I hear a lot every year about people planning blacktail trips to hunt Coastal Alaska on the popular Prince of Wales and Kodiak Islands. Furthermore, the Northern BC Coastal Mountain range is excellent mountain hunting country. An abundance in mountain goats and Dall Sheep fill this remote northern mountain range. For hunters unfamiliar with coastal environments, these areas pose a set of different and dangerous challenges compared with most locations. Today, I’d like to share some tips I’ve learned living, working, and hunting in this unique biome.
Fundamental Difference
As most people know, the coastal ranges see much more precipitation than other areas. What is sometimes missed is that this water can kill you in the backcountry. Staying dry(ish) is fundamental to your ability to stay in the backcountry long-term. Unlike inland areas where cold temperatures are the danger, in these coastal environments a wet 1 degree celcius can be just as dangerous as a dry negative thirty. Below I’ve outlined a few good rules of thumb to keep you safe and hunting in coastal environments.
Rule #1: Cotton Kills
The first rule of thumb is to pick your clothing materials wisely. Cotton holds water, and as such is an absolutely terrible choice. Avoid cotton clothing at all costs. Another material that does not handle water well is down. While down is excellent in drier climates, all it takes is a single botched creek crossing or a leaky dry bag and your puffy or sleeping bag is useless.
On the other hand, wool does a fantastic job of holding heat when wet. While wool does not compact down very well and is relatively heavy, this benefit in my opinion outweighs the negative. I carry enough wool with me to ensure that I can stay warm even if my raingear fails me.
A final note on clothing selection is have excellent raingear. Spend the money on good quality rain gear and use it. That rain gear is your lifeline and will keep you dry and comfortable when the skies inevitably open up, often for days at a time. I prefer just a rain shell and pants for easier layering, but in really dense brush bibs are helpful. Gators are also invaluable to shore up the waterproofing of your shell system. A stainless rifle like a Tikka T3X Lite can complete weatherproofing your attire.
Rule #2: Pack a Tarp
Try as you might, even with the best gear and most careful attention, at some point you will get wet. While staying dry in coastal environments is hard, drying off is even harder. Packing a small tarp with some paracord is very helpful and well worth the added weight.
A small tarp has a myriad of uses in a coastal environment. First of all, if you clothes get wet and need to dry out, you can build a fire underneath your tarp and hang your clothes to dry. This will not only give your clothes the opportunity to dry, but will make building a fire much less daunting in a deluge.
Not only does the tarp help to dry out clothes, but it also helps to keep your tent dry. Useful as an extra barrier between your tent and the ground, the tarp can save you if your camp location is subpar. Also, a tarp over your shelter can keep your sleeping bag dry in the event of a leaky tent fly.
Rule #3: Practice Your Fire Building
Fire building with wet wood is a difficult but essential skill in the northern coastal environments. Bic lighters are light and easy to use, and can serve as a good starting point. In a pinch, lighting your camp stove and using the flame to get the fire going can save you when Mother Nature is throwing her worst your way.
The biggest challenge to getting a fire started is finding dry wood. A full-tang fixed blade knife is an incredible asset as it allows batoning away the wet outer exterior of available wood. I like the Lynx by North Arm Knives. Digging around the base of windfall root systems can help you find dry wood. Another common source is trees that have died without falling over. They will often dry out with all their moisture concentrated in the bottom couple feet of their trunk.
Finding and using sap, pitch, and fatwood is a final trick to get a fire going in the worse condition. If unavailable, red and yellow cedar burns very hot and fast when dry and makes good fire starter. If you carry bug spray into the backcountry, Off also burns well.
Closing Thoughts
Unlike in the interior where cold is the challenging element, on the coast water is the most dangerous piece of nature. Keeping dry, staying dry, and getting dry again is the name of the game for spending extended amounts of time in the coastal backcountry. Remember to buy good quality rain gear, carry a tarp, and touch up on your fire-building before you go. If you do this, you should have a great experience some of North America’s most rugged wilderness.