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CHUGACH PERFECT PACK

We love being able to pop out of our house year-round for a quick (or long) jaunt in the mountains. But fall might be our favorite time to get out in the range that gave us our name. Here’s what we pack for a day trip in the Chugach:

  1. 20-24 Liter Pack (Osprey Talon 22 shown)

  2. Layers

    1. Light Puffy Layer (Arc’teryx Atom LT)

    2. Rain shell & pants (Arc'teryx Beta AR)

    3. Lightweight windshell (Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody)

  3. Wind-Resistant Fleece Gloves (First Ascent)

  4. Beanie Hat

  5. Buff

  6. 70-100 oz. Water Bladder (Camelbak)

  7. Calories (Probar, PB&J, Fire Island Scone, homemade trail bars)

  8. Chocolate (obviously) For #SummitCelebrations (Chugach Chocolates)

  9. Camera/GPS/Cell phone/Emergency Candy Crush device

  10. Headlamp (Black Diamond Spot)

  11. Bear Spray (Counter Assault)

  12. Assorted Contingency Goodies/Emergency Kit: Bug dope, headnet, SPF Chapstick, Waterproof Matches, Lighter, Water Purification Tabs, Small pocket knife, Emergency tarp/bivy, Small First Aid Kit (doubles as emergency tinder)

  13. Navigation: Map & Compass

  14. Polarized Sunglasses

  15. Blueberry bags

PUTTING IT IN SYSTEMS
    To make sure we’ve got everything we need for a given trip, we find it’s helpful to think in terms of systems, rather than a couple dozen random items. Here’s some easy groupings that make our packing easier.
    Essentials & Contingency Kit:

      • Bear Spray

      • Headlamp (Black Diamond Spot)

      • Navigation: Map & Compass, sometimes printouts from a guidebook or beta from online

      • Camera/GPS/Cell phone/Emergency Candy Crush device

      • Contingency kit—Bug dope; SPF Chapstick; Waterproof Matches; Lighter; Water Purification Tabs; Small pocket knife; Emergency tarp/bivy; Small First Aid Kit (doubles as emergency tinder)


      Food & water:

      • Calories—(Probar, PB&J, Fire Island Scone, homemade trail bars)

      • Chocolate For #SummitCelebrations (Chugach Chocolates)

      • Hydration—Waterbag/bottle/bladder; Sawyer filter

      Layers:
      It may be summer, but it’s still Alaska, right? If we’re really lucky, all the layers will stay in our pack. But let’s be honest—they probably won’t. Our general picks are: 

      • Lightweight merino wool base layer (you’ll be wearing this, obvi.)

      • Lightweight hooded “midlayer”

      • Windbreaker

      • Light Puffy

      • Rain shell

      For your extremities: 

      • Hat

      • Buff

      • Fleece gloves

      • Lite overmitts (We’ve been caught on a couple trips when our minds were still on summer but the mountains were thinking winter. Since then, we almost always carry lightweight wind & waterproof gloves or mittens for the cold rain/snow/sleet/hail that the mountains are more likely to serve up in the shoulder seasons)


      Anything we forgot or that you like to include? Let us know!

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