Summer Camping Trip to Alaska - Advice Needed!

[Azure Ray]

Thank you so much everyone!! I wasn't aware of the Back Country Permits - I will def look into that right away. You have all been more than generous with your info!!!

[bongo]

Originally Posted by Glitch

The "back country permits" issued by the Rangers is their way to size you up. If you are a novice (and they can tell by the questions asked) then you will get no more than a three day permit. If you look like you know what you are doing and have all the right equipment, they will give you up to a ten day permit, or no permit at all if you are very experienced and the Ranger knows you. They just want to be sure you check in with them every few days.

Besides, it sounds like they will be camping outside of Denali National Park. So some tips on how to handle critter encounters sounds like it might be in order.

Glitch- I've backpacked into Denali during much of the summer for 14 years since I'm a teacher with summers off. Even as a novice woman backpacking alone I was never given a limited permit LOL nor in all my years backpacking in Denali have I hear this. And even when I was in & out backpacking so much that the rangers knew me was I, or any of my many backpacking friends, ever ever allowed in without a permit. The backcountry rangers very carefully check for permits in the backcountry. They are very strict that you keep your tent out of view of the road & sitting within the boundaries of your particular unit. Each unit is allowed only a very specific number of backpackers at a time. For them to allow folks in without a permit would allow for all sorts of liability issues if injured or lost.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by bongo

Glitch- I've backpacked into Denali during much of the summer for 14 years since I'm a teacher with summers off. Even as a novice woman backpacking alone I was never given a limited permit LOL nor in all my years backpacking in Denali have I hear this. And even when I was in & out backpacking so much that the rangers knew me was I, or any of my many backpacking friends, ever ever allowed in without a permit. The backcountry rangers very carefully check for permits in the backcountry. They are very strict that you keep your tent out of view of the road & sitting within the boundaries of your particular unit. Each unit is allowed only a very specific number of backpackers at a time. For them to allow folks in without a permit would allow for all sorts of liability issues if injured or lost.

They are apparently more lax in Glacier National Park. The first year I was there I could only get a three day back-country permit. Every three days I had to pack everything out and get another permit. Which really limited my range. The second year I was able to get ten day permits. By the fifth year I already knew most of the Rangers and they did not require a permit, they just asked me to keep them informed where I was going and how long I would be gone. I understood their responsibility and did as they asked.

[bongo]

Originally Posted by Glitch

They are apparently more lax in Glacier National Park. The first year I was there I could only get a three day back-country permit. Every three days I had to pack everything out and get another permit. Which really limited my range. The second year I was able to get ten day permits. By the fifth year I already knew most of the Rangers and they did not require a permit, they just asked me to keep them informed where I was going and how long I would be gone. I understood their responsibility and did as they asked.

Yep- Yellowstone is different too. There are actual backcountry campsites one must use.

In Denali you have to have a very strict itinerary as to units as only a certain number of backpackers are allowed in any one unit at a time. I have gone in for 14 days as the longest, but that included a few breaks at wilderness campgrounds. There is even a unit in Denali in which only TWO backpackers can be in at a time- it's nicknamed the honeymoon unit LOL(Stony Dome).