Camping in Alaska

--> Camping in Alaska <--

To most people, camping in Alaska means one thing: bears. Lots and lots of bears. This stereotype does not go unwarranted; in ten days of rafting the Anasek and Noatak rivers my family and I saw a dozen grizzly bears.

One juvenile male even followed me down a river bank our first day in the bush. However, none of our food was eaten, nor were any of us threatened or eaten. With a little bit of care and preparation it's easy to camp in the Alaskan wilderness and be safe from bears.

One of the most important things to remember while camping in Alaska is that bears like the smell of food. What you don't want is for them to smell food on you, since that makes you smell a lot like food. This is bad. So, the best precaution you can take is to make sure that you keep your tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping area free from any smells of food. It is best to cook and eat all of your food at least 100 yards downwind of your tent site. Also, be sure to pack your food separately from your tent and sleeping bag, and don't keep other things that smell interesting like bug spray or toothpaste at your tent site.

Many people who camp in Alaska carry with them some sort of protection against bears, usually in the form of a firearm or can of bear spray. For years firearms were the only choice for protection against bears, but as time went by it became apparent that many people weren't comfortable carrying rifles and handguns with them into the woods.

On the other hand bear spray allows anyone to carry a bear repellant with them, and it's advisable to do so while camping in Alaska. Though you're likely never to need it, a can of bear spray can save your life in the unlikely event that you're attacked by a grizzly bear. Just be sure to point the spray downwind and to leave the area afterwards, as the spices left by the spray days later can be attractive to bears later on.

With a little bit of precaution a dose of protection, camping in Alaska can be done easily and safely and it will be a lot of fun. Just remember that the bears aren't the only danger; changing weather conditions are much more likely to catch campers off guard and unprepared. Remember to pack for any conditions and most importantly, be aware of what is happening around you.

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