Days On The Land

Could one road trigger a chain reaction across Alaska’s Arctic wilderness—without most people ever realizing it? Welcome back to Days on the Land, where we explore outdoor adventure, conservation, and the occasional bit of outdoor dipshittery, while also sharing firsthand experiences from out on our public lands. In this episode, Jim Dau breaks down what he’s seen in the caribou data, what’s changing in Alaska’s wild country, and why the proposed Ambler Road could have consequences far beyond what most people expect. The story gets bigger, the stakes get higher, and by the end, “just one road” won’t sound so simple anymore. And if you listened to Episode 14 with Lance and Dempsey, two Eskimo hunters, this conversation connects to that one in a powerful way—because it all comes back to how people, wildlife, and the land are tied together.

The Ambler Road is not just a road, it is a test case for what happens when industrial access collides with one of the last intact wild places on Earth. On one side, Lance Kramer argues the road could slash fuel and food costs for remote Alaska villages. On the other, Dempsey Woods warns it could open the door to outside pressure, mine expansion, and permanent damage to a subsistence way of life.
This episode follows the fight over Alaska's Ambler Access Project through the eyes of the people closest to it. Lance breaks down the economics of life in the bush, where groceries, heating fuel, and gasoline can be brutally expensive, and explains why some locals see a road as a practical lifeline. Dempsey counters with a different reality: no real community-wide consent, no guarantee the road stays industrial-only, and a deep fear that once the wilderness is broken open, it never closes again.
You'll discover:
Why some villagers see the road as a way to cut fuel prices in half
How land ownership, gates, and tolls could shape whether the road stays restricted
The environmental concerns around tailings, sulfur dioxide, and stream crossings
Why Dempsey believes the real cost is cultural, not just ecological
How the debate over Ambler ties into broader questions about consumption, development, and the future of subsistence living
The episode also previews a critical perspective from former Alaska wildlife biologist Jim Dow, who has spent decades studying caribou herds and warns that fragmenting habitat could have consequences far beyond one mining district. His comments raise the stakes even higher: this is not just about jobs versus wilderness, but about whether Alaska can keep large, connected ecosystems intact at all.
If you care about public lands, subsistence hunting, caribou migration, or the future of remote Alaska communities, this conversation gives you the full picture from both sides. Essential listening if you want to understand why the Ambler Road has become one of the most contentious land-use battles in the state.

Dan and I talk about his recent solo adventure paddling down the Hess River in Yukon Territory Canada. Dan lives in the UK and runs an outdoor adventure education company in addition to being a part time professional adventurer. We talk about his solo float trip on the Hess River, gear he used, aspects of planning a wilderness trip, running whitewater alone, near misses on the river, what its like to have a family and juggle the need to spend days on the land away from civilization, why we need it and much more. So please listen or watch on Youtube as there are some visuals that go along with the conversation. As always please visit and support the conservation organizations below. You can connect with Dan or myself at our interweb links below as well. And as always get out and spend more Days on YOUR land. Dan Smith. WEB PAGE: https://www.dantheadventureman.co.uk/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@Dan_theadventureman/videos INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/northern_outdoor1/ GRABNAR BOATS: https://www.grabner.com/en/grabner-boats As always Please support Conservation Organizations. My current picks are below. COLORADO STREAM ACCESS COALITION: https://coloradostreamaccess.org/ AMERICAN WHITEWATER: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/ PROTECT OUR RIVERS: https://www.protectourrivers.org/ BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/ COLORADO WHITEWATER https://coloradowhitewater.org/ COLORADO MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION https://www.comba.org/ If you want to support this channel and haven't subscribed please do that and share this with someone who is passionate about the outdoors. Cheers! Ivan Outdoors Social links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daysontheland/ Blue Sky: ‪@ivanoutdoors.bsky.social‬ Tick Tock: @daysontheland