17. … and our eyes feast.
 

 
 
18. Continuing towards the far north, the landscape becomes truly arctic.
 

 
 
19. Blizzard designed the reliefs.
 

 
 
20. Not sure that the truck drivers who supply Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay are all aware of this beauty…
 

 
 
21. We leave VivaLaVida to walk on a side track…
 

 
 
22. Perfect lines of the wintry tundra…
 

 
 
23. We will not go to Deadhorse, the last part of the track is less interesting. We stop at the last foothills of the Norths Brooke Range…
 

 
 
24. … and even find a camp on the tundra. What a fantastic place to camp, isn’t it? 😀
 

 
 
25. The Sunset is beautiful again…
 

 
 
26. … the last rays coloring the hills…
 

 
 
27. … before a magic full moonrise.
 

 
 
28. And to complete this grandiose day, a northern light came to wish good night to VivaLaVida while the full moon was lighting up the tundra!
 

 
 
We began our descent back to the South the next day. To discover in the next update… 😉
 
Thanks again for your loyalty!