Pack list for drop camp

[cbat]

Looking for some in put on a pack list for a fly in drop camp for 2 guys.

 

[colonel00]

Well, tell us a little more about the trip please. Where are you flying out of/into? Are there weight restrictions? Are you going to be near water? What time of year? Are you going to be doing substantial hiking away from the airstrip/water drop?

 

[cbat]

Sept 1ST. Going to fly out of Happy Valley in a Beaver or Helio. tires not floats. I hope near water but depends on the caribou sightings.

 

[colonel00]

Ah, cool. I will be up there on Sept 16 but we aren't flying. Anyway, I don't have my list put together yet but one important thing I can think of off hand is to check with your air taxi and see what their restrictions are in regards to stove fuel or other hazardous materials. A pair of hip boots would be a good idea. Plan on being wet and dealing with bugs.

Are there specific questions that you have?

My trip is a bit different so my pack list is fairly minimal since we will be either hiking across the tundra or up a river.

Oh, and how are you getting to Happy Valley? Check out a couple other threads in this forum as I believe there will be a couple other guys up there around that time.

 

[cbat]

We are going with 70 north and he is picking us up and hauling us to Happy Valley. I got 1 other guy that wants to hitch a ride with us so that will help with the cost of getting there. I got the fuel issue covered .

 

[Ray]

Any basic sheep hunting pack list will work.
Ben's 100
No-see-um micro mesh headnet. Mosquito headnets may not work so make sure the mesh is really fine. Avoid grey or clear mono mesh, on a sunny day you cannot see out of them due to the sparkles.
Nearly all valleys will have flowing water near the landing area.
You may have to go a ways to get on an animal so take a sturdy frame pack or one that will handle whatever your max carry load is.
Be prepared to live in rain and wind and snow. Sunny day after snow is pretty brutal on the skin and eyes.
Take a tarp to cover the meat from the rain.
A spotter may be handy to decide if you really want to go after an animal, but for most caribou hunting its not really needed. 10x42 binos will confirm or deny most critters at most any distance.

 

[razorsharptokill]

Is there a brand of headnet that is best?

 

[razorsharptokill]

Doing this in 2015. Going to try and book with 40 Mile Air. Planning on adding a Hilleberg tent to my gear.

 

[Ray]

Is there a brand of headnet that is best?

I have found the Sea to Summit bug nets way too course for black fly and white socks.

My top choice is a Cumming's black fly head net. They are made in Flint, MI. You should be able to find one online.

My back up to that one is a "grabber" brand, but I have never seen them on a shelf. It was provided by a contractor and he didn't know where his company bought them.

 

[Snipershirt]

Doing this in 2015. Going to try and book with 40 Mile Air. Planning on adding a Hilleberg tent to my gear.

Does 40 mile fly up north or you looking at going a different direction?

 

[larryschwartz]

The warning to ask about stove fuel is one you should pay attention to. Bush pilots are not allowed to carry pressurized fuel canisters in the aircraft so most require that you use a liquid fuel stove. Something that runs white gas or (hint hint) airplane fuel will work for you.

 

[Nick Muche]

The warning to ask about stove fuel is one you should pay attention to. Bush pilots are not allowed to carry pressurized fuel canisters in the aircraft so most require that you use a liquid fuel stove. Something that runs white gas or (hint hint) airplane fuel will work for you.

Larry, what do you take when you hop on a bush flight for a hunt?

 

[Nick Muche]

Larry?

 

[colonel00]

You might PM Luke or YellowKnife. I believe one or both of them have discussed a stove that can run off of liquid fuel. I just can't remember what it was off hand.

 

[larryschwartz]

Nick,

Sorry about the delay. Had to do some actual work.

The issue with the FAA is not using a pressurized canister. So, any stove that uses liquid fuel and that you pump to get the pressure up will work. Take a look at the offerings from MSR (their Whisperlight) or Optimus (their Nova). Asearch on Google for multi-fuel or liquid fuel stoves will give you even more options.

Here is an article from SectionHiker.Com from 2009 that gives you a good overview and lists some options... http://sectionhiker.com/liquid-fuel-stove-buyers-guide/

Larry

 

[Nick Muche]

Which one have you used on hunts that require a bush flight? I am more of a "This Works" and that's what I will buy/use...

 

[larryschwartz]

I haven't used them myself in more than a decade so I wouldn't be a good source for you. I'm sure that someone who has gone to Alaska for moose or something else that required a bush plane flight can chime in here. The MSR is good brand and gets good reviews. Aron would be the person to ask but he is out of contact in Canada for the next month or so.

 

[razorsharptokill]

Same goes for bear spray I believe. Almost as bad as a fire in the cockpit I would guess! 40 mile flies to area 20 I believe. I assume any broadhead that is good for elk would work on caribou?

 

[Yellowknife]

Which one have you used on hunts that require a bush flight? I am more of a "This Works" and that's what I will buy/use...

Nick,

Any MSR liquid fuel stove is good. Whisperlight International or XGK will let you burn Av Gas and unleaded, which is really handy at times. For lightest and most compact, the discontinued MSR Simmerlite can sometimes be found on ebay. In your case, I think the Whisperlight Int'l would be a good choice. Can pack it anywhere in the state, including Alaska Air flights, and fill up on car gas or out of the wing tank of the airplane if needed. For your Kodiak trip, check with your flight service provider. I know Andrews Air had many gallons of white gas (as well as canisters) left over from previous hunters, so we just took from their stock.

I think the current "top of the line" might be the Primus OmniLite Ti, but I haven't had a chance to use one. MSR parts and fuel bottles are much more readily found here in Fairbanks, so I haven't seen any reason to switch. Plus I know how to run (and repair) the MSR's and those Primus stoves are expensive!

Yk