Alaska 2026 8/26-9/9 Starts now

[Nuts]

Starting this now since you don't just show up. The fun part is later. Now is the work.

Saturday starts the full load out hiking. Final pack weight just shy of 45lbs. Not quite where I wanted to be. After a couple weeks of hiking I may see what I can do without and if anything moves from the truck to the pack

Backpack:

• Clothes:
  • 5 pairs boxers
  • 2 pairs of base layer
  • 4 pairs socks
  • 1 pair waterproof socks
  • Kings mid layer +Spare pant
  • Kings Puffy
  • First light rain gear
  • Waterproof gloves
  • Gators
• Gear:
  • 2 rechargeable/battery packs
  • Batteries
  • 2 headlamps
  • 4 luni lights
  • Tent
  • Raft
  • Jetpoil with meal kit. Will add fuel in Alaska
  • Sun/Rain tarp
  • Chair
  • Sleeping bag with pad
  • Flyrod with gear
  • Spare boots
  • Camp shoes
  • Game bags
  • Knives
  • multi tool
  • Paracord
  • Gear ties
  • zip ties
  • Water filtration
  • just add water wipes
  • microfiber towel
  • bear spray will be added in AK
  • Gun and ammo
  • Head net
  • Will probably add intruder alarms. TBD
  • Med kit
    • bandages
    • blood cut
    • turnequet
    • advil
    • z pak
    • pain meds
    • ace bandage
    • eye drops
• Food
  • 5 dehydrated breakfast meals
  • 15 dehydrated meals
  • Powdered PB
  • Old Bay
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Lemon Pepper
  • will add tortilla wraps and shredded cheese in AK

Chest Pack

• Water bottle
• binoculars
• range finder
• handgun with 2 clips
• InReach
• Walky talky
• Goggles
• Knife
• locking tags

For the truck

• spotting scope and tripod
• 2 boxes of MREs
• Cooler with road food
• Case of water
• Road chair
• Spare scope with spare ammo
• Waders with wading boots
• Game Sled

In hand will be trekking poles. These have a gun V if needed. Binocular holder

I have been using some gym equipment and hiking. This Saturday I will start hiking with full rig. I will do that several times a week up till departure. Never pushing it. Not the time for injuries.

 

[Hams42]

What are luni lights and sell me on waterproof socks? I feel like I would have more sweat inside of my socks then water outside.

 

[Mule Kick]

Seems to me you could cut out 4 pairs of boxers for starters
I look forward to following this!

 

[Nuts]

Seems to me you could cut out 4 pairs of boxers for starters
I look forward to following this!

1st time I went my wife vacuum sealed 15 pairs for 15 days. I brought 10 pairs back still vacuum sealed. And one change was due to and unplanned swim in freezing water. lol.

 

[Nuts]

What are luni lights and sell me on waterproof socks? I feel like I would have more sweat inside of my socks then water outside.

• Luli lights are inflatable lights with a solar panel. Pack light. blow up and give good light around tent at night. We each have a couple. Lights up camp fairly well so that when you step out of tent in the dark you can see everywhere without headlamp tunnel vision. Also a very good chance i am not calling them the right name
• Waterproof socks can be worn over your normal socks to keep feet dry when your hiking boots are wet through and through. There is different opinions on how long you want to hike in them. For me I use them to finish a day out if boots are soaked through. Change socks and throw them over. Supposed to be breathable. I don't know that I buy it. My back up boots are always knee hi rubber boots. So if we are going to be in mud and wet I wear them. But don't do rocks or climbing in them.

 

[ashersdad]

I'm excited for you! Sounds like you're dialed in pretty good. I'll be going on my 10th Alaskan hunt this Fall. I have never had a guide or myself carry bear spray or a handgun. Also, have never used intruder alarms or bear fences. Not saying you shouldn't, just sharing my experiences. Hope you have a great hunt!

 

[Nuts]

I'm excited for you! Sounds like you're dialed in pretty good. I'll be going on my 10th Alaskan hunt this Fall. I have never had a guide or myself carry bear spray or a handgun. Also, have never used intruder alarms or bear fences. Not saying you shouldn't, just sharing my experiences. Hope you have a great hunt!

Thanks. For us these hunts have evolved. Here is my thought process for those items.

• Bear Spray-My wife has harassed me for years on this. Wont hurt having it. No good reason not to. Will I use it. Highly doubtful.
• Handgun-A bear defense gun is only good if you have it handy. A good part of my time in AK has been in a raft. If you have been raft dragging or portaging that is not done with a long gun in hand. Also in a raft long guns are typically in floating cases. A handgun assures that it is always there with no thought process. I carry daily at home as well. Not really something I even think about.
• Intruder alarms or bear fences. I have never used one on my own. I was with a friend who was a retired guide. He used one when we camped at a spot where they had been filling caribou tags. That particular creek mouth was funneling caribou and it was known by quite a few people despite being several days into the bush and inaccessible by foot or air. Gut piles were everywhere and the place to hang meat was to close to the campsite IMO. You have meat at the same spot for weeks on end it is very likely that you will have visitors. For me walking into a kill the next morning probably has the biggest pucker factor on the hunt especially if getting a good visible is difficult. If a simple alarm lessons that its a small item.

 

[glass eye]

@Hams42
@Nuts

I wear SealSkinz waterproof socks over my regular socks, be they cotton or wool.
I've worn them in New Zealand and Alaska over wool socks, and in SoCal desert over cotton socks inside of waders where temps are in the 70's in January and my feet and socks never get wet or sweaty. If I wear just cotton socks inside my waders my feet and socks will be soaked with sweat.

 

[Hams42]

@Hams42
@Nuts

I wear SealSkinz waterproof socks over my regular socks, be they cotton or wool.
I've worn them in New Zealand and Alaska over wool socks, and in SoCal desert over cotton socks inside of waders where temps are in the 70's in January and my feet and socks never get wet or sweaty. If I wear just cotton socks inside my waders my feet and socks will be soaked with sweat.

I worry just because my feet sweat in uninsulated boots in 20°. Not sure they would work great for me.

 

[Bighorner]

What type of raft are you using?

 

[Nuts]

The first year we used whatever we can find which was unknown manufacturer self bailing raft with oar frames. Now we are completely hooked on the Pro Pioneer and the Pioneer X-tream. Both hold over 1500lbs. Which is nice. But for this year we are backpacking in. We will have rafts to float most of the way out. New hunt for us. For this year in order for a couple guys to go it needed to be a bit cheaper and shorter duration. So we are carrying Alpacka Rafts in our packs. I believe the Caribou model or similar.

 

[kwyeewyk]

@Hams42
@Nuts

I wear SealSkinz waterproof socks over my regular socks, be they cotton or wool.
I've worn them in New Zealand and Alaska over wool socks, and in SoCal desert over cotton socks inside of waders where temps are in the 70's in January and my feet and socks never get wet or sweaty. If I wear just cotton socks inside my waders my feet and socks will be soaked with sweat.

Used those on an AK trip couple years ago and fell in love with them. I also run hot and didn't have any problem with sweating in September, they're sure nice around camp and if you get a little water in your waders keeps your feet dry.

 

[glass eye]

@kwyeewyk I wore them without waders in NZ. I wore them with crocs and walked through puddles and wet grass for 2 weeks everyday and never got wet.