Health and Safety

When traveling in the Bush, you should never head out without a decent first-aid kit; you can be a very long way from help out here. The main concern, though, is hypothermia. Always carry more layers than you anticipate needing. Watch out for each other. Encounters with wild animals—bears, moose, caribou, and eagles—are common, if not expected. Stay aware, keep your distance, and remember that these animals are not domesticated pets; they are wild and, in some cases, predatory. However, a much more consistent nuisance than Alaska’s mammals and birds are Alaska’s insects—until you've experienced it, it's hard to understand just how thick the mosquitoes and other things that bite can get in summer. Bring plenty of DEET.