Alaska Backpacking: Tips and Tricks
Backpacking in Alaska’s rugged wilderness requires careful planning and the right gear. From unpredictable weather to challenging terrain, multi-day trips pose unique challenges, making it essential to be well-prepared. Here are seven gear tips for a safe and enjoyable backpacking experience in the last frontier.
1. Choose a comfortable, well-fitting backpack
A comfortable, well-fitting backpack is crucial for carrying all your gear. The pack size you’ll want depends on how long your trip is. In general, our guides carry packs with about a 50 liter capacity for a trip of up to 4 days. Trips beyond that or trips that include multi-sport travel (for example packrafting or climbing) may require additional capacity.
Things we look for when purchasing a pack:
Comfortable, sturdy hip belt for weight distribution
Comfortable shoulder trips
Adjustable frame
Pro tip: Line your backpack with a large trash bag when out on trips. This will help extend the life of your backpack and can help keep your gear from getting exposed to the elements.
2. Invest in durable three-season tent
Given Alaska's dynamic weather, a reliable shelter is vital. A three-season tent will allow you to backpack comfortably between June and September in most places in Alaska.
Choose a high-quality, three-season tent that can withstand strong winds and heavy rain. Look for tents with a full-coverage rain fly and a robust waterproof rating. A lightweight tarp can also be useful as an additional layer of protection or for setting up a quick shelter during rest stops.
Pro tip: Learn how to and be sure to use the guylines on your tent. These are the components of the tent that help provide additional stability during high winds and adverse weather.
3. Pack layers
Our guides will carry the following clothing items for multi-day Alaska backpacking trips:
Baselayers: A thin, close-to-skin layer with moisture-wicking properties. For example, wool leggings and a wool, long sleeve top.
Midlayers: These are layers that provide some insulation and are worn over your base layers. For example, a medium thickness puffy vest or jacket.
Outerlayers/Shells: If things are very cold or rainy, this is what goes on the base and mid layers to keep you warm and dry. We like to carry durable rain gear and a bulky puffy for cool nights sitting at camp in Alaska.
Pro tip: Don’t forget a warm hat, gloves, and extra pairs of socks - yes, even in the summer! Opt for quick-drying, breathable materials to stay comfortable throughout your hike and avoid cotton.
4. Pack a sleeping bag and insulating pad
A good night’s sleep is essential for tackling long days on or off the trail. For summer trips in Alaska, we generally carry a 20F synthetic or down sleeping bag. We will pair the bag with a sleeping pad that carries an insulating value of at least R3.
Pro tip: If you have an old closed cell foam sleeping pad, cut it into thirds and use those pieces as camp seats.
5. Anticipate wet feet
There’s a lot of water in Alaska. A LOT! And if your trip doesn’t involve a creek or river crossing, it will likely include rain at some point. Anticipating wet feet and having systems to mitigate this are great.
We’ve found a few things to help the wet feet dilemma:
Carry waterproof socks. We will wear our waterproof socks (in our hiking boots) during water crossings to help keep our socks dry. We will remove the waterproof socks once our boots are dry and continue hiking as normal.
Sometimes we opt for a lighter hiking boot (they dry faster)
We wear wool socks. Wool has natural water-resistant qualities that allow it to absorb up to 30% of its weight in water before feeling wet.
Carry water crossing shoes. If your route has many water crossings, consider packing a pair of old tennis shoes or sandals (with a secure heal) to change into.
Pro tip: Do not cross rivers and streams barefoot. As much as hikers may want to avoid getting wet boots, crossing waterways with no footwear can be hazardous.
6. Consider pre-filtering your water
Depending on where you are traveling your primary drinking water may be glacially fed. Glacial waters = silt. Silt will quickly clog many portable filter systems. Bring a few coffee filters and consider ‘pre-filtering’ your water before using your filtration system. This will help extend the life of your filtration system and ensure your system doesn’t get clogged.
Pro tip: Always bring a backup water purification system.
7. Bring trekking poles
Alaska’s landscape is rugged. Even the most seasoned hikers may find the terrain here challenging. From bumpy tundra hillsides to rock scrambles, trekking poles are a great addition to your backpacking gear.
Pro tip: Trekking poles can take some time to become acclimated to. We recommend practicing hiking with them before a big backpacking trip.
Final Thoughts
Backpacking in Alaska offers an incredible opportunity to experience wilderness and stunning landscapes. With the right gear, you can tackle the challenges of the environment and make the most of your adventure. Prioritize quality, durability, and functionality when selecting your gear to ensure a safe, comfortable, and memorable journey. Happy backpacking!
