I have learned many lessons on this venture which I shall relay to all that anticipate in similar efforts. Many of these suggested procedures should be done on any junket short or long. Since ours will be exceeding two months in a tent efficiency becomes the requisite.

1. Morning wake up
In ones tent at wake up, I completely pack all items and put them outside. When I awake, I immediately stuff my sleeping bags in their bags. I stuff a sheet in with my Slumberjack sleeping bag. I have two sleeping bags – one a Tundra Northface - minus 20-degree bag and a Slumberjack 40-degree bag. The next thing I take off is the sheet that covers my ThermaRest pad. A ThermaRest is a pad that one physically inflates. I have never been in favor of such a thing because, historically, when I have used other products, at the end of the rest one awakes on an uninflated mattress. This product is absolutely a must to own. Thanks to Richard “Tecto” Field for his advice and input. You will hear more about my man later as well. I roll up and deflate the ThermaRest and tie it on a seizing line. I have a bag which I call a miscellaneous bag that carries all other items of immediate need within the tent, such as bear repellent, 44 mag. pistol, my journal, an extra shirt, my toilet kit, selected books, Cutter Mosquito repellent, etc. I collect all my miscellaneous items and put them in the black bag. All the items are then set out of the tent and I then slip out.

When I step out, I put my two sleeping bags, 1 sheet and the ThermaRest in a large waterproof bag made by Cabello. The Cabello bag and the black bag are then carried to the canoe. The black bag is set between my knees and the Cabello is placed in the center section of my canoe.

2. Mosquito Protection
The state of Alaska has many mosquitoes as most of you know. They are most dominant during June, July and August. The good things about them, though, they are not nearly as aggressive nor do they sting so severely as do the Florida mosquitoes. The negative is that there are hundreds of them. During the day on the water or during very windy weather it is almost mosquito free. In the forest, the wetlands, and during still periods they are persistent. In the morning, the evening and during the night their activity increases. With this stated do not be discouraged to go to Alaska – God’s Country and the true Northern Wilderness. There are modern ways to alleviate mosquito stress here. First, it is usually nice and cool here so one should consider wearing a tee shirt and long sleeved shirts. Long pants, too, are appropriate. Since I do not wear undergarments, I use a little Cutter mosquito repellent on my pants or vital areas. I then use Cutter on my hands and feet (we are wearing sandals) and we are totally protected. I wear a head net with a hat and you will not be stung once with this coverage. I do this procedure before I get out of the tent and Alaska is free for the fun! During the day none of this is necessary unless you enter the woods or marshy areas. Since Chuck and I are from Florida this would be great too, except it is too hot and cutter will have to be used all over – ick! But Thank God for Cutter – this is what I use because it isn’t greasy and it doesn’t have a scent.

3. River Canoeing
The Yukon River is an extremely fast flowing river – from 4 to 8 mph in most places. In some places it is less like the “flats” (an area about 200 miles long with some areas of the river 20 miles wide) which stretch from Circle, AK to just down stream from Steven’s Village. It is very much in the canoeist favor to recognize the most advantageous sections of the river. On the Yukon, portions of the width are more active than other portions. Often, both sides near the banks are active while out in the middle wind creates waves and it is more idle. Sometimes the main activity is down the center while on the banks a back eddy occurs. The canoeist must be constantly aware of these variations to best epitomize his efforts. The Yukon has an added feature, however, that quickly erases these observation advantages and that is the wind. Sometimes the wind gets so high (30-40 mph) that it can create 3’ waves on a river ¼ - ½ mile wide. The only real certifying measure of the current speeds are observing stobs or branches sticking out of the water. Once one is located, check to see how much wash there is of water washing by the branch. Don’t count on the bank movement as the final indicator because too many other factors interact.

4. Food
Thanks again for Richard “Tecto” Field’s contributions and inputs. As I was planning my food list for the trip, Tecto suggested I pack my food in Food Saver bags and seal them with the Food Saver machine. He brought in an example of sealed rice and I was sold. Although Food Saver does not successfully seal every bag 100% airtight (this may be because of the operator – me), it seals your meal watertight. I can make a breakfast for example: 1 cup of dehydrated mashed potatoes, 3 dehydrated eggs, and ½ cup dried bacon. I can drop the sealed package in a pail of water and let it soak overnight without any harm done to the items inside. This is a real favorable quality especially when one is in a boat or canoe. On short trips, say a week or two campout, one can simply bring the open bags back home and then use them cutting down ½ the cost of the bag. The Food Saver is a real helper at home preventing freezer burn on meats and other items subject to long periods in the freezer.