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Notes From Alaska Trip 1996
This is the journal that I wrote during a two-week trip to Glacier Bay AK. Although this was far from being an Adventure, I took along my folding sea kayak and see some quiet and isolated places.

Things Found Out

 The less you have, the more you will be able to find, so the more you will be able to use.
  • Don’t take anything made of cardboard. It will be destroyed
  • Anything not in a waterproof bag will get wet
  • Items described as waterproof should be tested. Especially electronics (radio, GPS)
  • Don’t take more than one of anything that you only need one of (bowls, plates, silverware)
  • Don’t take extra food (an emergency cache is fine) - I consistently ate less than at home (see other section)
  • Don’t take too many water containers, one large plus a water bottle is enough
  • A simple lighter works fine - a Zippo works when matches don’t
  • Don’t take too much fuel - I used 70ml a day
  • Neoprene boots aren’t comfortable - most people use Sitka Slippers
  • Goretex is not needed and not waterproof enough - Rainwear by Hefty is more appropriate
  • Footwear needed is really only light walking boots (or) jogging shoes and Sitka Slippers

Items Taken

 Key: 1=Indispensable, 2=Very useful, 3=Useful, 4=Not useful, 5= liability
Item Key Used Comment
Boat 1 y A double is too big and heavy
Boat cart 1 y Would be a 5 with the right boat
Paddle 1 y Two-piece necessary
Spare paddle 1 n Two-piece necessary
PFD 1 y  
Deck compass 2 y A small hand compass is adequate
Paddle float 1 n  
Spraydeck 2 y And sprayskirts
Rope (3x50ft) 1 y  
Pump 1 y  
Drysuit 3 n  
Neoprene socks 5 n Sitka Slippers would be much better
Hat 3 y  
Waterproof parka 1 y Simple foul-weather gear preferable
Waterproof pants 1 y Simple foul-weather gear preferable
Chart 1 y Waterproof container required
Water carrier 1 y Only one needed
Water bottle 1 y Only one needed
Stove 1 y And reflector/windshield. Only one needed
Extra fuel bottle 3 y 1 bottle lasts about 11 person/days
Walking boots 2 y Would be a 3 or 4 if Sitka Slippers available
Shoes 5 y Would be a 2 if Sitka Slippers available. Don’t need these & boots
Drysuit liner 3 n  
Fleece pants 4 y  
Fleece jacket 4 y Only one needed
Pants (long) (2) 1 y Three would be nice
Socks (white) (5) 4 n  
Socks (dark) (3) 1 y More would be good
T-Shirts 4 n Not needed
Underpants (5) 1 y Washing clothes is difficult
Pants (short) (3) 4 n Not needed
Tarp 2 y  
Tent 1 y  
First aid kit 1 y  
Candle lantern 4 n  
Stove repair kit 1 n  
Trowel 4 n  
Match boxes 4 n  
Zippo lighter 2 y Extra flints needed. White gas is fine as fuel
Gas lighter 3 y  
Mirror 4 n  
Cooking pots 1 y And pot grabber
Sewing kit 2 n  
Dish soap 3 n  
Towel 1 y One is enough
Soap 1 y Must be unscented, one bar is enough
Saline solution 1 y 4oz lasted 12 nights (for contact lenses)
AOSept 1 y 4oz lasted 12 nights (for contact lenses)
Lens cleaning cup 1 y Should have new AODisc (for contact lenses)
Comb 3 y  
Spare lenses 1 n  
Spectacles 1 y  
Sunglasses 1 y  
Lens cleaner 1 y  
Eye drops (tears) 3 y  
Eye drops 4 n Should be in first aid kit (medical)
Toothbrush 1 y  
Toothpaste 1 y Should be unscented
Shampoo 2 y Should be unscented
Sleeping bag 1 y  
Sleeping pad 2 y  
Feed bowl 1 y  
Plate 2 y  
Water filter 1 y  
Head flashlight 2 y  
Flashlight 4 n  
Kettle 5 y Only used three times
KFS 1 y Only one needed
Swiss Army knife 2 y Only used for can opener. Not needed if Leatherman tool has can opener
Leatherman tool 3 y Used for pliers and knife
Mittens (shell) 1 n  
Mittens (fleece) 1 n  

Food List
Item Qty used Value Used? Person/day Notes
Granola 2 liters 1 y 200ml Excellent breakfast
Dried milk 1liter 2 y 100ml  
Hostess fruit pies 10 5 y    
Ovaltine 1 liter 3 y 50ml Replace with drinking chocolate
Dried Refried beans 1 liter 4 n    
Dried Lentil soup 1 liter 4 n    
Baked beans 10 cans 2 y ½ Often used as main dinner course
Dehydrated entree 3 2 y   Useful & simple
Power Bars 6 3 y ½  
“Sweet Rewards” 6 4 y ½ Replace with more Power Bars
Chocolate 6 4 y ¼ Not really needed
Mars/Milky Way 6 4 y ½ Not really needed
Wine 500ml 2 y 40ml A good treat
Jam 1 jar 4 y   Not needed
Cream cheese 1 tube 2 y   Good for crackers
Peanut butter 1 tube 4 y   Not attractive
Crackers (Stoned wheat thins) 2 packs 2 y 6 Good lunch material
Crackers (other) 2 packs 5 n   Fall apart - bear bait
Cheese 2 packs 2 y 0.2 pack Cracker Barrel keeps well
Raisins 3 packs (small) 5 y   Not attractive. Boxes fall apart
OJ concentrate 2 cans 4 y   Cans not as good as frozen, but ok
Crispbread 6 slices 3 y    
Powdered juice   2 n    

