F.A.Q.
Packing Information
Alaska Rainbow Adventures
Packing Information ~ It's all about the floatplanes!
Packing Information
Getting all your gear up to a remote Alaska River takes some planning. When you're heading into the wilderness, those floatplanes are fantastic, but space and weight are king. Let's make sure you're packed right for the adventure of a lifetime!
Weight Limit: We're shooting for 250 pounds per person or less, and that's counting both you and your gear. Or, to put it another way, your gear should be 50 pounds or less, whichever keeps the total down.
Why? Because we need to fit you, your gear, and three other folks with their loads into a plane that carries about 1,200 pounds total. We'll always do our best to accommodate, but if your gear goes over, any extra cost is on you, or you might need to leave some non-essentials behind.
Golden rule: bring what you need, leave what you don't!
Storage Available: Don't worry, there's usually storage in our conex at the air taxi if you have items you don't need on the river itself.
Complete Packing Checklist
Clothing - Base Layers
Clothing - Mid & Outer Layers
Footwear
Sleep System
Optional Rental: Rent sleeping bag from us. ($89) - Quality 20-degree or 0-degree bags with fresh liner washed between trips.
Fishing Gear
Personal Items
Weight Calculator
Check Your Weight Status
Use this calculator to see if you're within our limits:
lbs
lbs
Prohibited Items
Firearms
Bear spray
Felt-soled or studded boots
Wheeled or hard-sided luggage
Important Notes
Luggage Requirements: You'll need one or two good-quality roll-top dry bags for your clothing and sleeping bag. Please, no wheeled or hard-sided luggage – it makes loading planes and rafts much easier if you pack into two smaller bags instead of one big one.
Food & Beverages: We provide three meals a day and some snacks, but if you're a heavy snacker, bring your favorites! Consider bringing water enhancer like Stur, Mio, or Crystal Light for your preferred flavors.
Alcohol Note: Bethel has no liquor stores. You might want to look into a "Bush Order" service from Anchorage well ahead of your trip. A Google search for "bush orders for alcohol in Anchorage" can help you find services that deliver to your B&B or to Renfro's Air Service in Bethel. Whatever you bring counts towards your weight limit.
Forgotten Items: Getting forgotten items to you once you're in the field can be difficult and very costly. If there's something specific you don't have, it's worth asking the air taxi if they can stop by the local store on the way to the takeoff site.
Final Reminder: While not mandatory, a Positive Mental Attitude is always strongly encouraged for the best possible outcome – it just makes everything better!
If you have any questions about what to bring or specific gear recommendations, don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to help make sure you're perfectly prepared for your Alaska adventure!
Call us at 1-907-357-0251
or send us an email
