Another Trip On Base

Went out to my test site on Base for a couple hours. It was about 20 degrees and cloudy, as usual. I decided to wear my old Military clothing instead of my Cabela's Berber Fleece. It worked pretty well. My base layer was synthetic themal bottoms and a t-shirt. The mid layer was a polypro top and my fleece GoreTex liners, top and bottom. Outer layer was GoreTex.












It took me 45 minutes to make fire. Everything was wet. Between my cotton balls and lint I was able to get it going, but it took awhile to dry out the wood. Need more practice for sure.

Short Trip with the Wife

My wife and I played hooky from work today and decided to do some hiking. Didn't go out too long, but was able to practice/teach fire making and try out my new pac boots. Everything was wet so making fire was tough, but we got one going using cotton balls and TP that I carry. It was a real treat to see her so excited to be out there with me. She even got to see an Eagle. It was a great time and I hope she comes out more often. My boots are Ranger Peak Pac Boots that are rated to -80 degrees. They worked very well. It was snowing pretty good then turned to freezing rain then back to snow and was in the mid 30's. what a beautiful time of year in Alaska.

Another Short Trip

Got some new gear and decided to try it out. Took my new Cabela's Scout Pack and it worked perfectly. I was able to carry everything I needed and still had room to spare. It rode good and was very comfortable. Total weight of my pack was 20 pounds. The high temperature today was 27 degrees, but as usual my Cabela's Berber Fleece kept me nice and toasty. I opted to make a shelter using my new tarp. It's a 4'x8' green tarp I got from Sportsman's and it worked great. Staked the corners and added pine boughs to lay on. I also took a wool blanket and my 20 degree REI sleeping bag, which kept me warm all night. I decided to make fire using a few different methods as well. I used a magnesium bar and then a firesteel. I also used a 12 volt battery with some steel wool to make fire. They all worked very well. This time of year it gets dark around 6:30 so by 8 pm I was sacked out. The sun rose about 9 am so I broke camp and headed out. It was another successful trip in the Alaskan Bush.

Another new item I took was a Pocket Rocket Stove made by Mountain Safety Research. It worked very well for heating up water and let off a surprising amount of heat too.

Sunset over Six Mile Lake

Lower Six Mile Lake

Heading to my camp site

Overlooking the lake

One of two Bald Eagles I seen. They seemed to be following me.

Looking at the Chugach Range.

New Hunting Pack

Finally got my new hunting pack today. It's a Cabela's Elite Scout Pack. They offer it in a regular or large size. Mine is the large and holds 1,500 cubic inches. It is constructed of CT450 Plus material that makes it super quiet. It has 2 outer pockets and 2 inner/main compartments. With the added compression compartment it is easy to shed outer layers and keep them secure. I currently have all my hunting clothes in it, plus all my EDC items. I even strapped my sleeping bag to the bottom. The pack also came with a 2 liter water bladder. The camo pattern I chose was Seclusion 3D Outfitter to match my clothing. I haven't had it long enough to configure it exactly how I want, but so far I'm impressed with it. I hope to take it out soon for a field test.

Modified Day Hike Bag

Getting ready for a day trip so I decided to pack accordingly. On this trip I will be heading out to Sutton-Alpine on an ATV trip. The trail is about 40 minutes from the house and we plan on heading 20 miles down the trail. It is supposed rain so I packed my poncho in the front green pouch with extra 550 cord in case I need to make a shelter. I also lashed on my sleeping bag in case we get lost or stranded overnight. I will be wearing my poly-pro top and bottoms as a base layer and then a fleece jacket for a mid layer. My outer layer will be my Gore-Tex pants and jacket. Of course I will carry my .40 cal Sig Sauer with two mags in my drop leg holster. I will also be taking my Smith & Wesson 15-22 for plinking around.

Sleeping Bags

Anyone whose been camping, has probably used a sleeping bag at least once. They sure make things more comfortable when out in the bush. There are several popular styles on the market that all have their advantages and disadvantages. There are your typical "blanket" bags, mummy bags and finally bivy sacks. They are made using either synthetics or natural materials. Synthetics are heavier and bulkier, but still work well when wet. Natural or "down" bags can be compressed easier and are lighter, but don't work so well when wet. It really depends on how you plan to use them. I still remember the sleeping bag I used as a kid. It was warm but man was it bulky. It barely fit in the car. It looked similar to the one below. These types would work well for car camping but not so much if you are backpacking.


This is a bivy sack or "bivouac sack." This is ideal for backpacking and hiking. It provides a waterproof sleeping area and that's about it. These are not to be confused with a bivy shelter/tent.




These are the bags my wife and I use. They are REI Zephyr mummy bags. The top one is my wifes and is rated at +15 degrees and mine is rated at +20 degrees. They are made of synthetic material and only weigh about 3 pounds. They serve us very well in Alaska.

Bags/Packs

Having a good quality pack to carry all your precious gear is a necessity. There are literally hundreds of packs to choose from, all shapes, sizes and designs. Personally I like having several different kinds to choose from. Now I don't keep all of them stocked and ready to go, depending on the situation, I will choose which one I need. These are a few of the packs that I have used. I have several others that are slightly different, but you get the point.





This bag is my old deer hunting pack. It's made by Mad Dog and is made from sturdy material that is fairly quiet. It's nothing fancy, but it held what I needed it to and matched my camo (Advantage Timber) clothing.


My wife and I both have one of these bags. It's a Bug Out Gear Tactical Backpack. They are hydration compatible and can haul 2,436 cubic inches of gear. These can be used for almost everything. Currently we use one of these for the babies BOB that is kept in my wife's Jeep Cherokee.

This is my Military Issue CFP-90 Combat Pack. It has a rugged internal frame and is made of 1000 denier nylon which is heavier than cordura. It can carry 60-70 pounds comfortably and has 3,042 cubic inches of storage space. The main compartment can be split into 2 separate pockets with their own access. Mine also has a separate Patrol Pack that can be attached to the front. This pack is also hydration compatible.

My day hike bag is a Camelbak M.U.L.E. It holds 3 L of water and 540 cubic inches of gear. I have even used this on an overnight trip. It's light and compact, which is very important for rapid movement through the bush.




My wife's hiking bag is a Granite Gear Vapor Ki. It is meant to be a lightweight pack for day hikes, but she uses it for extended hikes as well. It will hold 30 pounds of gear comfortably, and has 3,600 cubic inches of storage space. It is hydration compatible and only weighs 2lbs 5oz.




My hiking bag is a Kelty Coyote 4750. It's an internal frame pack with 4,750 cubic inches of storage space. The pack weighs just over 5 lbs and is very comfortable. The top lid doubles as a separate fanny pack, it's hydration compatible and has front access to the main compartment. I use this in lieu of my Military Issue Combat Pack, depending on the situation.

Short Trip

Got to get out and do some exploring. Headed to the North side of Elmendorf AFB near Six Mile Lake. Hiked about 5 miles along the lower end of the lake, and even made a quick debris shelter. It was pretty cold, 20 degrees, but my Berber Fleece kept me nice and warm. I ended up needing my first aid kit after mistaking my finger for a limb. Took awhile to stop the bleeding, but it's all good now.