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In this Issue
If your still considering a trip this summer now is a good time to finalize plans. We are already sold out on some time slots.
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Now where did that pass go?
Good navigaion and map skills are critical when visiblity is poor.
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Alaska Backcountry Skills:
Routefinding Tips & Techniques - Part I
Routefinding and map reading are two related and critical skills for navigating through the backcountry of Alaska. In fact a good place to begin is with a look at the difference between navigation and route finding. Navigation refers to the ability to plot a course on your map and then follow that route in the wild whereas routefinding is more about the ability to find a specific and efficient route along the course you charted. In other words if you're standing on a hill and say "According to the map, we need to head down this valley and then up over that pass down there".. well that's navigation. But there might be any number of paths you could take to achieve that goal and that's where routefinding comes in.
When it comes to navigation skills by far the most important is good map reading abilities. It's not uncommon for first time Alaska trekers to find that their navigation skills are not quite as sharp as they thought. This is understandable since most backpacking in the lower forty eight is on trails. A lot of map work involves making sure you are at the right trail junction.
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But when confronted by the vast wilderness of Alaska, and especially Wrangell-St. Elias, you'll feel a lot more confident if your skills are well honed. On our trips we spend some time helping people to sharpen their map and compass skills as we go along.
Alaska Topo Maps
United States Geological Survey (USGS) maps come in a range of scales from 1:24,000 to 1:200,000. If a map is drawn to 1:24,000 scale that means that one inch on the map equals 24,000 inches of terrain. The smaller the ratio, the more detail a map shows. Typically when heading into the backcountry you want a map with the most detail, especially if you are doing cross-country travel. In the lower forty eight that would mean using a 1:24,000 scale map on which contour lines are shown at forty-foot intervals. But in Alaska the most detailed maps available for most areas are 1:63,360, which show contour lines at hundred-foot intervals – a significant difference. A hill with a 200’ rise in elevation would contain five contour lines if you were using a 1:24,000 scale map, but only two on a 1:63,360 scale map. This difference in the level of detail makes it more challenging to identify the terrain on the map.
The loss of detail means that the actual terrain will hold more surprises. Two contour lines indicate that the difference in elevation between them is 100 feet. If those lines are far apart on the map you might conclude that the degree of slope is fairly low and travel should be easy. But the map only shows the amount of total elevation change between two points. It tells nothing about what lies between them. The terrain between any two contour lines could be a consistent slope, or ten feet of level ground followed by a ninety-foot cliff. Both terrains would look the same on the map. It takes some practice to be able to match map contours to the terrain in front of you.
In can be easy at first to make errors in map reading because you forgot about the scale difference and misidentify a terrain feature. So remember that terrain features will show less detail on Alaska maps. You need to develop a certain sensitivity to that loss of information.
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Tools - Compass
In the backcountry of Alaska you are above treeline most of the time so you generally have a good view of the land ahead. Good map reading skills make the necessity for compass readings infrequent. There are time when it comes in handy though, such as in foggy and other low visibility conditions.
But you should carry one and know how to use it to determine your exact location. Once, on a foggy day in a high pass, low visibility was making it difficult to be sure which drainage to head up. A quick compass reading helped to confirm my judgment and save me several hours of potential backtracking.
You should know how to triangulate your position by taking bearings from identifiable features. This goes back to map reading - you can't triangulate a position if you are unable to match map to terrain. I like a compass with a sighting mirror for maximum accuracy. Also be sure to adjust the declination on your compass to the most up to date settings. The magnetic field is constantly changing and the declination changes with it. Some maps in Alaska are based on thirty of forty year old data. So always check your maps and compass to make sure your declination is properly set.
