It’s no secret that Alaska’s weather can be…. Unpredictable. One minute you might be shivering in a hard downpour accompanied by a brisk wind, while the next minute you’re stripping off layers to bask in the warm sun. In addition, the weather can play tricks on you as you feel deceivingly comfortable standing around in a t-shirt as you prepare to load into your boat and embark on your guided adventure, but don’t fall for it! Sitting on a boat with a metal floor, in the middle of the river, fully exposed, sitting still for an extended period creates a completely different scenario than what you’re going through on shore.

The only solution to the reality of Alaska’s unpredictable weather is to come ready for anything and everything you might experience.

When guests ask what clothing they should bring, I tell them the same thing whether they’re visiting us during the middle of the summer or the extreme early/late ends of the season. Here’s the list:

1. Base layer
2. Warm socks
3. Waterproof pants or waders
4. Hoodie
5. Warm jacket
6. Rain jacket
7. Gloves
8. Stocking hat
9. Sun screen (yes, sunscreen).

An AK summer is one of the only times you’ll ever need to bring both a stocking hat and sun screen. But If you’re real lucky, you won’t need all this stuff. If you do need all these things, then you’ll be awfully glad you brought them. After all, it’s hard to have fun when you’re cold, wet, and uncomfortable.

As a wise man once said, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.”