Baker Lake Uranium Project

January 26, 2006

Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. is pleased to announce it has entered into an option agreement to acquire up to a 60% interest in Kaminak Gold Corporation's Baker Uranium Project located near Baker Lake, Nunavut.

This approximate 350,000 acre property is located within a highly favourable geological environment for the discovery of uranium and gold mineralization. The property is host to at least 20 known uranium prospects that occur along 75 kilometres of a geological unconformity.

Pacific Ridge Program
Pacific Ridge proposes to complete a compilation of historical exploration data, followed by airborne radiometric surveys and ground follow-up, all of which will be used to prioritize drill targets for a diamond drilling program.

Previous Exploration
The property's uranium potential was recognized when Pan Ocean Oil Ltd. explored the area from the late 1960s until 1976. Shortly thereafter, Noranda Ltd. undertook a program between 1978 and 1984. These companies conducted prospecting, mapping, geophysics and diamond drilling, resulting in the discovery of 20 individual uranium prospects along the trace of the unconformity.

The uranium mineral occurrences and prospects share many geological similarities with the Beaverlodge Uranium District, located on the north rim of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan. The overall geological setting of the Baker Lake Uranium Project also suggests a favourable environment for the discovery of iron-oxide-copper-gold deposits (IOCG). These criteria include diatreme breccia hosted Cu-Au-U mineralization, presence of continental alkaline volcanic rocks, and pervasive hematite alteration zones.

The Agreement
Under the terms of the option agreement, Pacific Ridge has the right to earn an initial 51% interest by December 31, 2008 by making exploration expenditures totaling $2.0 million dollars and staged payments totaling 400,000 Units, with each Unit consisting of one common share and one 12-month share purchase warrant with an exercise price set in accordance with market at the time of issuance of the Unit. Pacific Ridge will have the right to increase its interest to 60% by spending an additional $1.0 million prior to December 31, 2010. Thereafter, Pacific Ridge and Kaminak will form a joint venture in accordance with their interests then held. Underlying interests are held by Hunter Exploration Group as to a 2% Net Smelter Return interest, as well as by Shear Minerals Ltd./Stornoway Diamond Corporation who collectively hold an 8.5% Net Profits Interest. The option agreement with Pacific Ridge pertains to all commodities other than diamonds.

Overview
Pacific Ridge's option to acquire an interest in the Baker Lake Uranium Project expands Pacific Ridge's portfolio of gold, copper, cobalt and zinc projects in Canada's northlands. In addition to exploration now planned at the Baker Lake Uranium Project, Pacific Ridge recently announced a drilling program at its Fyre Lake massive sulphide deposit in Yukon and drilling by Newmont Canada at its Matrix Gold Joint Venture in Nunavut.

"John S. Brock"

John S. Brock
President

For further information, contact:

Corporate Information
Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd.
John S. Brock
President
Tel: (604) 604.641.2759
www.pacificridgeexploration.com

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. ("Pacific Ridge") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although Pacific Ridge believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Pacific Ridge does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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