You look well set-up. On my last trip to Alaska, primarily around Denali in the back country... but other places as well.. there was one bit of gear I found essential: mosquito head net! Even the jungle strength DEET was insufficient: they may not have bitten me with all the DEET I had on, but they damn well BATTERED me without mercy. I bought a head net that slipped over my hat; cut a slit for my cigar, and was GTG.

Enjoy your trip.

Are they out yet? Temps are 15-20... I thought I'd be OK, but if you think it's a good idea, I can toss it in.

I don't know if they are out yet. When I was in their area, they were WELL out already. You may be o.k. But, they would have ruined my trip! How heavy is the head net anyway? And, you can use it to 1)trap fish 2)disguise yourself in an armed robbery.

Mosquitoes definitely aren't out yet but *might* be starting to gather strength by the end of April...now that I've jinxed you, go ahead and toss a headnet in your kit. They don't weigh anything and, in addition to other alternate uses already mentioned, they're superior to a t-shirt when used to melt snow in "the water machine," ala Ray Mears.

I have a question, how did my Kelty backpack end up at your house...?

Looks like you've got a pretty good grip on what you need to me but I've never been to Alaska.

Remind us why you're going up there again?

JohnE

Funny thing is, the Kelty backpack was on clearance at REI (like $30), but "women's" size/cut. Whatever, it fits great. Guess I must have birthing hips???

Going to do a rotation for medical school. Lots of classmates went to Africa, India or Latin America. I chose Alaska b/c I've always wanted to go, always wanted to a study-abroad, I don't have to mess with passports and work visas and it's truly "rural" medicine.

In retrospect, I'm sure Guam or Puerto Rico would have counted too - without the associated snow issues!