How to Pack for Alaska

Here's my full packing list for a two-week trip to Alaska for commercial sockeye fishing, sports fishing for king salmon, and reporting two features

In my first issue of The Waterproof Notebook, I highlighted three key pieces of gear that passed field testing on my trip to Alaska. It was one of the most logistically challenging reporting trips I’ve ever planned. I had to get to Bristol Bay and a fishing lodge on the Kvichak River, both of which are in a roadless wilderness. One leg of the journey required a sea plane to a boat ride to a plane with wheels that could land on a beach with no runway. Another day required two bush planes and a helicopter.

I had to travel as light as possible, with one rolling duffel bag nearly as wide as a Piper Super Cub (a two-seater, single engine monoplane, shown in the photo above) and a waterproof backpack that could keep my laptop dry in a downpour and double as a carry-on.

Before I left home, I laid everything out on the floor and did a careful edit. A sports fishing story for Travel & Leisure (coming soon) required fly-fishing waders and wading boots. I needed commercial fishing bibs to repel the fish blood and slime I’d encounter on a commercial salmon fishing boat for a story for Food & Wine. Everything else had to pull double-duty as layers and streetwear.

Below is the final edit. I wore and used every single thing and did laundry once in two weeks (thanks to the stink-resistant antimicrobial properties of merino wool.)

Here’s the complete list, starting from the top, from left to right in approximate rows.