This gear list should answer a lot of your gear questions. For the ones that you still have, please send us an email or give us a call. There’s nothing that guides like to discuss more than gear.

I can’t overstress the importance of keeping your load as light as possible. It’s always tempting to over pack and toss in those extras thinking “it doesn’t really weigh much and I’ll be glad I brought it.” No, you won’t. You will regret all those extras every time you hoist your pack onto your back. Optional items like camp shoes, MP3 players, binoculars, extra clothing, etc. can easily add up to 6-7 pounds of unnecessary weight on your back.Leave the extras at home and always make weight one of the primary considerations when making gear selections.

Clothing While Hiking

Your clothing is a system of layers that you add and subtract according to the dictates of weather and temperature. My own clothing preference when hiking is to wear a pair of very lightweight synthetic socks under a wool sock. I wear light weight nylon pants (no long johns), a polypro shirt and a cap. To this I add insulating and waterproof layers as conditions change.Don’t bring any cotton clothing. Cotton is not a good insulator and once it gets wet it takes forever to dry out. Absolutely no jeans!

1. Convertible pants – A pair of lightweight nylon pants with legs that zip off and convert to shorts saves you from carrying a pair of both. I rarely take the legs off however. If you can’t get the convertibles just go with the pants.
2. Long johns – A pair of lightweight polypro longjohns – 2 pair of tops and 1 bottoms. This is the layer that goes next to your skin. Light to mid weight is good, don’t go for the heavy weight.
3. Fleece pants – a light weight pair of fleece pants can be nice to slip into when you get to camp, but they are bulky and take a lot of space in your pack. I consider this an optional item. I don’t usually carry them till mid August. If I get chilly in camp I have the long johns as well as my rain pants for extra warmth. Always think multi function with gear and clothing. If you carry fleece pants then don’t take long johns.
4. Medium weight fleece jacket – this is your primary insulating layer and can be either fleece or one of the newer materials such as Primaloft.
5. Wool shirt or lightweight fleece – good for when you just need a little bit of insulation over the polypro or together with the medium weight jacket for when it gets a bit cooler in the evening at camp.
6. Rain jacket – get a light weight Gore-tex jacket, not a heavy duty one. I like the Marmot Precip jacket and pants.
7. Rain pants – again I go with something lightweight such as the Precip pants. Make sure it has at least partial side zips so you can get them on and off over your boots. Ponchos are not acceptable rainprotection. Wind and brush will render a poncho useless.
8. Underwear – synthetic only NO cotton!
9. Inner socks – 3 pair of lightweight synthetic
10. Outer socks – 3 pair of medium weight wool socks (or heavy polypro)
11. Boots – medium to heavier leather boots. Don’t go with the low cut, very light boots that are little more than glorified running shoes. They are totally unsuited for use in the rugged, rocky terrain of Wrangell-St. Elias. There are a lot of good boots out there now and the ones that are best for you are generally the ones that fit the best. Be sure that your boots are well broken in before you arrive.
12. Trekking poles – on hiking trails these might be optional but on the rugged, off-trail terrain of Alaska they are really a necessity, especially when you are carrying a full pack. They are an invaluable aid to balance on rough ground and help take a some pressure off the knees. Get ones that come in 2-3 sections so they can be collapsed when not in use. Everyone must have a set of two poles.
13. Gaiters – these are optional but nice for keeping crud from falling down my boots. You don’t need the knee high style, just short ones that come over the top of your boots.
14. Fleece or wool gloves – you don’t usually need these for hiking but for in camp they good to have on a cool or windy day. If you get fleece get the windproof variety.
15. Overmits – I sometimes carry a pair of very light Gore-tex overmits (not winter overmitts) for hiking in the rain.
16. Wool or fleece cap – windproof fleece is best
17. Cap – a baseball type cap with a bill is great for keeping the sun off. Get a lightweight synthetic rather than cotton.
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Camping Gear

1. Sleeping bag – this is one of the most important pieces of gear you carry. Even if your rain gear fails and you get cold and soaking wet you absolutely must have this inner sanctum as a final refuge. Alaska is pretty wet in the summer so if you use a down bag you must take extra care to keep it dry. Plastic garbage bags or one of the new, light-weight dry bags will work well. It can snow at anytime of the year in the Alaska backcountry and I have had a couple of inches fall on me in the first week in August. That’s unusual but it happens. You want a bag rated to 20 degrees (Fahrenheit) Don’t go crazy and get a zero rated bag – it will be too warm. If you have a night of extra chilly weather you can sleep in some clothing like your fleece layers.
2. Sleep pad – a full length pad is best. Inflatables like the Thermarest are the most comfortable.
3. Backpack – backpacks have gotten very good in the last ten years. I prefer an internal frame design for the rugged off trail terrain of the Wrangells. I find that an external doesn’t move with your body as well on rough ground. As for size, make sure it will hold all of the gear you will bring plus a bear cannister filled with food. I recommend taking a duffel with all your gear to the store then pack it all into packs that you are considering. I like packs that have a lid compartment that converts to a fanny pack. The pack should be large enough to contain your gear with out a lot of stuff strapped on to the outside. Few people ever show up with packs that are too large. But many have arrived with packs that were barely large enough for a weekend trip.
4. Pack cover – this is a must in the rain. Make sure it’s a large size and will fit over your pack and anything you might have strapped on the outside.

Cooking/Eating

1. Mess kit – plastic bowl, fork, spoon and mug. Don’t get the brittle plastic spoons like you take on picnics or you’ll be eating with your fingers. For a mug you want a large insulated plastic type. No METAL cups.
2. Water bottle – 1 liter wide mouth, Nalgene (lexan) bottle.
3. Knife – no big heavy knives that look like they came off the set of Crocidle Dundee. A small folding knife with a three inch blade is good.

Other Stuff

1. Toiletries – toothbrush, floss, lip balm, sunscreen, toilet paper, small amount of biodegradable soap. (get small sizes for all of this. People often arrive with family sized tubes of toothpaste and a bottle of sunscreen that would last all summer on Miami Beach.)
2. Personal first aid kit –moleskin (plenty), bandaids, aspirin etc. Any medication that you usually take.
3. Sunglasses – bring em.
4. Insect repellant – a small bottle of bug juice will be enough.
5. Headnet – an optional item, the bugs are rarely that bad.
6. Stuff sacks – good for keeping your clothes and gear organized. Get the super light silicon/nylon ones if you can find them. Don’t get heavy weight sacks with compression straps and buckles.
7. Compass – optional but nice to have if you want to sharpen your skills. We can teach you more compass skills on the trip.
8. Camera – lots of folks are going digital these days which saves you from carrying film. If you bring a digital just be sure to have spare batteries and enough storage for pics. If you are going the film route bring about roll per day or more depending on your shooting habits.
9. Book – this is clearly an optional item but I consider it a necessity. If your stuck in your tent in the pouring rain it can be a life saver. I also like to read for about half an hour before turning in for the night.
10. Small paper backs only – no hard bound copies of Moby Dick please.
11. Group Gear - We supply tents, stoves, fuel, cooking gear, all food, group first aid kit and VHF radio.

Please contact us if you have any questions about items on this list.

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