I'll be making my first trip up to Alaska this summer to the Kenai Peninsula area. Ill be up there for two weeks, the second week Ill be staying with a buddy, so that part of the trip is covered. However, for the first week my wife and I will be camping and fishing off the road system. We're flying in and renting a pickup, we will be tent camping, and our gear load is limited (50lbs each plus carry on).
Ive traveled, camped, hiked, explored pretty extensively in the mountain west of the lower 48. But AK is a totally new thing for me and I was hoping for some newb advice.
Bears/Guns/spray: Ive always carried while in the woods in the lower 48, for general reasons. I could pack my 40s&w loaded with hard cast 200gr. Is it worth the effort to fly with a firearm? Buy bear spray regardless? Most of my outdoor experience is in bear-lite areas and bears around have never bothered me. My instinct is to leave the piece and buy spray. However I want to double check I'm not under estimating the situation.
We plan to hit the Seward & Whittier areas and then head over to the west side. Any advice on good camping?
Any good ideas for random oddities of things to do like clamming, gold panning, hot springs, etc?
Late July/Early August: Should we expect camping/lodging to be crowded/booked in advance?
Im expecting rain and bugs, any other gear advice that may be overlooked?
Ive traveled, camped, hiked, explored pretty extensively in the mountain west of the lower 48. But AK is a totally new thing for me and I was hoping for some newb advice.
Bears/Guns/spray: Ive always carried while in the woods in the lower 48, for general reasons. I could pack my 40s&w loaded with hard cast 200gr. Is it worth the effort to fly with a firearm? Buy bear spray regardless? Most of my outdoor experience is in bear-lite areas and bears around have never bothered me. My instinct is to leave the piece and buy spray. However I want to double check I'm not under estimating the situation.
We plan to hit the Seward & Whittier areas and then head over to the west side. Any advice on good camping?
Any good ideas for random oddities of things to do like clamming, gold panning, hot springs, etc?
Late July/Early August: Should we expect camping/lodging to be crowded/booked in advance?
Im expecting rain and bugs, any other gear advice that may be overlooked?