Here is an article I wrote for Fish Alaska Magazine on how to prepare and plan for a float trip in remote Alaska

1. 64 FishAlaskaMagazine.com October/November 2019
Top: The Garmin inReach SE+. Don’t
leave home without it.
Bottom: We managed to get all our gear into a
30L waterproof backpack, a Hydra 110L duffel,
and a 4-inch x 33-inch rod tube.
Right: The 13-foot NRS raft was our “Mother Ship”
for ten days. They are very dependable and easy
to maneuver, even for novices like myself.
The allure of an unguided, wilderness float trip in Alaska
has been a dream of mine for many years. I have been
fortunate to have fished with many wonderful lodges and
outfitters in Alaska and Northern Canada and yet always
wondered what it would be like to explore a remote river
system in a raft, unguided and without the comfort and
amenities of lodge life that tend to filter the connection
to your surroundings. The challenge of having to prepare
for a remote riverine adventure was the next logical step
in accomplishing the satisfaction of being self-reliant in
a truly wild environment. Last spring, I shared the idea
with my good friend Cole Publiski, and he agreed it was
time to give a remote rafting trip in the wilds of Alaska
a try.
The initial step to a successful float trip is to make a
list of priorities for the adventure and work through each
step of the process until game day when you launch your
raft. Some important factors to consider are:
• Your budget.
• The timing of your trip.
• Species of fish you wish to target. This will often
dictate timing.
• How many days do you want to be on the river.
• Wilderness skill levels of your group.
• Rafting experience.
• What float trip gear do you own and what will you
need to buy or rent, including rafts, cooking equipment,
tents, etc.
Cole and I began brainstorming our idea of the ideal
river on which to make our first Alaskan float trip and
First
FloatPlanning and preparation for a
remote Alaskan float adventure
Story and photos by John Cleveland

2. October/November 2019 FishAlaskaMagazine.com 65
agreed that a river system with no lodges
or boat traffic would be our first choice.
We were looking for a completely remote
adventure that could be explored with
a modest budget. After extensive online
research, and personal recommendations
from several friends that had done float
trips in Alaska, the Holitna River in
southwest Alaska floated to the top of our
list of prime destinations.
Next we needed an outfitter or air taxi
to get us to the river at a reasonable cost.
After doing some research we contacted
Rod Kinkade, owner of Aniak Air Guides.
Rob has a great reputation as an outfitter,
and along with transporting us to the
launch site at his remote base camp on
the Kogrukluk River, he would pick us up
100 miles downstream at a lodge called
Alaskan Adventures. Aniak Air Guides
also supplied us with a high-quality raft,
heavy-duty expedition tent, sleeping pads,
extra dry bags for food and gear, as well as
all cooking supplies including stove and
fuel, and bear spray, all of which are part
of their regular package. We felt this was
an excellent value. We had now made the
decision on where we were going to float
and who would transport and supply us
with the basic equipment for the journey.
The very first step of our float adventure
was completed.
Pre-trip preparation and planning are
critical to a successful adventure and can
be almost as much fun as the trip itself by
heightening anticipation and giving you
the confidence of knowing you are properly
equipped. That confidence will give you
peace of mind to be able to appreciate
the isolation and beauty of the natural
world while enjoying a safe and rewarding
adventure.
Timing
We planned to target the coho run on the
Holitna. With that in mind, we scheduled
our trip to begin the third week in August
which would put us well into the annual
coho run on the Holitna. We also hoped
the biting bugs would have thinned out
by late August. We decided to do a 10-
day float as we both had the vacation time
and felt confident that our wilderness skills
would mitigate any challenges we faced on
a long float.
Wilderness and Rafting Skill Levels
Both Cole and I have camped, hiked,
hunted, and fished extensively and were
comfortable with the prospect of being
in a remote situation without a guide.
Cole is a fishing guide in Michigan and
accomplished at handling a raft. He would
be my mentor in acquiring that skill
during our trip.
Making a Checklist
A comprehensive checklist will help ensure
you have a safe adventure and the trip of a
lifetime. We made two separate checklists
for the trip.
The first checklist included all fishing
gear, clothing, camping equipment such
as knives, GPS, sleeping bag, first-aid kit,
personal gear such as cameras, headlamps,
etc…and lastly our 12-gauge shotguns.
The second checklist included a daily
menu plan and all food-related provisions
we would be taking with us.
Food
We planned out our daily menus ahead of
time and chose to purchase our own food
in Michigan and ship all dry goods to Rob’s
base in Aniak a couple weeks prior to our
arrival, so we didn’t have to pay premium
prices in Alaska.
Our breakfast menu consisted of fresh-
brewed coffee, fried eggs, hash browns, and
canned beef hash or sautéed grayling each
morning.
Lunch was eaten on the go most days
and consisted of peanut butter sandwiches
made using tortillas, venison jerky which
we had made especially for the trip, and
trail mix which I had made prior to the

