Tips for flying with gear

I just partially answered my question by reading through all 40+ pages of TSA’s what you can bring on board. Lord, what people will try to bring with them!

But I got these tips:

• tent – checked luggage only due to stakes and poles
• lighter and matches – carryon only
• snow cleats – checked luggage (although I just successfully flew with them in carryon, not knowing)
• Hiking poles – checked luggage only (this was new to me)
• battery – carryon only and it looks like I can bring a higher power one but it doesn’t specify
• bleach – can’t bring it at all, apparently

Still wondering how to clean my stove though.

I have used a large zip-up duffel bag with my poles and pack inside.

That way nothing gets “misplaced” during the loading/unloading.

Larry S

If it is an iso-propane/butane canister stove my experience is that it is good as-is.  They don’t want large amounts of residual fuel.  I think this rule is mostly directed at white gas stoves which often have a good amount left over in the tank.  That will become pressurized as the ambient pressure drops turning it into a potential explosive.  I doubt most alcohol stove would be an issue.  Possibly an alcohol bottle.  If you carry something like that, I would just let it air out for a day.

If you want to carry your walking sticks on… just leave them extended.  Medical needs have much different rules.  Though if you checking a bag anyway, you might as well put them there.

You can put your backpack in this from IKEA to check it and then use it as a pack liner.

Last time I flew with my pack I just put all my gear in it, trekking poles with the tips wrapped in the water bottle pockets and jet blue put the back in a giant clear bag and tied it off. I believe the bags are what they put strollers in so I’d just ask for one of those

Just clean the stove with soap and water and let it fully dry.  The residue from any previous leak might be flagged if they do a swipe test, easy to avoid that and have a clean stove to boot.

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Would it be cheaper/easier to ship to and pick-up at a UPS location?

It has been a few years ago, but I really enjoyed the convenience of shipping presentation supplies ahead to the local UPS location. This was so much less stressful that taking them along as baggage. Check the rates on the link.

Steven M.

Stoefan: Shipping gear (or one’s vacation luggage or business trip supplies) ahead by UPS is a fabulous idea, if you’re within the 48 continuous states.  Karen is in Fairbanks, Alaska (I’m in Kenai, Alaska) and one thing we love to hate are shipping rates “Outside” (or “to the United States” as if we’re not one of them).  Some eCommerce sites want $50 to ship a $12 item.  Still, even if it’s $50-$100 to ship her UL backpack and gear (USPS Priority is usually the cheapest option for us), that might well be worth the hassles in the airport and the comfort of knowing it is already at your destination before you step on the first plane.  Perhaps a BPL member could be the recipient for her (I’ve done that in reverse for BPLers coming to Alaska and provided them with fuel, bear spray, etc).  I’ve also had my hotel or AirBnB (in Anchorage, in the Aleutians, in Iceland, in San Diego) receive packages for me a week before I arrive.

Karen: where are you going?  I’d give different, more detailed information for FAI-ANC versus FAI-Adak versus FAI-Anaktuvuk Pass versus FAI-LAX versus FAI-ANC-Reykjavik.   And a few different tweaks for Hawaii.  Wrangell, AK has a cool system that solves lots of problems.  Etc.

Stove: I’d highly recommend a butane-blend canister stove.  No need to clean it on either end, just disconnect the stove head in advance and it won’t smell of fuel at all.  It’s never wrong to throw in a 0.9-ounce BRS-3000T which, folded up in its little pouch probably doesn’t even scan as a stove part.  Then at your destination, any outdoor store or Walmart will have 110-, 220- and 450-gram canisters.  For Adak or Hawaii, PM me – I have a few tricks to get butane canisters where the stores don’t stock them.

If you really like an alcohol set-up (and you can buy denatured fuel at a Home Depot, etc at your destination), then just rinse the stove, the fuel bottle, funnel, etc in plain water.  Alcohol is infinitely soluble in water and a few good rinses will remove it all.  Then set it out to dry.  If you can’t buy alcohol at your designation, again, PM me – there are ways around that.

White-gas or kerosene stove?  Sure, I could eventually get it clean enough to pass any objective test (I studied chemical engineering) but a screener could still deny it on general being-a-dick grounds.  And you’d have to repeat the procedure before flying home.  USPS shipping to yourself general delivery would be a lot easier and more reliable.  But for me, the uncertainty and bother far, far outweigh just getting a $14 BRS-3000T.

Yes, lithium batteries have to be in your carry-on, NOT your checked bags.  But you can bring your laptop (which has a large battery in it), an extra laptop battery, external cell-phone batteries, etc in your carry on.  I’ve brought a lithium battery capable of jump-starting a 4-cylinder car with me on the jet several times.

Trekking poles, tent poles?  In your checked bag.  And consider a hard-sided suitcase or roller duffle so that the UL gear doesn’t get busted by baggage handlers.  If you have some lodging or relative or a BPLer or a rental car where you could leave the luggage during your hike, your gear will be far safer in hard luggage (or even a sturdy cardboard box or ice chest*) than by itself in a plastic bag.  If you don’t have a good place to store such luggage, it’s impressive how few people look inside of culverts and under bridges in rural locations.  I’ve stashed food caches, sampling supplies, tools, luggage, etc in such places for weeks at times without any problem.

*We’re Alaskans – we all have multiple, huge ice chests, right?

And those nice, strong, clear plastic bags some airlines put around backpacks and car seats so the straps don’t catch on the conveyor belts and they don’t get as greasy and dirty?  Never count on them being available.  And save any that you get.  A few little nylon cinch straps (“ny ties”)  are great closures for the plastic bag.  Nail clippers (in your carry on) will allow you to cut it off at the other end.

Flying to Santa Rosa, so easy to buy supplies before heading out for the mountains. But hiding a duffle in a culvert?! The big box for the backpack sounds like a great idea, if TSA doesn’t tear it all up with inspection. Even if I only have it one way could be helpful. Not sure yet when or where I’ll return from.

No, not all Alaskans have big ice chests David! I’m not much of a meat eater, and 35 salmon can fit nicely into 3-4 smaller ones. Nothing big enough for a pack, plus I won’t be returning the same way so nowhere to store it. Box sounds good, no loss if I have to leave it behind.

My stove is a Windburner, and although heavier than my pocket rocket, I’ve gotten hooked on being able to cook in high wind in 3 minutes! Without fiddling with windscreens. I guess I’ll just wipe it down well and hope that’s sufficient.

David, I would be interested in knowing the tricks for FAI-Anaktuvuk Pass and Wrangel. When we did a paddle trip in the Gates of the Arctic I mailed the bulk of our paddling gear and food in totes to Bettles to avoid paying excess baggage rates but more importantly to insure we did not have to wait for the balance of our gear to arrive later as freight with Wright Air Service. I have several paddle trips on my radar screen for the North Slope and am still studying possibilities for Wrangel.