If you come from a warm climate, you may worry about staying comfortable enough to enjoy your once-in-a-lifetime sled dog tour, but we have you covered! In addition to the basics, Wayfinder Kennel will supply you with snow boots, arctic parkas, neck gaiters, Alaskan mittens, and hats to keep you cozy and focused on your adventure with us.
I’ve spent most of my life outdoors with sled dogs, and while there are many things I have yet to learn, knowing how to stay warm in Alaska is not one of them! Here are some cold-weather wardrobe basics to help start your journey.
You will want to come with what we call a solid base layer (long underwear) and mid-layer (sweaters) to go under the winter clothes provided. There are certainly great base layers sold by SmartWool, REI, or Patagonia, however, you can get by inexpensively with some clothes you already own or pick up cheaply at a thrift store.
Feet: Wear a pair of heavy winter socks. Wearing two pairs of your regular socks can work, but only if they give your toes plenty of room to wiggle. Loose toes are warm toes.
Legs and torso base-layer: You’ll want commercial base layers of wool or polypropylene. Both work very well. Always stay away from cotton! Cotton will soak up sweat and make you cold. Sorry cotton!
Legs and torso mid-layer: For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a top and bottom of polypropylene gym pants, and top to go over your base layer, work well here. We’ll have the last exterior layer of insulating top and bottom for you that will shed snow and keep you toasty warm.
Torso: Bring your warm sweaters and coat. We will outfit you with our Alaskan Musher Style Parkas and over gear to augment your clothing so no worries there at all.
Hands: Wear your winter gloves or mittens you have and you’ll be fine. We will supply you with our musher over mitts to top you off. For your next tour, find here a complete Clothing Gear List.
Give us a woof and join us for an Alaskan adventure!
Happy Trails