Camping in Alaska

To most people, camping in Alaska means one thing: bears. Bears everywhere. This stereotype does not go unwarranted; in ten days of rafting the Noatak and Anasek rivers my family and I saw a dozen grizzly bears. On our first day I even had one young male grizzly follow me down the river bank. However, none of our food was eaten, nor did any of us feel threatened. With a little bit of care and preparation it's easy to camp in the Alaskan wilderness and be safe from bears.

If you are going camping in Alaska, it is important to remember that bears like the smell of food. You don't want them to smell food off of you. This is not a good thing. The best precaution to take is to keep your tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping area free from all food smells. Do your cooking and eating at least 100 yards downwind of your tent site. Also, be sure to pack your food separately from your tent and sleeping bag. Also, it is a good rule of thumb to not keep any other scented items such as bug spray or toothpaste at your tent site either.

Most people who camp in Alaska carry with them some sort of protection against bears, usually in the form of a firearm or a 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. Bear repellent sprays are now a popular choice and 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 bear spray can attract bears for many days after the repellent was initially sprayed.

With a little bit of precaution and a dose of protection, camping in Alaska can be done easily and safely. 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.