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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. 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. 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.