Alaska weather/outerwear tips for next week
 

My family and I are headed to Alaska this Friday (6/15) and spending a week, renting a car and driving around. Our itinerary includes Seward (and a day cruise of Resurrection Bay area), Homer, Anchorage, Denali and Valdez.

This may be a silly question, but I'm from the South -- how cold IS it really? If I layer but only have a thin raincoat, am I going to freeze on that boat cruise? Do I need gloves? Sorry to sound ignorant, but it's 90 degrees where I'm sitting right now, and the prospect of 50-degree weather has me ready to pack a parka. Besides, I can look at weather.com all I want, but it doesn't really tell me how cold it feels in places I've never been -- I don't know if the places I listed are windy, or humid, or what. So any weather-related or warm-clothing related advice would be much appreciated.

(I'm extremely excited about this trip, I just want to be properly prepared.)

The short answer is: layers!

When we spent 17 days in Alaska, most days I wore jeans, shoes and sox, long sleeve Ts. I brought a couple of microfleece tops, and a hooded rain jacket long enough to cover my butt. When we were near glaciers, I liked having thin gloves and an earband.

I don't think you need a winter parka, but silk long underwear, which takes up practically no room, is an option under jeans.

If it's rainy or very humid, you'll feel the cold more. If it's sunny, you'll be OK. 50s aren't that bad. Layers under the raincoat will be fine. The raincoat will stop any wind which is where you'll feel it. Bring a light scarf to put around your neck to block any wind. If it's light enough, you just put it in your pocket when you warm up.

You can always purchase an additional fleece top in Alaska. They are very nice there, and make great souvenirs too.

Please post a report on your return. I'm planning a very similar trip for June 2008 so I want to learn from your successes (and challenges). Have a great time - and keep warm. I'm in Miami so 50 is wintertime weather for me.....

For the boat cruise, you will need a light jacket and gloves are an added plus. Be sure to bring dollar bills for hot drinks aboard. It sounds miserable, but it's really not.
You will love your cruise, it will be the highlight of your trip to Seward.

I'm from the south too so packing for my trip to SE AK last summer was a challenge. It was much cooler last yr than several yrs in the past. Some people said it was a "cold summer", but many natives said it actually was normal and past summers had been too warm-haven't heard about this summer. I never wore shorts, always long pants, but on land, I often wore a short sleeve top w/ a long-sleeve blouse. When I was on the water, I wore long sleeve top and lg wt. rain/wind jacket w/ hood. When I was near the glaciers, I wore silk underwear bottoms, long pants, wind pants, long sleeve top, fleece jacket, rain/wind jacket, gloves, and either hat or earband. Sounds like a lot, but when the ship is moving that adds to the cooler temps. I was on the bow of the ship so being hit w/ the wind off the water, but I'm sure it was warmer at the stern of the boat. Agree w/ other posters to layer lots but each layer can be thin - you don't have to look like the doughboy. I never could find a thin fleece to fit so that is the one item I bought in AK. Remember you lose most of your body heat through your head so if you are cold, put on a hat (even the hat of a rain/wind jacket), and if you are hot, take off the hat 1st. Have fun!

50 degrees in AK feels a lot different than your wintery 50 degrees, IMO. And rain actually makes it feels warmer. If the sun's out, it'll be at least 70.

Remember, you're likely to be moving around, also. I wear a turtleneck and fleece with jeans most days it's in the 50's. And we have *plenty* of sweatshirts/coats for sale if you find it's cold.

'Mom' is right, though, out on the water, or in front of a glacier, if feels much colder. Wind-proof overcoats will do you more good than dragging a parka along.

Heads, hands and feet are where I feel the cold. Hiking boots with thick socks, a light glove, and a hat will make you feel very comfortable.

You'll probably be able to go inside the boat cabin if you feel really cold. We were lucky and were there went it was a hot summer ... my husband had to buy some short sleeve shirts. He got a good deal at a Good Will kind of store in Palmer. Fleece vests are great for chilly weather. Keep in mind for most of your trip you will be in the car or walking around. Gloves, scarf and hat are great advice.

Thanks for all the replies! I do think I'm going to pack the long underwear and add a hat and gloves and a fleece. Better to have too much than too little, I guess, as long as I can still lift the suitcase.

There is a great brand of undergear called Cuddli Duds, very light but efficient for warmth.. I live here year round and often use them under athletic clothing for bike rides.

Have a wonderful trip, J.(Kenai Pen).

Good advice so far. Layers is important. The weather can change quickly from day to day, and from morning through evening. How cold it is all depends upon your perspective. Those of us who live here run around in shorts, sandals, and tees. The tourists definately stand out because they have coats on in the summer, too funny! If you are used to 90 degrees, you may get chilly especially in the evenings and mornings. Keep in mind that near water or on boats can also be chilly. We have had a windier than usual summer so far but that may change. Homer has weekend was very cold one day and then next resulted in sun burns. It's unpredictable.

Just as an update, we had a wonderful time and thought Alaska was just stunning. And we had layers, although we only needed most of them on the Kenai Fjords tour (where I made use of my earmuffs and gloves and fleece and windbreaker). We went to Seward, Homer, Denali, Valdez and Anchorage, and I'd offer two suggestions of things to see (beyond what's obvious): We went to the Native Heritage center in Anchorage and thought it was really interesting, and I'd recommend it. Also, the drive from Anchorage across the Glenn Highway and down the Richardson Highway to Valdez is gorgeous. The drive from Fairbanks to Valdez down the Richardson Highway, however, is a lot longer than we thought it would be, and not as scenic until you get towards Valdez.
The weather ranged from the 50's up to the 80's, so packing short sleeves and layers was the way to go. We really loved it.

I'd meant to add, for anyone going there who didn't know (we didn't), the green buses in Denali are not "guided" tours -- the driver, from what I understand, can keep silent the whole time. Luckily for us, our green bus to Wonder Lake was driven by an excellent guy named Tim (who seems to be alternating between the 6:15 a..m. bus and the 6:45 a.m. bus this summer) who was a wealth of information about the animals and their habits, the park's history, the plants, the land, and anything else we could possibly have wanted to know.

And also, thanks to everyone for their responses to my original questions!