One of the most common questions we receive is about what to wear for backpacking trips or glacier hikes. These suggestions are with Alaska's summer weather in mind, but can be useful when packing for any outdoor adventure. Weather Here's the thing about Alaskan weather: it varies immensely, is incredibly unpredictable, and the forecast is never accurate. Often when you look [...]
You've made the first big step and booked a trek (perhaps a glacier tour with our friends on the Matanuska Glacier)! Now you have loads of questions about what you have gotten yourself into! One of the biggest hurdles for people getting into the outdoors is that they don't know what to expect. Everything always seems to be high stakes once you involve the outdoors. [...]
Fall in Alaska: The Sound of Silence As soon as the tips of the trees start to change color and the air becomes noticeably thinner, the crowds that frequent trails and glacier edges in Alaska start to thin out as well. Once the change of seasons begins it cues many animals, including humans, to start their migrations back to winter grounds. This opens [...]
Snowshoeing in Alaska is a great way to saunter through breathtaking landscapes. It is a great activity for groups or individuals. This winter sport offers a space for outdoor social gatherings. Simultaneously, you can enjoy the peace and quiet that comes with a traverse across a field of freshly fallen snow. This sport is inexpensive and doesn't require too much skill to navigate. Snow [...]
Solo Journey Across Alaska Traveling to a new place can be both daunting and exciting. Especially when it comes to the expansive lands of Alaska. With so much to do and places to see, this guide to solo traveling in Alaska aims to offer you more tips and tricks to a successful journey. Independently traveling through Alaska could be just the experience you [...]
An Age of Accessibility Topographic maps are an essential piece of backcountry equipment that everyone should bring along with them. Especially in areas without established trails. Paired with an orienteering compass and the right skills and knowledge, good topo maps are invaluable in any terrain. Decades ago, the U.S. government took on the enormous task of surveying and mapping the entire United States back [...]
Alaska Packing Guide Proper Packing Not all Alaska backpacking trips are the same, nor are all packs created the same. We may be packing for different lengths of trips in different weather conditions. Simultaneously, we may need a varying degree of gear to safely and comfortably complete our trip. However, there are a number of steps anyone can take to pack their gear in [...]
Favorite Backpacking Recipes This group enjoys a warm meal after a long day You’ve probably done it before, spent your entire backcountry trip eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, oatmeal, and ramen. I get it, all of these meals are light and easy. But, aren’t you tired of eating the same thing? Those meals are mindless and flat. I bet you and [...]
The Beauty of the Wrangell-St. Elias Range Destination: The Great Outdoors Sitting on my 70 pound pack, roped to my teammates with snowshoes inhibiting me from removing my harness (forcing me to hold my pee all day), I just wanted a snack. Every time I attempted to bring my granola to my mouth, the whipping winds of the Nabesna Glacier swept it from my [...]
How to Train for a Backpacking Trip Backpacking is an extremely rewarding experience, but it is also a very physically demanding one. No matter how ultra-lightweight your pack is, your body still needs to be able to handle hiking long days, gaining elevation, and enduring the elements. The miles won’t hike themselves. Being physically prepared is key in order to make the most out [...]
