Traverse Team

Benjamin Jones is a geographer by training who works across scientific disciplines to study Arctic coastal systems, permafrost, and environmental change. He has worked throughout Alaska’s Arctic and sub-Arctic for more than 25 years, collaborating closely with coastal and riverine communities to document change and its implications for travel, safety, and infrastructure.

Ben learned to travel safely and responsibly by snowmachine through years of mentorship from knowledgeable Indigenous Elders and experienced local travelers, whose guidance shaped not only his technical skills but his understanding of weather, ice, terrain, and decision-making on the land. This foundation continues to inform how he approaches fieldwork, leadership, and collaboration.

For the past 20 years, Ben has led and supported remote, snowmachine-based field expeditions, primarily across western and northern Alaska. He has logged nearly 19,000 miles by snowmachine, participated in 34 snowmachine fieldwork expeditions, and guided 30 of those traverses through some of the most remote coastal and inland regions of the state.

During the COAST-X 2026 traverse, Ben will surpass 20,000 cumulative miles traveled by snowmachine, a milestone reflecting decades of experience grounded in Indigenous knowledge, careful observation, and respect for place. His leadership of COAST-X emphasizes shared learning, reciprocity, and the integration of scientific observation with lived experience.

Phillip Wilson is a research professional at the Institute of Northern Engineering (INE) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a born and raised Alaskan. His work sits at the intersection of Arctic field science, engineering, and applied research, with a focus on permafrost, snow and ice processes, coastal environments, and cold-regions infrastructure.

Growing up in Alaska, Phillip developed an early familiarity with northern landscapes, seasonal change, and travel in remote environments. This background informs his approach to Arctic fieldwork, where careful observation, preparation, and respect for conditions are essential.

Phillip has extensive experience supporting and leading field operations across Alaska, with strengths in environmental data collection, instrumentation, and logistics in remote settings. For COAST-X, he plays a central role in planning and executing field measurements along the traverse, ensuring that observations are collected safely, systematically, and in ways that respond to local conditions and community priorities.