3. 66 FishAlaskaMagazine.com October/November 2019
trip and portioned into individual-serving
Ziploc bags. We did stop and make hot
soup using powdered mixes and added
fresh fish as a special treat when we needed
a break and wanted to kick back to enjoy
the scenery for the afternoon.
Our dinner menu consisted of fresh
salmon and grayling with side dishes like
baked potatoes, rice, and pasta. We were
often so focused on fishing and exhausted
from navigating the river all day that we
simply made peanut butter sandwiches
instead of setting up the full cook kit and
preparing a meal.
Choose Quality Gear for Your Trip
You are going to be isolated and living in
the elements 24 hours a day without the
option of going into “the lodge” to get
comfortable. That means every piece of
equipment needs to function without
breaking, leaking or otherwise giving
you less than 100%. Store guarantees
are meaningless in the bush if something
breaks or doesn’t function as advertised.
I would also recommend checking all
equipment out before you leave home to
ensure you are familiar with its use and
confident of its quality.
Getting Started
All outfitters have weight restrictions on the
amount of baggage you can take on their
bush planes, but with a little planning and
consolidation you should have no trouble
meeting those requirements. Be sure to
ask about the weight restrictions before
you pack.
Weeks prior to the trip both Cole and I
were so excited we packed and unpacked
our baggage a couple times a week, calling
each other on the phone with suggestions
and ideas to more efficiently load the
waterproof Hydra 110-liter duffels, and
30-liter waterproof backpacks which we
transported as carry-ons in the plane to
Alaska. We used the backpacks as boat bags
during the float to stow items of gear that
were frequently used during the day on the
water. The upside of our packing practice
is that by the time we launched our raft we
were completely familiar with our gear and
its most efficient placement in the duffel
based on anticipated usage during the trip.
Packing Your Gear
The prepper in me wanted to take
everything I could possibly need for every
situation…but be practical, be prepared,
and be realistic. Extra baggage and too
many gadgets tend to become a distraction,
hindering you from getting away from the
familiar and exploring something new
and truly extraordinary in the wild. Plus,
remember you’ll have weight restrictions
on the air taxi.
Clothing
When packing your gear for the trip, plan
on dressing in layers. Layering will enable
you to adjust to variations in temperature,
Each morning began
with fried eggs and a
variety of proteins like
beef hash, sautéed
grayling, and salmon.
At the dawn of a new
day we would begin with
a small fire and coffee to
break the morning chill
before heading out on
the river.

4. October/November 2019 FishAlaskaMagazine.com 67
keeping you comfortable throughout the
day while on the water. Another good idea
is to plan out what you will wear while
fishing and traveling and keep those outfits
separate. I put my “travel” clothes in a large
Ziploc bag and put them on the bottom of
my waterproof duffel until we were ready
to travel home. There is no need to change
your fishing clothes every day. Rotating
undergarments and airing them out daily
in camp will keep you comfortable. Wool
socks are a must when on a float trip. Your
feet will be inside waders for much of each
day. Wool socks will wick moisture from
your skin and keep your feet warm even
when damp.
If it’s made of cotton leave it at home!
Cotton retains water and will not dry
quicklyleavingyoumiserable,wet,andcold
in the bush. In cooler temperatures this can
be life threatening. I highly recommend
base layer and under garments made
of synthetic materials, or Merino wool.
The best base layer garments I have ever
owned are made by Grays Harbor Unders,
100% American made in Hoquiam,
Washington. They do an outstanding
job of pulling moisture away from your
skin and keeping you comfortable in a
wide range of temperatures. These lighter
synthetic materials will help keep you
comfortable and assist in meeting the
weight requirements critical in the small
bush planes that will be transporting you
to and from wild places in Alaska.
I recommend fleece garments for a
mid-layer because they are lightweight,
warm, and dry quickly when wet. Evening
temperatures in the north country can be
cool even in the middle of the summer. I
would recommend bringing enough mid-
layers and a wool tuque to insure you are
comfortable as the temperatures drop
at night.
Mother Nature’s Kitchen
When you are in Mother Nature’s kitchen,
you need to be ready for her to cook up
a storm, and when in Alaska she likes to
cook full-course meals of soaking-wet scud.
The most important item of clothing on a
remote trip is your rain gear. While on a
remote float trip you will be spending 24
hours a day in the elements. Staying warm
and dry are critical to your comfort and
safety. Your raingear will keep out moisture
and wind, ensuring you stay warm and
dry. Never skimp on this piece of clothing!
Ever! Invest in a high-quality rain suit and
you will not regret it. GORE-TEX is the
gold standard for rain gear and I would
recommend it. There are certainly other
excellent waterproof fabrics on the market,
many of which are sold as proprietary
brands in large retail stores. I can tell you
from personal experience that many of
these house brands are also of high quality.
Fishing Equipment
Irecommendconsultingwithyouroutfitter
for his recommendations on rods, reels,
flies, and lures to bring. The equipment
you choose will ultimately depend on
the species of fish you will be targeting.
There are many great online resources
that will assist in equipment selection as
well. I recommend bringing a backup rod
and reel. It is not uncommon for a rod to
break under the stress of constant use on a
weeklong trip. I have experienced both rod
and reel failures on trips but in each case
had a backup to keep me in the game. I
would also recommend bringing an extra
spool of line. Leave your one-piece rods at
home. The airlines will charge you extra for
the oversized baggage (length). They are
also vulnerable to being broken while in
transit. All my fly rods and spinning rods
are either three- or four-piece and fit in a
case that is 33 inches long that travels as
carry-on luggage in the plane’s cabin with
me. Temple Fork Outfitters and St. Croix
both make high-quality, dependable travel
rods that I have personally used.

