Preparing For The Hiking & Trail Work

Your trip will be significantly more enjoyable if you have a basic level of fitness and well-broken-in boots. We cannot overemphasize the importance of well-broken-in boots. You will be hiking to and from the work site and wearing your boots during trail work every day, so the more comfortable and broken-in your boots are, the better able you’ll be to work hard and have fun. There have been students who have had to leave their trip because of blisters from boots that were not well broken in. The training schedule below is designed to help you properly break in your boots and develop a solid fitness base.

Four weeks before your trip starts: Wear your boots for 15-30 minutes a day to walk around your house or neighborhood so your boots will begin to conform to your feet.

Three weeks before your trip starts: Take three 30-minute hikes or walks in your boots.

Two weeks before your trip starts: Take three 45-minute hikes or walks in your boots.

One week before your trip starts: Take three 1-hour hikes or walks in your boots.

As on any service program, Alaska Service requires a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard as volunteers. The trail crew projects on Alaska Service make the physical difficulty of this program higher than other service programs (except Rockies Service), as groups hike and work hard to build and restore trails daily. For these reasons Alaska Service is rated a challenge level of 7 (1-10, 1 is easiest). Participants should be eager to take part in ten days of trail work, and be ready for both the challenges and rewards that service work in Alaska offers.

Keep in mind that your enjoyment of this trip will hinge on certain factors:

1. Your motivation. Service work is not always easy—you must be motivated!


2. Your desire to hike and do trail work. We’ll spend ten days as members of trail crew teams.


3. Your commitment to teamwork. Overland trips require compromise, patience and selflessness. Support your trip leaders and your trip mates, and you’ll find that you have a great experience.

Service requires dedication, selflessness and hard work. Begin your preparations for a great summer now by organizing your luggage, clothing and gear. As the summer nears, stay active and fit through sports and exercise. The more you prepare, the more you will enjoy your program. Then once your program starts, commit yourself wholeheartedly to your group and its service projects.

Packing for Your Program

Label the following items with your name, address and phone number. Bring only what you need and pack everything in your backpack or daypack. You should wear your hiking boots on the plane and carry your sleeping bag and sleeping pad on the plane with you in case your checked luggage fails to arrive on time.

Our packing list is designed to keep you safe and comfortable while camping and hiking this summer. Nighttime temperatures are much cooler in damp climates like Alaska than they tend to be in the regions most of us are from. The warm clothing and layers listed may seem unnecessary now, but we guarantee you'll appreciate them this summer! Keep in mind, however, that there are a wide range of products available in terms of clothing and equipment. Overland programs are relatively short and although you want your clothing and equipment to be durable, this does not mean it has to be a top of the line piece. Often times the more basic options fit better and perform just as well. Some of our favorite brands in terms of quality of product for a reasonable price include REI (www.rei.com), EMS (www.ems.com) and LL Bean (www.llbean.com).

Please bring only the clothes listed below. Do not wear an extra set of clothes for the flight. By layering you will stay cool on warm days, dry on rainy days and warm on cool nights. You will have the chance to do laundry on a weekly basis. Bring comfortable clothes that can get dirty, paint-splattered and worn while volunteering. Please stick to the packing list. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact our office.

Equipment

• Hiking Boots
  Waterproof backpacking boots. Choose a comfortable boot that is designed for hiking with a medium weight pack. Your boots should have a durable leather upper that can be treated with waterproofing wax or liquid, or have a waterproof fabric/leather combination. If the boots you like have a GoreTex liner, then great, but this is not a mandatory component for being waterproof; good quality leather when treated properly is waterproof. Follow the waterproofing instructions from the boots' manufacturer prior to the start of your trip; typically you must wear the boots for at least a week before they will accept waterproofing treatment.


• Backpack
  4,000-5,000 cubic inches. Before you purchase a backpack, find your backpack size by measuring your torso length and your hips. We recommend getting fitted at a store where you can try on a number of different packs.
  


• Waterproof Pack Cover
  If your backpack does not come with a cover, choose one that fits your pack well.


• Day Pack
  Your day pack can be used as a carry-on and will be necessary for carrying food and water while doing trail work. This can be a very basic backpack, maybe even just your school backpack. You should be able to carry it over both shoulders (i.e., NOT a satchel) and it should be big enough to hold your lunch, 2 water bottles, snacks and some extra warm clothes.


