“Okay gear junkies and mountain folk I have a question?? I have been asked to go and work in the Brooks Mountain range of Alaska and guide dog sledding trips into the Artic National Park for five months. Do I go and if so what would be suggestions for great gear ideas to take?? Thanks for the help!”

“Do I go?!

Is a frog's ass watertight?”

“I love it!”

“Sounds like something to do for five months. GO!”

“Hey, check your phone messages..”

“calling mtn steve right now”

“Here is where she's going to be working.”

“im jealous”

“Bring a sled team to Winterfest and bring in a keg. I'll decide then if you're qualified. :)”

“Unfortunatley I have to pull myself out of winterfest since I'll be leaving Nov.28 but there will be something there as a surprise for everyone from me”

“Oh man, I so love surprises!

Sorry you can't make winterfest but, I guess, you'll be livin' it.”

“If you were going in summer the #1 recommendation would be a suit of armor to protect you from Alaska's gigantic mosquitos (aka the "Alaska state bird").

I posted some other recommendations on your other thread (with the -60 degree info).

Good Luck, stay warm, and have fun!”

“I went in the summer once, strangest experience I ever had, the mosquito's aka small helicoptors with a bite just about carried me off along with the amazing swarms a freshly hatched black fly's”

“No need to think about it....GO!!!

If I weren't tied down to a job....I would definitely go, especially checking out those photos on their webpage.”

“I would hope they tell you what to bring. Enjoy!”

“If you have no personal responsibilities holding you back.

GO!

I posted this on the other thread, seeing you might be getting into the mushing, this site is a must. Also, Cabelas makes some monster cold weather gear.

Cold Spot Feeds”

“Sounds like you got experience working with a sled team.

If you can pick up and go, you should do it. Sounds like a wonderful experience.

WIll they be providing anything in the way of gear? tent, stove,etc.

Bring warm clothes, especially something for the face.”

“If you are going to mush, you can travel in style. Carry a cabin tent, tent stove.....”

“Do I go?
DO I GO???

NO!!!!

It's too cold for you! I'll do you the favor and take the job for ya, please send me all the details!!!!”

“Oh Wow!! Good Luck! Can't wait to read all about it.”

“Thank you everybody, I have commited to the job and leave Nov.28. Warm extreme gear, headlamp, and fur mittens are what I'm searching for. Thank you Pathman for the website great stuff.
I'm soooo excited and terrrified at the same time!”

“A big, hearty congrats spirithand.”

“I just finished listening to the book (on tape) "The Cruelest Miles" the story of the 1925 dog team relay to get dyptheria serum to Nome. Very well done book, I recommend it.”

“Good chance you will pass through Fairbanks. Find a book called "10,000 miles on a dog sled". It is about an Episcopal missionary traveling by dog sled. He was also in the first party to climb Denali. Hudson Stuck, if memory serves me. I may even have an extra copy. I'll put up some of my AK pictures when I get home later, just to get you even more excited.”

“This is the updated version of the lamp I had.

CSF Northern Light Headlamp W/ Switchpack
$128.95

CSF Northern Light Headlamp W/ Switchpack
$128.95”

“Sounds like an excellent opportunity! Report back to us occasionally and let us know how it's going.”

“Pathman Did your lamp work well, where there things you liked and didn't like about it? I'm about ready to order it, it sounds nice.”

“The reflector on mine was a little fragile. The've beefed it up. Best part was the battery pack and the artic electrical wiring. Plastic get brittle that cold. The battery pack can hang around your neck or inside a pocket close to body heat. If you have electricity at base camp, look at using nicad rechargeables.”

“Another thought. You need some sort of parka. Down is great because it is so light and compressible. You may not need it all of the time, but you need it for survival and ultracold times. I have one from Mountain Hardwear that rocks.

Many mushers go with Carharts, especially in the dog yard.”

“Here are some dog mushing pics. My wife and son caught one finisher of the Yukon Quest, rookie of the year.

Yukon Quest, 1993”

“White Mountains with mushing friends

I skijored with two dogs that day.”

“this is the last of what I have previously scanned.

AK misc”

“What would you suggest for a week long trip in Alaska for someone who's never been? It doesn't have to be a solid week of hiking but would definately include a nice chunk of it.”

“Oh, nice pictures.
Thanks for sharing.”

“I'd go in August to avoid some of the worst bugs, or in March to travel on snow. There is plenty of daylight in March and the temps have usually moderated. September is moose season. Another good time is Memorial day through the end of June, but the bugs can be monstrous. The weather tends to be warm and dry in the interior that time of year.

One of our favorites was the Denali Highway, jealously considered by Fairbanks as their "Denali Park". They raise a fuss everytime the state threatens to pave it. Denali Highway”

“Great shots, I'm psyched! Thanks for the info.
Humanpackmule eagle river is a beautiful place and the chugach trail is a great hike.”

“Cool. Thanks for the info.
I've been meaning to plan something up there but there just so much to choose from.”

“Hey spirithand, CONGRATS! This is completely totally awesome! No doubt, GOOOoOOoooOOOO!!! Very few people ever get this kind of opportunity, you have earned this invitation. I've always dreamed of the Brooks Range. This is incredible. Need a sherpa?”

“Hey Buck they need another person with outdoor experience, give them a call, they're hiring one more guide and will train you how to work with dogs, can you imagine the pictures you could take.”

“.”

“More required reading for anyone going to Alaska, whether for business, pleasure, or both! (John McPhee's Coming Into the Country)”

“You must go! Sounds like an awsome adventure! If you stop by Valdez, be sure to buy a shot at the Glacier Inn!”

“If you go this time of year, you'll freeze to death. It is already horrible by end of October.”