Gear

Nothing here should be considered "expert advice" or "instruction". Consult some pros! (I'm simply sharing information.)

Collecting this gear took a little over two years, because even though I thought these things were important, and none were expensive, I didn't feel rushed to buy everything at once. I did some research, waited for sales, etc., and gradually built it up. I simply wanted to put together an emergency kit, and this is NOT a "camping- ready" kit for winter in Alaska. First, I'll show you what I started with, (Something is better than nothing!) and then what I've changed, as I learned more.

In wintertime Alaska, the most important gear is what you can't see here, which is clothing, Having come here from the south, back in 1995, I wore the wrong things for many years, just because I wasn't outside much in the winter. Finally, I've spent the time to collect the basics, and am now enjoying outdoors a LOT more, because of it. I'm wearing the Merin "Smart Wool" long underwear, and my outer shell is a (Columbia) down-filled, waterproof shell (with hood) has a reflective inner liner, which keeps me nice and toasty down to at least zero degrees Fahrenheit, even with JUST a short-sleeved cotton shirt under it. Of course, now I know to skip the cotton, and wear the long underwear and a fleece over it. As long as I don't tear or burn the outer layer, the down should never get wet. My outer gloves, which are winter-type and waterproof, are cut long, to integrate with the coat, which also has sealed sleeves and velcro adjustments. I wear them with liners, and again, feel that I'm comfortable down to at least zero degrees Fahrenheit. Finally, some wool socks, and waterproof hiking boots. For day hiking, I've been wearing jeans, and am completely aware that "cotton kills" up here in the winter. Some kind of rain or snow pants are important, for safety. You don't want to be wet here, in the winter!

These are the things that I might carry, depending on the length of the trip, the location, and the advice of my more-experienced friend.. They're the typical recommended items, agreed upon by most experienced outdoorsmen. I'll make it "smarter", as I learn more. (See "Live and Learn…", below.) Everything you see here, except the machete, fits easily in my pack. (The North Face "Chatter Pack") Food would be separate, and probably would be homemade mixes for drinks, soups, etc., and some dehydrated food, like the Mountain House "pro pack" type.

Not shown here, because they're in the side pockets of my pack, are a 1 liter, wide-mouth stainless steel bottle, and a 1-liter, wide-mouth Nalgene bottle. I can carry and boil water in the metal bottle, make char cloth, etc., and can either carry more water, or perhaps some trail mix ot other food, in the plastic one. More options are good!

Live and Learn. LOTS of changes...

• The first class I took at REI was an introduction to winter camping. At that class, I was surprised to learn that the instructor, who goes out for a week at a time, moving his camp site several miles each day, expects to need 5000 calories per day. Wow! Remember though, the advantage of cold weather. You can carry things like butter, sausage, bacon, etc., and it will stay frozen. LOTS of calories in those items. The dehydrated foods, as a comparison, are typically 300 to 500 calories. The instructor said to plan on two pounds of food per person, per day.
• I bought the cup/stove combination before I knew that propane wasn't good for temperatures below about 40 degrees. So… This is not a severe winter-capable stove, unless the fuel is kept warm. Instead, liquid fuel is the preferred choice in wintertime Alaska, and it's vital to carry a dependable stove, with plenty of fuel, for two reasons… First, in wintertime Alaska, especially at higher elevations, dry fire wood ( and everything else!) won't be easy to find. Second, most of the area we'd hike and camp here is protected state parks, where open fires are not allowed. It's best to "leave no trace", unless it's a real survival/rescue situation.
• I no longer carry matches. I carry a lighter, some cotton balls and Vaseline, and most of the time, will use the fire steel. It's the most reliable and long-lasting, and I have several, stashed in different places.
• I'm selling the Bergen backpack, and going to a (Kelty or Jansport) external frame pack. WAY more versatile and comfortable.
• I see the value of hiking poles, and will be carrying them from now on. Same for Gaiters.
• I've kept the 440 cord, but have added 500 feet of tarred bank line to the mix, as well as 50 feet of quality climbing rope.
• Along with the hand-held LED lights, I've added two multi-function headlamps. (main and backup) and extra batteries. All of my battery-powered stuff, including my camera, uses AA batteries, so I don't have to mess around with various sizes.
• I'll be replacing the Gerber machete with an Ontario "RTAK II".
• The REI thermos worked great for a while, but as soon as the coating on the bottom came off, it lost nearly all of it's insulating properties. I may return it.
• Along with several small micro-fiber towels, I've added two large "Sham Wow" pieces to the backpack. These are really great, silly name or not. VERY absorbant, can be cut easily if needed, etc.. Use for camp towels, or even to stop bleeding, in an emergency.
• I've added rain pants.
• I've purchased a better compass, with azimuth capability.
• I'm embarrassed to tell you that I was naive enough to buy the Gerber "Bear Grylls ultimate Survival Knife", when it first came out. It's now strictly a last-ditch backup, Because... I've purchased the Blind Horse Knives "PLSK1", knife, designed for Dave Canterbury. It's now my primary "survival knife", and the Gerber "Big Rock" is my backup/bushcraft knife, along with the Leatherman, and a Spyderco "Tenaciious", for EDC.
  
• I've created an emergency fishing/trapping kit, based on an idea I got from watching a video by Dave Canterbury. He used a military surplus flare tube (waterproof, like a large version of the match tube) about 2 inches in diameter and 12 inches tall. He filled it with several 35mm film canisters, holding a variety of lures, weights, jigs, hooks, and a cork float. On the outside, he added 24 feet of snare line, a length of heavy fishing line, and a length of bank line. Some items were held to the case with duct tape, and some with "ranger bands" made from inner tube pieces, which also provides a non-slippery grip. I found those surplus flare tubes online, for only $4.99 each. Total cost for the kit: Less than $20, even with fancy lures.
• Although the machete/saw combination is a good idea, and it was inexpensive, (Gerber) along with their simple folding saw. Light, smaller, inexpensive, and useful.
• Depending on what you intend to do, this list can go on and on. You can carry a huge pack, tent, show shoes, skis, trekking poles, a helmet and goggles, and a hundred other things. I would like to eventually have a tent, but as I said, this was intended to be an emergency kit, not a camp set. Those things are expensive, too!

A Mini-size "EDC" (Every Day Carry) kit:

I live in Anchorage, Alaska, where the laws are very good, regarding what you can carry around town. People carry knives and sidearms in public quite often. Nevertheless, I don't intend to be walking around the local grocery store with a gun or even a survival knife on my belt. A much more subtle EDC package suits me, and this is what I routinely carry. (and in my pocket, the Spyderco "Tenacious".

The sheath for my Leatherman "Surge" has two small nylon "tubes" on the sides, for accessories I don't use. So, I placed a small LED light on one side, attached with a short length of 550 cord, secured with a small cord lock. I split the tube on the opposite side, and sewed on some velcro, to hold one of those multi-purpose emergency gadgets, available at places like REI. The center front pocket holds a fire steel and striker. So, between the tools on the Leatherman itself, as well as the LED light, fire starter, and multi-gadget, there are quite a few options, in a small, unobtrusive package.

The multi-purpose emergency gadget:

Completing the (summer) sleep system:

Purchased a ENO "SingleNest" hammock, and the big mosquito net. I'd seen these before, but not packed. It's amazing just how light these things are, and how small they pack. I'm officially off the dirt!

Combined with a pad and my (15 degree) bag, and we're talking "comfy", in the summer here.