Missing Items
Item Qty Value Notes
Waterproof chart case 1 1 Impossible to keep chart dry otherwise
Binoculars 1 2 For animals as well as navigation
Bear spray 1/person 3  
Sitka Slippers 1 1 Replace neoprene socks
Waterproof case for radio 1 1 Even if it says "waterproof"
Alkaline pack for radio 2 1  

Food Eaten

 Granola, milk
Day Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Sun Airline Airline Tub of applesauce
Mon Granola, fruit pie Veggie burger, pale ale, apple pie (lodge) 2 cans beans, can Guinness
Tue Granola. Pot of tea. Cheese, crackers, fruit pie Cheese, crackers, ½ bar chocolate, ovaltine
Wed Granola, Ovaltine Cheese, crackers, fruit pie “Mountain chili”, Guinness, wine, Fruit pie
Thu Granola, milk, tea, fruit pie Cheese, crackers, apricot jam, fruit pie  
Fri Crispbread, cream cheese, coffee. Fruit bar. Lasagna (on tour boat) ½ cup of wine, a can of beans, one cup of ovaltine, crackers with jam, cream cheese and peanut butter.
Sat Peanuts, granola, tea Cheese, crackers, fruit pie Freeze dried mushroom pilaf and cheesecake. Guinness
Sun Granola, milk Cheese, crackers, fruit pie Beans, Guinness, chocolate, cheese, crackers
Mon Four crackers, a few bites of cheese, Milky Way, Betty Crocker Sweet Surprise Freeze-dried cheese Florentine peanuts, Guinness, Sweet Surprise, Ovaltine
Tue Granola, milk Crackers, cheese Eight crackers with jam or cream cheese, can of beans, pot of tea,
Wed Granola, milk Crackers, cheese Freeze-dried cheese cake, six crackers with jam and cream cheese, can of beans, Ovaltine
Thu Granola, milk Sweet Rewards bar, Milky Way (dark), ten crackers with jam or cream cheese Can of beans, Ovaltine
Fri   Veggie burger, pale ale (lodge)  

Gear list for next time

 Note: This assumes one person for two weeks

Boat

  • Kayak
  • Paddle
  • PFD
  • Spray skirt
  • Rope (2x80ft) with bungee attached for rock anchor
  • Paddle tether
  • Pump
  • Repair kit
  • Cart
  • Spray deck
  • Sponge (also useful for tent)

Safety

  • Spare paddle
  • Paddle float
  • VHF Radio (and channel list, prefer alkaline battery pack) in waterproof bag
  • First aid kit (See separate list) in waterproof bag
  • Strobe (on PFD)
  • Whistle (on PFD)
  • “Space” blanket
  • Bear spray

Navigation

  • Chart
  • Chart case (waterproof)
  • Compass (hand held)
  • Tide tables
  • Wristwatch
  • Binoculars

Camping

  • Tent
  • Tarp
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping pad
  • Head flashlight
  • Candle lantern with 2 spare candles
  • Water containers (1 large plus 1 water bottle)

Housekeeping

  • Stove, with reflector & wind screen
  • Stove repair kit
  • Fuel bottle (600ml per week)
  • Cooking pot set (includes pot grabber)
  • Leatherman tool (with can opener)
  • Zippo lighter (with two spare flints)
  • Spare lighter or waterproof matches
  • Mug (marked with fluid oz for cooking)
  • Bowl
  • Plate
  • KFS
  • Garbage bag (for laundry)
  • Tarp (perhaps 2)
  • Duct tape (about 20ft)
  • Sewing kit
  • Water filter

Personal gear

  • Bug repellent
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Toilet paper (1 roll per week)
  • Toilet bag (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, comb, spectacles, contacts cleaner, saline (4oz per week), AOSept, lens pots)
  • Towel
  • Sunshower (Could double as water container if necessary)
  • Money
  • Reading materials (1 book per three days)
  • Reading glasses
  • Journal and pens, with waterproof bag
  • Small still camera (not an SLR)
  • Video camera in housing with batteries. One tape is enough.

Clothes

  • Dry suit
  • Footwear (lightweight boots, or jogging shoes, plus rubber boots – “Sitka Slippers”)
  • Foul weather gear (jacket & pants)
  • Hat
  • Fleece jacket & pants
  • Dry suit liner
  • 6 shirts (3 long sleeve, 3 short)
  • 6 pair socks (4 dark, 2 light)
  • Goretex mittens
  • Long pants (2 pairs)
  • Shorts (1 pair)
  • Underpants (6)

Food

  • Freeze dried meal-for-2 (1 per day)
  • Tinned beans (can substitute for a freeze dried meal)
  • Power Bar (2 per day)
  • Granola with raisins (1 liter per week)
  • Milk powder (½ liter per week)
  • Hot chocolate (½ liter per week)
  • Chocolate (½ bar per day)
  • Candy bar (½ per day)
  • Red wine (1 liter per week)
  • Cream cheese (1 tube per week)
  • Stoned wheat thins crackers (1 pack per week)
  • Cheese (Cracker Barrel, 1 pack per week)
  • OJ Concentrate (2 can/week)
  • Whole wheat fig newton-type bars (4 per day)
Copyright © 2008 Giles Morris