Alaska Bound

Trying to put the gear together for this trip has been pretty much a full time job. After selling most of my Commercial Camp to Jim Johnson, I have put together a very nice smaller unit for two to 3 persons. At one time there was a rental place in Kotzebue to rent the entire camp, but the owner sold out, so we pretty much have to take all we will need for a 7 day float. Most other distinations in Alaska, you can rent gear. Usually about $150 a day for two people, not including the raft, which is another $100 plus per day, depending on the raft.

For this trip I purchased a new Coleman 2 burner 20,000 BTU stove, a complete kitchen from REI, and of course we already had a 4 man Alaskan Guide Series tent with 2 ZERO degree bags. I purchased two heavy sleeping pads that are really quite large and would not do to pack. They are 8 pounds each and are 3 1/2 inch thick foam. Compression pillows and dry sacks complete the hotel. 3 new camp lights from Rayban with 380 candle power on 4 D batteries for the light.

We packed our gear in two Cabelas Boundry Bags, 3 Plano totes, 1 Rubbermaid Action Packer. Price for those items alone just to transport the gear was $300.00 plus.

We each purchased a Orvis rod and reel protection box that houses 4 rods each plus the reels and terminal tackle. New waders and boots, and more beads and flys and leaders than we will probably use in a life time. We are taking 2 5wts. 1 6wt. 3 7wts.

We have also sent up dry food items for the trip, and will purchase stove gas, and any other food items before take off. Trip cost at this point is about $4,000.00 not including new equipment we purchased.

Let me state at this point, this is for about 16 days, and multiple destinations. About $250.00 each per day with the bush flights, lodging and rentals on Kodiak,and all the plane tickets. Not bad, YET.