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Alaska Backpacking Gear Guide: 30 Years of Hard-Won Lessons

No affiliate links. No fluff. Just what actually works in the backcountry from someone who's been doing this since the mid-90s. After three decades of backpacking and guiding in Alaska's most remote wilderness, from Wrangell-St. Elias to Gates of the Arctic, I finally wrote down

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@expeditionsalaska

Jan 20th

Backpacking Trips in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Most people have never heard of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. I get it. Everyone knows Denali. Everyone's heard of Gates of the Arctic because it sounds cool. But Wrangell-St. Elias is the biggest national park in the country, bigger than Yellowstone and Yosemite combined, an

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Wilderness Backpacking

/wilderness-backpacking

Heavy packs, sore feet, questionable decisions. Trip reports, gear talk, and route beta from people who actually go out there.

4Members

2Posts

Jan 2026Created

About

A community for people who carry everything they need on their back and walk until they find somewhere worth stopping.

Share your trips. The five-day traverse that wrecked you. The overnight that reminded you why you do this. The route you've done ten times and still love.

Talk gear. Shelters, packs, sleep systems, footwear. Ultralight or traditional loads. What works for you might not work for someone else.

Ask questions. First overnight? Planning a big trip? Cutting pack weight? No question is too basic.

Discuss routes. Trail systems, off-trail travel, permits, water sources, campsites. The beta that only comes from people who've actually been there.

All skill levels welcome. Weekend warriors to thru-hikers. Established trails to trailless wilderness.

What we're not: a place for day hikes, car camping, or influencer spam. This is about sleeping in the backcountry with your home on your back.

If you've ever questioned your life choices while setting up a tent in the rain, welcome home.

Community Guidelines

Wilderness Backpacking Community Guidelines

Stay on topic. Trip reports, route beta, gear discussions, and planning questions all belong here. Don't make it about day hikes or car camping.

Be respectful. Disagree with an opinion, not the person. Gear debates get heated. Keep it civil.

Participate in good faith. Share what you know. If you haven't hiked a route, say so.

Commercial posts welcome, with conditions. Be transparent. Gear makers and guides can post. But contribute beyond self-promotion. Answer questions. Share beta. If your only posts are about your business, that's spam.

No low-effort ads. "Check out my new tent!" with a link isn't a contribution. No affiliate links.

Be honest about conditions. Don't oversell a route as easy. Someone might rely on your info.

Respect Leave No Trace. No content promoting trashing campsites, illegal fires, or cutting switchbacks.

Keep debates productive. Ultralight vs traditional, hammocks vs tents - argue the merits, not the person.

Founded by

@akcarl

Drifter by nature.