5. 68 FishAlaskaMagazine.com October/November 2019
Navigation and Communication
I was able to procure a Garmin inReach
SE+ satellite communicator that could send
and receive text messages from anywhere
in the world. We synced the unit with a
cell phone and had real time navigation
maps and location notifications including
waypoints. The unit also has an emergency
notification and tracking beacon that can
be activated in an emergency to notify
rescue teams. This was my first time using
such a device and after my experience with
it, I will carry one with me for all future
remote adventures. It added a level of
confidence to the adventure, knowing I
could communicate with the outside world
if necessary.
Bear Necessities
If you are in Alaska, you are in bear
country. Most bears fear people and will
stay clear of humans. There are steps you
can take to decrease the possibility of a
close encounter with a bear. Stop and cook
dinner a good distance upriver prior to
selecting a campsite for the night. Keep
your campsite as odor free as possible. Food
should be stored in airtight containers such
as dry bags and away from your tent. If you
are going to camp at a site for more than
one night, do your cooking downwind and
several hundred yards from camp. Maintain
a respectful attitude of avoidance and make
plenty of noise when on the shore to avoid
surprising a bear at close quarters. Cole and
I chose to carry both 12-gauge shotguns
loaded with slugs and canisters of bear
spray just in case.
What we learned:
Timing
You need to be flexible in your fishing
plan. The salmon run was two weeks late
and they had not arrived in the upper part
of the river when we began our float. We
had to recalibrate and enjoy the company
of what the river had to offer, which was
a bounty of beautifully feisty and tasty
grayling.
Food and Menu Planning
On my next float trip, I will plan on having
a supply of pre-packaged, ready-to-heat
and eat meals for dinner, and supplement
With patience, we
finally ran head-on into
the coho run on day
seven of our float.

6. October/November 2019 FishAlaskaMagazine.com 69
them with fresh fish instead of the other way
around.
Navigation
Don’t depend on your outfitter to supply
a quality map. Buy your own waterproof,
topographical map from the U.S. Geological
Survey.
Miscellaneous Tips
• Labeling all dry bags really helped
when we needed to find an item in one of
the five dry bags sitting on the gravel bar.
• Always tie your raft to something when
parking it for the night. We almost lost
ours when the river level rose several feet
overnight.
• Baby wipes were a good choice for
personal hygiene.
• Sleeping bags should be insulated with
synthetic material because when down gets
wet it is useless.
• Be flexible as not everything will go as
planned. As long as no one is in danger, go
with the flow and live in the moment.
The Daily Camp Routine
We had underestimated the amount of work
and effort necessary to set up our camp each
day. Next time, I will plan to arrive at the
day’s campsite earlier in the afternoon, giving
us more time to relax, have a leisurely meal,
fish, and hang out around a campfire. I’ll
also spend less time rowing down the river
and will stop to fish more often throughout
the day.
Ending Thoughts
Cole and I had done our homework and
were confidently prepared for our first
float-trip adventure. The result was a trip
of a lifetime and the shared memories of an
awesome adventure between two friends.
Ultimately, it’s not the stuff we pack for
a trip to the north country that makes an
adventure successful, but more importantly
the baggage we leave behind such as the stress
generated by the temptation to quantify and
measure every experience as if we were at
work. With proper pre-trip preparation you
will have the confidence you need to hit the
reset button, knowing you are prepared for
the adventure, and thus be able to relax and
enjoy a safe and successful float trip in the
remote wilderness of Alaska.
John Cleveland is currently feeding his
family by working as the Marketing Director
for Dardevle spoons. John feeds his soul by
flyfishing in Alaska, Northern Canada, and the
Arctic, and writing about those adventures as
a freelance outdoor writer. When not working
or fishing, he stays in shape for his next
adventure by competing in triathlons. John can
be reached at grouseman52@gmail.com.