Walking the Alaskan Tundra

[Nuts]

Who has walked the Tundra and dealt with tussocks and hippy heads? What is your go to foot wear. Do you thinks its easy or horrible. Any tips?

My personal experience is it sucks. I can push through it. I enjoy where its at. Not doing it. I have used Muck boots, waders and leather hiking boots. Leather boots a no go. That was the first foot where I tried. After 1 day I packed them away. Neoprene waders worked well. I am wearing them anyhow when rafting. But a bit heavy to pack if not rafting. Muck boots worked pretty good. The only issue is the rare unseen hole that is deeper then the boot is tall. This year I was thinking of using gators and a goretex boot. Tbd

My only tip for hiking the tundra is follow Caribou trails. I found them easier to walk with less hippy heads. The down side is they are typically full of water and have holes you can't see. That can be dicey with a pack on. The holes aren't swallow you hole but just deeper. Did find one that I caught myself with my hands. My foot never touched the bottom. I didnt use trekking poles at the time.

 

[Mallardsx2]

Never called them hippy heads.

 

[Nuts]

Never called them hippy heads.

Lol. Might be a local thing. That's what the locals column in fairbanks. At least the ones i've hunted with

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

Ankle tight hip boots most of the time. It was a pleasure to wear anything else when possible. There were different shades of green vegetation. You quickly learned which ones to detour around

 

[kwyeewyk]

I called them oompa loompas, and they did feel like walking on heads, tussocks of sedges. Those were the worst in my opinion, to be avoided at all costs if you have to go more than a few hundred yards. The closer spaced ones seemed better till your foot slides in between them up to your knees.

I've only had one trip up there, but by the end I felt like I was learning how to tell what the walking would be like by the vegetation. Tussocks bad, moss slightly better, lichen best (indicator of solid, unsaturated ground). The snow white lichen I liked best, firm beneath but soft under foot.





Did waders and light wading shoes, but was switching to my leather boots and gaiters when I was trying to hike "uplands". Inevitably there would be water to cross though. Next trip just going to get hiking boot style wading boots with vibram soles and wear the waders everywhere with extra chaps and gaiters over them for the brush.

 

[jdf]

Sucks but it is just mental.. done it twice on 2 hunts. Last year hiked out 5 mile range, set camp at 5pm, my wife glassed out 2 more miles and said there is a bull. She was already tagged out. I said to my buddy you coming or not? That's a good bull. He said that to far, we will never catch it. I said well I will kill that bull if takes me till tomorrow, you coming or not.
2.5 miles later he shot it. We processed it got back to tent at 2am. Got up 7am next morning and I shot my bull.
In 3 days we did over 30miles on tundra.
Brutal packing in and out camp and 2 animals... but it's just mental if you are in real good physical shape..

My go to will always be sturdy leather hiking boots and gaiters. Extra pair in truck stay dry and always hunt In other.
Even wet.