Gear for Juneau Alaska

Don't forget the drysuit for paddling. The water is always dangerously cold there.

Dan,

Take a look at Andrew Skurka's Alaska gear lists on his website, there were also a lot of forum discussions about his gear choices before the "big" trip.

http://www.andrewskurka.com/hikes_index.php

Hoping to get up to Alaska myself in 2012.

I live south of Juneau in Ketchikan, but the climate is very similar. The weather here can be hard to predict but should be decent that time of the year. I had a friend come up last year around that time and the weather was great until he arrived. We did a two day hike in the mountains and it was maybe in the 50s with rain, wind and sleet. the temp dipped down around 40 or so at night. We were prepared and had a great time (although I would have preferred sun.)

Be prepared to share your space with bears.

As a rule Juneau doesn't get as much rain as Ketchikan, but does get more snow. Fog can often be an issue flying in and out.

I'd plan on temps in the 50s-60s (maybe 70) during the day and down into the 40s-50s at night. Expect rain any time of the year here and it can be heavy and last for days at times. Or, it can be 80 and sunny. It is really a crap shoot up here.

There is a member from Juneau on here and hopefully they will see your post and give you some Juneau-area specific info.

I'm sure you'll have a great time. SE AK is a magical (if not damp) place!

Thanks for the tips guys!

Do you really think a dry suit is necessary for a 3 day kayaking trip? I was planning on wearing my rain gear in the kayak, and having a spray skirt, will that be sufficient enough?

The big thing I need to purchase I think is some good rain gear. Is there any specific products anyone can recommend? I dont know a whole lot about rain gear…I rarely use it here in California….but I know I need something more substantial than I already have.

I dont think a dry suit is really needed, especially if you are a decent paddler and know what your doing.

Rain gear wise in Juneau there is a chance of getting wet no matter what you wear. My dad used to do SAR around juneau and would wear commercial rain gear and rubber boots while hiking around. Probably overkill for most of the summer though.
I would not really go for light weight rain gear. Out of the 4 brands of rain gear I have used dead bird has worked the best. It is just bomber, i wouldnt buy it though unless you get it on sale. Pant wise I would go for something that feels like it would handle a bit of bushwhacking.

Regarding:
"I dont think a dry suit is really needed, especially if you are a decent paddler and know what your doing."

Rarely may be right, but there is always that 5% chance that you will take a swim.

I am a very solid paddler, ACA Level 3 and BCU star 3, experienced in winter paddling and I would never consider Alaska as a place I would go without a drysuit. I have tried to swim in sub 40 degree F. water and I believe most people wouldn't survive very long. I know I couldn't swim far because I cramped up to the point that my legs and arms became useless.

I do have multiple rolls on both sides and do practice in near freezing ocean with ice on top and have good solid bracing skills.
Stuff can happen and if you aren't in a drysuit, cold water shock and hypothermia will occur.

Of course Russian roulette is an option:-)

I agree, Alaska is a special place and water is really cold up there.

However where dan is going you are pretty much always within a mile or two of the beach and if is going with someone and they know how to self rescue I think it might be a tad overkill. Pretty much anywhere else in Alaska and any longer distance and I would totally agree with the dry suit recommendation.

I'm looking at paddling the inside passage in 2012 and definitly wearing a dry suit.

We are kayakers first and backpackers second — there has to be something to do in the winter. We always carry dry suits, but even on our longer ( 400-600 mile) trips seldom wear them unless it has been raining for days. Then they are primarily useful as bomb proof rain gear, and for going through the devils club and alder to get inside the forest. We do wear them on crossings over 8 miles in case the weather changes.

My suggestion is to bring decent rain gear for paddling and not bother with a dry suit. Stay on shore if it is too rough to paddle. I think I've suggested the channel islands for your paddling trip or around Douglas. Anything beyond that requires more time and I recall that you don't have a lot of that.

Remember though, that a couple of hundred feet off the beach in water that is 55 degrees is little different than a few hundred meters. You'll die before you get back to shore unless someone is around to help. So, again, stay on shore and hike if the weather is foul.

Oh, lose the tent and bring a couple of tarps and a bivy. Southeast Alaska is not for tents.

pm me if I have confused your trip with one of the others planning a stop in JNU this summer.