Monday, June 15, 2009

Postcard from Palmer


Stopped in Palmer to visit with friends and clean up a little. Had an easy trip up the trench to the Yukon. Spent a couple days fishing in Watson Lake - ate very well on lake trout, grayling and northern pike. Got a little smoky from forest fires there so we headed on to Alaska. Flew into the Wrangell/St.Elias mtns and spent a few days flying among the mountains, finding backcountry strips to land and generally getting our minds blown by the massive scale of the land here. 

Heading north through the Alaska Range this evening and will spend the next several days amid the foothills on the north side of Denali. 






Thursday, June 04, 2009

Gear List

Since you asked, here's the gear list for a month of bush-flying in Alaska. Much of it is now packed. The last challenge is stowing it all into the plane... (think clowns and VW's)

Airframe
cargo net
spares: oil, alt belts, TW
tools
headsets primary
headset backup
headlamp
flashlight
battery backup

Airplane/Navigation
430 database
MX20 database
496 database
496 weather
WAC charts
sectional charts - Alaska and Canada
canadian flight supplement
log books
handheld comm radio
window cleaner, bug remover
contact information for friends in AK
customs forms / phone numbers

Survival pack
hatchet
cable saw
spectra hoist rig
med kit
clotting sponges
heat packs
cold packs
extra mosquito net
light sticks
cyalume signalling flares
light webbing, line
knife
tear-aid
quickdraws
sport gel (calories)
headlamp

Survival vests
PLB’s (personal locator beacons)
laser flares
leatherman
first aid
space blanket
earplugs
duct tape
compass
heat packs
pocket survival kit
firestarter
waterproof matches
whistle
blinky light
headlamp

Bear Defense
bear cans
bear spray (supermax pepper spray)
bear fence
fog forn
flares

Mosquito Defense
headnet hats
mosquito net
mosquito smoker and refills
picardin
bug zappers

Camp
sleeping bags
insulating pads
tent & stakes
plastic bags
garbage bags
alcohol wipes
camp stools
pad repair kit
day packs

Kitchen
sm snowpeak stove, windscreen
lg snowpeak stove, windscreen
fuel canisters
Cooking Gear
lg pot
med pot
sm pot
fry pan
folding spatula, spoon
utensils
sharp knife w/sheath
filet knife
mugs
food for 12 days
whiskey
dish soap, sponge
salt, pepper, sugar, spices
tea
ziplock bags - safelok

Water
water filtering equip
sater storage - 3 days

Fishing
spinning rods
reels
spare line
lures, leaders, hooks, etc
pliers
grippy gloves
picardin
waders

Med kit
percocet (pain)
ciproflaxin (antibiotic - severe infections)
promethazine (anti-nausea)
cephalexin (antibiotic - uti, rash, ear inf.)
vicodin (kidney stone)
flomax (kidney stone)
fluconazole (yeast)
neomycin (eye infection)
benedryl (bee sting, antihistamine)
diphen (antihistamine)
claritin (allergy)
clove oil
iodine
benzoin swab (1)
bandaid liquid bandage
oral rehydration salts
clotting sponge
moleskine
bandaids
butterfly closures
safety pins
hydrogen peroxide
qtips
abdominal pad
sterile pads
gauze sponges
tape
tourniquet
latex gloves
lighter
pointy tweezers
scissors
matches
med book

Electronics
cameras & lenses
flash cards
tripod
laptop
external hard drive
camera battery chargers
usb jumpers
laptop charger
iPhone charger
SatPhone
spare batteries