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Contacting AK-Phill's Alaska-World
Summer –
The most important thing to remember about your Alaskan vacation is that
you will likely be outside for a good portion of your stay, and most
tours and attractions are not cancelled because of rain. With that in
mind, be prepared for rain, and to be outside in the rain. While for
many, this means a raincoat, you might want to consider a pair of
lightweight rain pants, especially if you plan to be outside for
extended periods, or to do any hiking. On sunny days, low plants and
shrubs will hold moisture from dew and rain for many hours, even if its
sunny. Walking in these conditions (as well as on a rainy day) will be a
lot more comfortable if you can stay dry. In addition, in a light rain
that might be easily tolerated with just a raincoat, many tours can
become uncomfortable because you’re moving through the rain and wind.
We joke with our guests about "The Garden Hose Test." You know that your
raingear is adequate if you can put your raingear on and have someone
squirt you with a hose for 30 seconds, and you remain mostly dry. While
this is indeed a joke, it points out that not all raingear is going to
be adequate for a rainy Alaskan day, and you should consider gear that
is more likely to pass the "Garden Hose test."
The vast majority of days are sunny and pleasant, but weather is often
rapidly changeable, and evenings are often cool, even at times when it
is light 24 hours a day. Frost and freezing temperatures stay late in
Alaska, and come early, and places away from the water can experience
temperatures in the 30’s and even 20’s in May and early June, and in
August and September. Most visitors to Alaska will not be acclimated to
these temperatures (you’ll find Alaskans wandering around in shorts
almost without regard to the weather in the summer) and so you should
bring easily layered sweaters and jackets. Many guests find that being
prepared for inclement weather seems to insure that the weather during
their visit is sunny and warm!
Bring clothing that can be layered, and remember that cotton loses
warmth very quickly when wet. Consider wool or some of the technical
fabrics designed to hold body heat, especially in situations where you
will be exposed to the elements for extended periods.
Winter –
Choosing winter clothing for your visit to Alaska will depend a lot on
the types of activities you will be undertaking, and the parts of the
state that you’re headed to. For many of the more specialized trips,
tour operators provide the necessary cold weather gear for your visit.
For others, guests will need to have high quality winter clothing. When
purchasing winter clothing for your visit to Alaska, you should seek out
stores and retailers that specialize in such gear, because many
retailers in other parts of the United States do not carry or have the
necessary knowledge to advise you on the proper items for your visit. If
you visit in February or March, the weather has moderated to the point
that the winter weather you’re likely to experience will be not too
different than what you’re used to at home during midwinter.
Things to bring anytime of year –
Alaska is visually spectacular, and guests will always want to have a
camera with them. However, some activities are not suited to taking
along electronics, generally because the chances of ruining your
equipment is high. Some vendors address this issue by providing photos
of your activity for you – Most notably, whitewater rafting trips. For
some of the more challenging activities and tours, you might want to
consider leaving your expensive camcorder in your room, or only bringing
shock and water-resistant equipment with you.
One thing that often trips up visitors to Alaska is the length of the
days. The farther north you go, the longer the days and the brighter the
nights. In Fairbanks, the sun does not set until after midnight in June
and much of July. Most innkeepers have heavy curtains that keep your
room dark, but guests should pay attention to the time so that they
don’t stay up until one in the morning waiting for it to get dark.
Having a watch is helpful. In the winter, days are very short, and the
sun may not come up until almost 11:00 am.
If you’re going to be hiking in Alaska, a compass and GPS are a good
idea. An important thing to remember is that the magnetic variance in
Alaska is on the order of 25-30 degrees east of true north!
Feel free to
contact our offices by e-mail at the following address:
akphill@akphill.net
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Alaska
Regions
