- Gear List
- Guest Questionnaire
- Getting to Valdez
- Where to Stay
- Suggested Readings
- Conditioning
What to Bring on a Pangaea Adventure:
The Basics off all tours are to remember to avoid wearing cotton. Synthetic materials or wool is the best option.
Download Gear Lists to Print: (pdf format)
Day Tour Clothing List (90kb)
Kayak Camping Tour Gear/Clothing List (60kb)
Mothership or Lodge Based Tour Gear/Clothing List (99kb)
Multi-Sport Gear/Clothing List (38kb)
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Click the bar for your trip below. To Print the list, make sure your list is the only one open.
Gear List: Alaska Backpacking Trips
Important Note: Avoid Cotton when ever possible
Pangaea Adventures strongly advises following this clothing list closely. We believe in the layering system and attempt to keep the packing lightweight, warm, and safe! Cotton does not insulate well when wet! If you find you need to purchase any of these items, remember they are all items you will be thankful you had both on this adventure as well as on your next adventure. Valdez and Anchorage have sports shops to purchase these items, and the prices are usually comparable. Visit our web site for a link to purchase items online!
What Pangaea Adventures Supplies:
Travelers are responsible for the following Clothing and Gear:
Hiking boots- These should be medium to heavy weight boots. Your boots MUST be broken in before you arrive.1-2 Pairs of long underwear, Polypro (no cotton)
2 pairs of pants (1 comfortable light nylon or Polyester and 1 med weight fleece or polyester)
1 Waterproof/breathable Gore-tex Rain Jacket , hooded
1 Pair of waterproof/breathable Gore-tex Rain Pants
1-2 pairs Warm gloves (wool or polypro gloves) (1-liner glove and one midweight glove)
(the rain hat can double as the sun hat)
Bandanas-(1-2) The colorful cotton type.
(Small Med kit should include
Optional Items:
Gore-tex socks
Important Note About Breathable Fabrics – Gore-tex and other so-called waterproof breathable fabrics are not waterproof enough to stay dry during long rainy days. If you really want to bring a breathable jacket or pants, you MUST re-treat the outside of the garment with a new waterproof coating (DWR). The DWR (durable water repellent) that your garment is treated with new will wear out in a short time. Contact us for more information.
Bring extra clothes for before and after the tour. You are welcome to bring any kind of comfortable clothing you wish for around town, but we cannot stress enough the importance of not wearing cotton on tour. Temperatures in town can range from the mid forties to lower eighties. We will keep all extra items in town while out camping. Visit our web site for links to buy gear online!
Gear List: Alaska Backpacking Trips
Use both the appropriate gear list above for each activity. Most have overlapping items.
Guest form for a Multi-Day Trip Guests
To be filled out by anyone on a Multi-Day Tour with Pangaea Adventures. Day Tour Guests do not need to fill this out.
Fly
A short 45 minute flight from Anchorage is the easiest way to get to Valdez. Visit the Era Aviation website to make reservations and check the schedule. They usually fly 3 times a day. Flying to Valdez gives you the convenience of speed and an unforgettable flight over the mountains and Prince William Sound.
Drive
A scenic 300 mile (5-6 hour) drive will get you to Valdez from Anchorage as well. From Anchorage, rive North to Palmer and turn right on the Glenn Highway. When you get to Glennallen, turn right again onto the Richardson Highway. When you get to Valdez, turn left on Meals Dr. and then Left again on N. Harbor Dr. Our shop is the 3rd building on the left. Driving offers spectacular views and the ability to explore other towns along the way.
Train & Ferry Combination
Lastly, You can drive or take the train from Anchorage to Whittier and take the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry from Whittier to Valdez. Go to the Alaska Marine Highway Website for schedule and fare information. This is a beautiful option as well, but takes all day and is more expensive than the flight.
There is no Bus or Train service to Valdez. You can however hire a Pangaea Adventures Van to pick you up in Anchorage. This is affordable for groups of 6+ otherwise you should just rent a car.
Local Valdez Pick-up
We would be happy to pick you up at the airport or ferry terminal when you arrive. Just let us know when you will be here.
Once in Valdez, there are many other activities to join other than Sea kayaking. There are glacier hikes, ice climbing, glacier cruises, bicycle rentals, hiking, and river rafting. The town is very traveler friendly with restaurants, hotels, and B & B's. You can find all of your outdoor equipment needs at one of the local outdoor stores or buy extra groceries at the full service market (Wow, Safeway!).
For more information on Valdez call the:
Valdez Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) 770-5954
Hotels
Downtown B&B Inn
Toll-free: (1-800) 478-2791 • Phone: 835-2791
Email: 1n2rs@gci.net - Web: www.alaskaone.com/downinn
Located 1 block from Pangaea Adventures. Popular with our guests. Included good breakfast & clean. Budget $.
