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Dress in layers! In
summer, bring a jacket
or sweater and a
windbreaker. Comfortable
walking shoes and warm
socks are appropriate
for all seasons. In
winter, bring heavier
layers, long underwear,
warm hat and gloves, and
warm boots. Alaska's
informality is perfect
for visitors; casual
wear is welcome
virtually everywhere. A
mild coastal temperature
graces the coastal areas
with summer days
averaging 65-75 degrees
Fahrenheit and mild
winter temperatures of
10-30 degrees
Fahrenheit.
If you’ve done a little
homework, you’ve
probably seen or heard
this advice a thousand
times: Dress in layers.
From spring to early
fall in Alaska, be
prepared for
temperatures in the 50 -
70 degree range - always
with the possibility of
a little rain and wind
thrown in there. Your
best bet is to dress in
layers and bring a
backpack - you’ll stay
warm and dry when it’s
chilly or wet, and you
can peel off layers and
stow them as the weather
changes.
The inner layer is what
we think of as long
underwear, such as
Capilene from Patagonia,
or any other thin
material that absorbs
moisture from your skin.
On a hot
 day,
you can also wear this
alone instead of a
cotton shirt - it'll dry
much more quickly. The
only drawback is some of
these materials also
absorb odor, so you
might consider buying
new stuff before coming
up.
The middle insulating
layer could be
expedition weight long
underwear, a fleece
jacket, or even a
sweater. Synthetic
materials usually have
the edge over wool or
cotton because of their
lightness and warmth.
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The outer layer is the
one you really need to
get right. You want a
shell that's waterproof
and breathable to stay
warm when it's windy and
dry when it's rainy.
Gore - Tex is probably
the most popular
material that fills this
bill. A jacket with a
hood offers a convenient
way to preserve more
heat.
Rain or shine, don’t worry too much about
the weather. Many day tours - flightseeing,
cruises, bus tours - offer
access to shelter. And while you may spend 2
- 3 hour outdoors hiking, fishing, or
rafting, you can generally expect that your
tour operator will provide any specialized
gear you need.
Footwear: We advise
against old - fashioned heavy hiking boots.
They’re heavy, stiff, and can cause
blisters. Instead, get yourself a
comfortable pair of lightweight hikers with
good traction - two pairs, actually, in case
one gets wet. Some are made with Gore - Tex,
however, so they’re both waterproof and
breathable.
Sun Protection: Bring a
lightweight, brimmed hat for sun and rain,
sunglasses, and sunscreen. Interestingly,
the intensity of the sun in Alaska on a peak
summer day is probably equivalent to a
spring day in the Lower 48, because of the
lower angle of the sun in the sub-arctic
regions. But due to the long summer days,
there are twice as many hours of daylight,
so you definitely want to protect your skin.
gatecreek@att.net
www.gatecreekcabins.com
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