• Sleeping Bag
  We recommend a lightweight, compact, synthetic sleeping bag that is warm to 20 degrees or less. Your sleeping bag should compress enough to fit into your backpack. Some sleeping bags come with a stuff sack which is a small bag that you can stuff your sleeping bag into and then cinch down to make it compact. If your bag does not have one, you can purchase one at most outdoors stores. A stuff sack that compresses your bag to 12" to 20" is recommended. Down bags are not recommended because of the relatively wet damp weather in Alaska. Carry your sleeping bag on the plane with you.

• Sleeping pad
  A full length pad that is inflatable like a ThermaRest or a closed cell foam (thin and firm) like a Therma Ridge Rest is appropriate. It should be compact enough to either fit in your pack or be strapped to the outside. Carry your sleeping pad on the plane with you.


• Sneakers or Tennis Shoes
  Comfortable and light wieght as an alternative to your hiking boots.


• Sports sandals
  With a heel strap for kayaking, swimming and in camp (no flip flops, please).


• Gaiters Knee high to fit over your boots and keep mud, water and snow off your boots and socks.

• Mosquito Head Net
  A mesh net that fits over your head to keep mosquitos away from your face. Handy at night in camp when the bugs are out.

• Utensils 6" to 8" plastic Tupperware/Rubbermaid dish or bowl with top; insulated plastic mug; spoon.


• Water Bottle
  One 1-liter Nalgene (or similar) water bottle. Overland will provide you with a second water bottle upon arrival. A CamelBak or similar water bladder is acceptable, but we have found that water bottles work best.

• Small Safety Whistle
  Plastic or metal with string or lanyard attached.


• Towel
  Medium size. Synthetic camping towel recommended.


• Plastic Bags
  For organizing and waterproofing gear; bring ten large ziplocks and four tall kitchen trash bags.


• Leather Work Gloves
  One pair.

Clothing

• Fleece Jacket or Pullover & Long Fleece Pants
  The fleece should be medium to heavy weight and reasonably compact. Please don't bring jeans or sweatpants. They are heavy, bulky and will not keep you warm if wet.


• Synthetic Long Underwear Top or Synthetic Long-Sleeve Shirt and Long Underwear Bottom
  2-3 long-sleeve synthetic tops and 1 long underwear bottom. Synthetic material will keep you warm in varying weather and is a comfortable layer to wear while hiking or in camp.


• Insulated Vest
  Fleece, Insulate or Down.


• Winter Hat & Gloves or Mittens
  Synthetic or synthetic/wool blend.


• Waterproof Rain Jacket and Rain Pants
  Your rain gear must be waterproof (not just water and/or wind resistant). Gore-Tex is one of the better-known waterproof, breathable fabrics; but there are many of these fabrics from which to choose. Lightweight rain pants are recommended as they provide protection from rain and are a nice layer in camp for protection from wind and bugs. Ponchos are not acceptable.


• Long Pants For Trail Work
  Durable and able to get worn and dirty.

• Hiking shorts
  Two pairs of synthetic (no cotton).


• T-Shirts
  Three. Synthetic are recommended; cotton are acceptable. At least one synthetic shirt is recommended because it will dry faster than cotton. One cotton shirt works well for at night in camp.
  


• Underwear
  Five.


• Socks
  Three pairs of thick wool/synthetic blend socks made for hiking. Synthetic socks dry faster after a day on the trail and help protect your feet better than a cotton sock.


• Pajamas
  One pair only. Pajamas aren't required as many students sleep in shorts and a t-shirt.


• Bathing Suit
  Optional as most students will swim in their hiking shorts (and a sports bra for girls).

Miscellaneous

• Toiletries
  All travel size. If necessary, you will be able to restock en route.


• Moleskin or Molefoam
  One full package for blister protection.


• Sunglasses & Hat
  With visor (e.g., baseball cap).


• Sunscreen (SPF 30+), Chapstick (with SPF protection) & Insect Repellent


• Paperback Book and/or Journal
  Optional.

• Camera/Batteries/Memory Card

Optional. Interested in seeing your photographs or videos on Overland's website next year? Bring a camera with lots of pixels (10 or more) and lots of memory (4GB or more). Buying a new camera? One of our favorites is the Canon PowerShot SD960 IS digital camera.

• Spending Money
  Approximately $50 per week for souvenirs, gifts and necessities (like extra sunscreen or camera film).

Note: Please do not bring any type of knife or multi-tool (e.g., Swiss Army Knife, Leatherman).

We do not permit personal electronics on our programs (e.g., cellphones and iPods). We do, however, allow students who fly to their program to carry a cell phone while traveling; on arrival, Overland's leaders will collect all cell phones for the duration of the program and return them for flights home. Perhaps, a better option would be to bring a pre-paid phone card so that the leaders do not have to carry cell phones for the duration of the program.