From Concept to Coastlines: A Traverse Connecting Communities Across Arctic Alaska

In spring 2026, COAST-X brought a simple idea into motion: travel the length of Alaska’s western and northern coasts not just to observe change, but to connect with people, places, and processes shaping the Arctic today. What began as a concept evolved into a 1,986-mile (3,196 km) snowmachine traverse from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta to Utqiaġvik, linking 15 communities along Alaska’s vast and dynamic coastline.

Along the way, we met with tribal councils, Native corporation leadership, educators, school students, and community members. We also connected in less formal ways, on the tundra, inside general stores, and beside fuel pumps, where some of the most memorable conversations happened. These moments reinforced that meaningful engagement does not always happen in scheduled meetings. Often, it happens in passing, in shared conditions, and through mutual experience.

At its core, COAST-X was about listening to concerns and building relationships.

Across every stop, from Bethel to Nome, Nome to Kotzebue, and Kotzebue to the North Slope, conversations consistently returned to a shared set of challenges: coastal flooding, erosion, and permafrost thaw. While these themes were common, each community expressed them in ways that reflected local realities. In some places, erosion was the dominant concern. In others, thawing ground beneath infrastructure or changing travel conditions carried greater urgency. Across all communities, there was a clear thread linking environmental change to impacts on infrastructure, livelihoods, and access to subsistence resources.

These conversations highlighted something essential. While the drivers of change may be regional or global, the consequences are deeply place-based. Understanding those local perspectives is critical for ensuring that scientific efforts are aligned with real needs and can support informed decision-making.

The way we traveled shaped how we understood these perspectives. Moving by snowmachine, rather than flying in and out, grounded the experience in the same environmental conditions that residents navigate every day. It created continuity between communities and revealed the landscape as a connected system rather than a series of isolated points. Traveling over tundra, along rivers, and across sea ice made it clear how these places are physically and culturally linked.

This approach also changed the nature of our interactions. Being on the trail created opportunities for connection that would not have happened otherwise. Conversations unfolded more naturally, rooted in shared experience rather than brief visits. Discussions about environment, infrastructure, and change took place within the lived reality of the landscape itself.

 

  

COAST-X was also an exercise in self-sufficient Arctic travel and logistics. Managing the traverse as a two-person team required careful planning, adaptability, and constant decision-making. Weather, trail conditions, and mechanical reliability all shaped the journey. Critical resupply points in Nome and Kotzebue, supported through cargo shipments coordinated by Melissa Ward Jones, allowed us to continue moving across long stretches of remote terrain. This effort demonstrated both the challenges and the feasibility of extended field operations in the Arctic with minimal logistical support.

Equally important was the decision to take time. Rather than moving quickly from one destination to the next, we prioritized staying, engaging, and building relationships. Whether through formal meetings or informal conversations, these interactions provided insights that cannot be captured through short visits or remote analysis. They underscored that understanding Arctic change requires more than data collection. It requires trust, presence, and a willingness to listen.

Looking back, COAST-X represents more than a traverse. It offers a model for how research and engagement can be conducted in the Arctic. A model that is mobile, community-centered, and responsive to a rapidly changing environment. The expedition revealed both the shared challenges facing coastal Alaska and the diverse ways communities are navigating and often thriving within them.

It also highlighted the importance of integrating logistics, science, and local knowledge into a unified approach. Each of these elements strengthens the others, and together they create a more complete understanding of Arctic systems.

As Arctic environments continue to evolve, efforts like COAST-X point toward a future where connection across disciplines, communities, and landscapes is as critical as observation itself.

 

This journey may be complete, but it is only the beginning. Stay tuned for the 2027 expedition. Plans are already taking shape!