Best Western - Valdez Harbor Inn
Toll-free: (1-888) 222-3440 • Phone: 835-3434
Email: info@valdezharborinn.com - Web: www.valdezharborinn.com
Located Across the Street from Pangaea Adventures on the small boat harbor. Moderate $$
Aspen Hotel 100 Meals Avenue • Toll-free: (1-800) 478-4445 Phone: 835-4445
Email: info@aspenhotelsak.com - Web: www.aspenhotelsak.com
Located 2 short blocks from Pangaea Adventures. Has a pool and hot tub! Moderate $$.
Totem Inn
Toll-free (1-888) 808-4431 Phone: 835-4443
Email: info@toteminn.com - Web: www.toteminn.com
Located 1 block from Pangaea Adventures. They also have private cabins. Moderate $$.
Bed and Breakfast
Brookside Inn B&B
1465 Richardson Highway - Phone: 835-9130
Email: brooksidebb@gci.net - Web: www.brooksideinnbb.com
Locate just on the outskirts of town. Great hosts and nice rooms. Hot tub! Car recommended. Continental breakfast. Moderate $$.
L&L’s B&B
533 W. Hanagita • Phone: 835-4447
Email: mrlou@lnlalaska.com - Web: www.lnlalaska.com
In town about 12 blocks from Pangaea. A car is recommended, but not necessary. Clean with continental breakfast. Budget $ to $$.
Blueberry Mary’s B&B
810 Salmonberry Way • Phone: 835-5015
Email: bmary@ak.net - Web: http://home.gci.net/~blueberrymary
Located 1 mile from Pangaea. Oceanview, private baths, sauna, kitchenette, feather beds & full breakfast. Moderate $$.
Lake House B&B
Mile 6 Richardson Highway -
Phone: 835-4752
Email: jhdvns@aol.com • Web:www.lakehousevaldez.net
Located a few miles outside of town with great views. Continental breakfast. All rooms have private baths. Moderate $$.
Camping
Bear Paw Camper Park
101 N. Harbor Drive • Phone 835-2530
Fax: 835-5266 • Email: bearpaw@valdezak.net • Web: www.bearpawrvpark.com
RV Park. Office is next door to Pangaea. Tent camping 1 block away. Close to Ferry. Showers & Laundry.
Eagle's Rest RV Park& Cabins
Toll-free (1-800) 553-7275 • Phone: 835-2373
Email: rvpark@alaska.net • Web: www.eaglesrestrv.com
RV Park- located downtown 3 Blocks from Pangaea. Private cabins available and tent camping. Showers & Laundry.
Sea Otter RV Park
Phone: 835-2787
Email:seaotterrvparkllc@cvinternet.net
RV Park on the Water with tent camping. Located across the harbor from Pangaea. Car recommeded. Showers & Laundry.
Capt. Jim's Campgrounds
Alison Point & Glacier Campgrounds
Phone: 835-2282• Web: www.valdezcampgrounds.com
Tent camping locates either at Alison Point 6 miles from Pangaea or Glacier Campground 4 miles from Pangaea. No services.
Call us (800)-660-9637 for more options or to make a reservation at any of these accommodations.
Books
- A History of Prince William Sound, Alaska. by Jim and Nancy Lethcoe
- An Observer's Guide to the Geology of Prince William Sound, Alaska. by Jim Lethcoe
- Valdez Gold Rush Trails by Jim and Nancy Lethcoe
- An Observer's Guide to the Glaciers of Prince William Sound, Alaska. By Nancy Lethcoe
- Coming into the Country by John McPhee
- Alaska by James Michener
- An Observers Guide to the Killer Whales of Prince William Sound by Craig Matkin
Maps
- National Geographic - Trails Illustrated - Prince William Sound East #762, (for kayak camping tours from Valdez)
- National Geographic - Trails Illustrated - Wrangell St. Elias National Park #249 (for backpacking and Multisport Trips)
Sea Kayak Day Tours:
Very little pre-trip conditioning is needed for our kayak day tours. this holds true for our lodge based and motehrship based kayak tours as well. We paddle in calm waters and usually only cover about 5 miles in a long day.
Kayak Camping Tours
We highly suggest you go out and paddle a few days prior to your kayak camping tour. If you can not get out and paddle we suggest a minimum of daily walks and hikes. Some strength training is good to consider as well. High repetition workouts will be more adventageous than pure strength training. Consider a rowing machine. Also, abdominal excersizes are great, so get going on those crunches!
Backpacking
Get out and hike! Start slow with just a couple of miles and work your way up to feeling comforatable with carrying a 35-40 poound pack for the same distance. This is a great time to break in your hiking boots. Cardio-vascular excersize is a must. Set a goal a couple months in advance and try to get at least 30 minutes of walking a day with at least one long hike a week.
More to come!