Tools - GPS
GPs units have become very popular. I finally broke down and bought one a few years ago. I got it to document some routes but I never use it for routefinding or navigation. I consider a GPs up here to be mostly dead weight. If you have rock solid map reading skills there is no need to carry a GPs in the wide open terrain of Alaska. You should certainly never go into the wilderness with a GPs as your only or primary navigation tool. There is no substitute for good map skills. If you want to take along a GPs it should be in addition to your compass and topo maps. In my opinion if you have a good map and compass and the skills to use them then there is no need to tote a GPs along.
Routefinding...to be continued
In the next edition we'll continue with a discussion about routefinding and how to combine good map skills with a knowledge of Alaskan terrain to chart an efficient course on a more detailed level. For example we'll talk about brush zones in the Alaska backcountry and how to avoid the worst of the brush when planning your route.
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Gear Review: Bear Proof Food Canisters Compared
If you go treking in Alaska you need to carry a bear-proof canister for food storage. Even at lower elevations there are rarely trees tall enough from which to hang your food.
The first time I bought a bear-proof food canister there was only one choice - the Garcia. But today there are more options. We'll compare four.
- Garcia
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Bearikade (Weekender)
- Counter Assault Bear Keg
- Bear Vault
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Garcia
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Bear Keg
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Bearikade
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Bear Vault
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| Price |
$69.95 |
$69.95 |
$195.00 |
$79.95 |
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Weight |
2 lbs. 12 oz. |
3 lbs. 10 oz. |
1 lb 15 oz. |
2 lbs. 6 oz. |
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Dimensions |
12 x 8.8" |
9 x 14" |
10 x 9" |
8.7 x 12.4" |
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Material |
ABS polymer |
Polymer blend |
carbon-fiber composite |
Polycarbonate |
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Volume |
614 cu. in. |
716 cu. in.
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650 cu. in. |
686 cu. in. |
Garcia
The Garcia has not changed in design since its introduction. On the plus side it will do the job. It's very strong and will keep bears out of your grub. But any of these cans will do that. The Garcia has several major drawbacks however. It's not the lightest in the bunch at 2 lbs. 12 oz. but one of the biggest negatives is that it has a very small opening. Getting food bags in and out of the Garcia can be a real pain. In addition it doesn't have a waterproof lid so if you don't remember to store it upside down your canister will leak water. It is the lowest priced of the lot.
Counter Assault Bear Keg
The Bear Keg is basically an update on the Garcia. The shape is very similar. The materials are different but it shares with the Garcia a narrower opening. And it's heavy. At just over three and a half pounds this sucker is going to add serious weight to your load. In fairness, part of the extra heft is due to its larger size. But it's only slightly bigger than the Bear Vault yet is a full pound and a quarter heavier. The large size might make packing a challange. Many of the other cans will fit in a pack horizontally but this one will have to go in a vertical configuration.
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Bearikade Weekender
If you're looking to shed pounds then this is the clear choice. At just under 2 pounds it's almost 2 pounds lighter than the Bear Keg. It also has the largest opening making it easy to get bulky packages in and out. You might be ready to order one until you look at the price. The almost $200 price tag is going to give even the most ardent lightpacker serious sticker shock. It's also the hardest to open and close. It requires some sort of tool to turn the screws and the don't turn easily. The can comes with a gasket that makes it waterproof but it doesn't hold up well and soon falls out. So don't consider this a waterproof can.
Bear Vault
This bear canister gets the overall nod of approval, beating out the competition on most points. There is plenty of volume and the sides are straight not tapered so it's easy to get stuff in and out of the wide mouth. The lid screws on and off so there is no need for any tools. The canister is made of clear plastic so if your in a group you can see who has the lunch without having to empty all the cans. It's waterproof so you don't have to worry about which end goes up. Plus the plastic lid can be inverted for a dandy cutting board. The lip keeps your chopped onions from spilling onto the ground. It's lighter than all but the Bearikade so unless shaving 7 oz. is worth $110 to you, this is the one to get.
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Well that's it for this edition. Drop me a line if you have any questions.
Greg Fensterman
greg@trekalaska.com - www.TrekAlaska.com
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