Alaska Travel Forum

I and my wife will drive rented car around Alaska + Yukon and northern BC at the end of July and in August (3 weeks in total). I have already booked most accommodations (most are expensive - over $150/night - I may cancell them) but not all due to no vacancy (or they want me to send my credit card dates through e-mail, I never do it).

So, I also think about either renting or purchasing a little all-weather tent for 2, two sleeping bags and sleeping pads and stay once in a hotel (pro is internet, charging batteries and shower) once in a tent. After my Alaska/northern Canada I have a plane to Seattle and would have to pay $125 fee for exceess luggage + buy additional suitcase/bag for my camping gear.

Q1:
How much about is to buy the above equipment in Anchorage/Kenai peninsula/Kodiak island? I may also buy and bring the above camping gear from home but in this case I will be forced to pay at least $125 for excess luggage (I wonder if I pay this for each flight of 4 or just once for the whole air trip).

Q2:
How much about is to rent it in Anchorage (for 3 weeks)? Where can I do it? Any recommendations?

Q3:
What local law says about camping?
Do I have to use and pay for official camping sites in Alaska (Yukon and northern BC) or may I pick up my tent wherever I want outside NPs? May I do it on private property, too?
What about safety from wild animals (and bad people)?

Q4:
What equipmennt do you use in Alaska for storing food (ice chest or electric cooler) and for cooking food while camping? Any recommendations?

Cheers,
Matt.

ask a local if you can use theres?

Q1
You would have to pay each time you flew for the extra gear.

Q2 I suggest you look for a camp/tour website like this one which isn't for Alaska but for the Yukon. http://www.naturetoursyukon.com/ This is what they have for rentals (only listing one day's worth although they have by the week as it doesn't format the table properly. This list also answers part of the question about safety from wild animals and food storage.


EQUIPMENT RENTALS:
The following articles may be rented. Since we only carry a limited number of each item, we ask you to book as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Per Day

Tent / 2 People 15.00
Axe/Shovel/Saw each 3.00
Tarp/Grill each 3.00
Bear Spray 3.00
Bear Proof Container 5.00
Water Containers 20 Liters 3.00
Cooler Box 34 Liters 3.00
Dishes 2 Pax 4.00
**1-Burner Campstove 3.00
**2-Burner Campstove 4.00
** Without fuel

Q3 and 4
http://www.familytravelguides.com/articles/alaska/campak.html

In Anchorage REI is a good start for gear that will hold up well. Check out: www.REI.com for prices and a map to the store in Anchorage. I would say if you are buying a whole bunch of gear you should pay the $20 to become a member. With membership you get 10% back at the end of the year to put towards another purchase. Camp spots here in Alaska will cost you from $0 to $35 depending on where you camp. State and federal spots are free or cheap but private places offer showers, power and Internet. Your savings over hotel rooms should more than cover a tent and two sleeping bags at REI! On that note - I personally would buy a smallish backpacking tent because it will hold heat better thereby saving you money on your sleeping bags cause you won't need anything more than a 40 degree bag which is way cheaper than a 20 degree (and smaller to take home). Would also recommend a small canister style stove for two reasons; 1. easy to find fuel canisters ( I can usually get about 6 good cook sessions out of each canister) and 2. when you are going home you can chuck or give away left over fuel canisters and you are left with a light-weight burner the size of two golf balls to take home with you. Foam sleeping pads and pots I would just buy cheap at WalMart and give away when you leave Alaska. Incidentally, if you want to save time and do want to buy from REI you can order your tent and sleeping bags online and have them shipped to the store with no shipping cost. The upside is that you save time by just wandering in and picking up your order. The downside is that if either of you is short or tall you lose the opportunity to try bags and tents out before you buy. This could mean needing to return it and go through the whole process anyway. I would only go that route if you are within the average height and weight range or if you know exactly what you want (or find something at such a steal you can't pass it up). On the cheap note you could also shop at www.REI-Outlet.com and look for closeouts which can also be picked up for free at the Anchorage store. As for the bad animals and bad people - don't worry – I have camped up here for many years and never had a single issue in the backcountry or at a highway campsite. Just do yourself a favor and don't leave food out unattended or coolers of beer for that matter. This will help you avoid a run in with bears or thieving teens. For cooking - I would get that small canister stove for doing boil or simmer style foods and you will have a fire pit at all designated campsites that you could use for hot dogs, fish, hamburgers, etc. Anything else let me know -

Scott

Matt,
Scott gives good advice on gear. REI is favorite of mine.

The tent is key - a cheap tent that is going to leak the first time it rains will ruin an otherwise good trip. You can probably get by with cheap bags from Walmart if you aren't using them after this trip. And you can always mail excess stuff back to Poland when you are done with them for $20-30. There is a 24 hour post office next to the Anchorage airport. Or mail your stuff to me and I'll hang on to it until you get to Kodiak.

On your trip to Kodiak on the ferry you'll need sleeping bags and pads if you want any sleep that night. I know on the Tustamena you can pitch a tent on deck - not sure about the Kennicott. I can help you buy stuff here at the local Walmart and sporting goods stores, but Anchorage would be cheaper. You can dig around my garage for some camping gear as well. My wife isn't interested in camping here in kodiak with our rather large resident bear population.

As far as bad guys and bears... You just have to be cautious. Bears are interested in what you have to eat, so keep all food sealed and away from the tent. Never had any problems with bad guys, just the occasional drunk.

Where to camp? I strongly recommend getting a copy of this year's Milepost. It is written for driving the Alcan and covers everything along the way mile by mile.

New subject - be thinking of what you would like to do here in Kodiak. Museum hoping for half a day and then perhaps a drive out to some of our remote beaches? Fishing? I plan on taking a day off if you'd like the company.

Looking forward to meeting you and your bride.

Rick,

CAMPING GEAR
Thanks a million for your and others very valuable help. I mostly followed your suggestions. A good quality tent (ultralight for 3 people and "rain-proof") and two sleepings bags + a stove are already shipped and will wait for me in REI Anchorage. I am going to buy some food (cans + mineral water) in Wal-Mart or Safeway and the cheapest sleeping pads + a cooler in Wal-Mart - all in Anchorage.

KODIAK
Except of visiting town of Kodiak, I think about hiking and riding a bicycle around + sure, I do accept your idea of driving out to some of your remote beaches. As for fishing I am ready to buy a fishing license for one day and catch at least one salmon :-) but I need a fishing gear and a teacher, I think. I also still think about bear view tour by seaplane but I am not sure if Sea Hawk Air really can arrange it.

Looking forward to meeting you,

Matt.

Sounds good. I'll meet your ferry and we'll go from there.

On the Seahawk Air deal, it is pretty standard to ask for expiration date with the CC number. With some smaller businesses like I have worked for you use a telephone hook up with the bank and must have the expiration date to run the card. If you are uncomfortable with that, then best to phone them.
People I work with tell me they are reputable company.

I haven't been fishing yet this year. Salmon runs have not been very good close to town, but we can sure try our luck.

Rick,

I have a plane from Chicago to Anchorage in a few hours. I will call Sea Hawk Air tomorrow from Anchorage as soon as I buy a phone card.

Greetings from Chicago,
Matt ands Urszula.

buy a mobile from walmart $30 with 300 minutes