Students in Arctic Research (STAR) | Preparing for Alaska

Deering Archeological Excavation, for example

Clothing

• 1-2 casual outfits (town, no one cares if you wear the same thing more than once)
• 2-3 pr. work pants (jeans, army fatigues)
• 1-2 pr. shorts/bathing trunks
• 2-4 T-shirts
• 2-3 long-sleeved shirts (flannel, or long-sleeved T's for working in)
• warm sweater (wool)
• synthetic (polypropylene) fleece jacket
• warm jacket (something windproof)
• undies (uncertain laundry service)
• socks (lots, at least 3 pr. polyproylene fleece or wool)
• 1-2 pr. long underwear (top and bottom, polypropylene)
• raincoat and rain pants (necessary!-try Helly Hansen or GoreTex)
• insulated rubber knee boots (we can provide-give us shoes your shoe size)
• comfy walking shoes (light hiking boots or sport shoes)
• hiking boots
• sandals (TEVA type for wading in water, public showers)
• warm hat or ear band (wool or fleece)
• scarf or neck gaiter
• warm gloves/mittens
• thinner gloves for working (cotton garden gloves, polypropylene or leather)
• hat with brim (baseball cap-24hr sun)

Toiletries

• shampoo
• soap
• toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss
• razors/shaving supplies
• deodorant
• chapstick
• lotion
• small bath towel
• sunscreen (15+)
• medicines (prescriptions, allergies, aspirin, asthma, motion sickness)
• bug repellent (small bottle)

Miscellaneous

• watch
• wallet, cash, and photo ID (can't leave home without it)
• camera and film (slide film, if you plan to make presentations afterward)
• binoculars
• Swiss army knife or Leatherman-type tool
• compass
• books and favorite field guides
• journal or field notebook (will be provided)
• writing paper, envelopes, addresses, stamps
• pens or pencils
• important phone numbers
• phone card
• daypack
• sleeping bag (0°F or warmer)
• sleeping pad (therma-rest, ridge-rest, or a foam pad)
• alarm clock
• water bottle
• sunglasses (necessary!)
• prescription eye wear (and a spare)
• 2 bandannas (handkerchief, tying hat on, and bug/sun protection)
• insulated mug
• fishing gear? (you'll need to buy a license)

Optional Items

• sewing kit
• nail clippers
• scissors
• tweezers
• blanket or sack for inside sleeping bag
• chemical hand-warmer packets
• fleece pants
• polypropylene liner socks
• walkman, tapes, batteries
• favorite snacks, chewing gum

List of Books About the Arctic, Alaska, and Related Subjects

• Pierre Berton, The Klondike Fever-Goldrush history of Alaska, around 1890-1912.
• Peter A. Coates, The Trans-Alaska Pipeline Controversy: Technology, Conservation and the Frontier-issues of natural resource use in Alaska are widely debated and highly political, particularly the construction of the oil pipeline and its impacts on the environment, but also other government and corporate plans designed to harness the natural wealth of Alaska.
• Corey Ford, Where the Sea Breaks Its Back-an epic story of the Russian voyage that resulted in the accidental discovery of Alaska and first encounter of Eskimo people by Captain Bering and the German naturalist, Georg Steller.
• Hannah Hinchman, A Life in Hand: Creating the Illuminated Journal-methods of and reasons for keeping a record of life experiences, written by an artist.
• Sidney Huntington, Shadows on the Koyukuk-autobiography of the son of a merchant and an Athabaskan (Indian) woman who lived in the bush of Interior Alaska. A gripping account of life in the wilderness and the tension between Athabaskans, Eskimos and non-Natives.
• Robert Marshall, Arctic Village (special order only, but strongly recommended)-a fascinating socio-anthropological account of the 100 people living in the village of Wiseman in 1931 by a scientifically-trained forester; includes many interesting personal anecdotes. Wiseman is located along the Dalton Highway, south of the Brooks Range.
• John McPhee, Coming into the Country-an artful collection of stories about life in Alaska before and during the 1970's, when oil exploration was underway.
• William L. McKinlay, Karluk: the Great Untold Story of Arctic Exploration-saga of the ship Karluk that was part of a scientific expedition with Stefansson, but was quickly frozen into the ice and given up for lost. With spirit, determination, and the help of an Eskimo family on board, the author lived to give his account.
• Adolph Murie, The Wolves of Mt. McKinley-the first scientific study of wolves in what is now Denali National Park by one of Alaska's earliest and preeminent naturalists who lived in the Park with his family.
• Margaret Murie, Two in the Far North-Mardi Murie's account of her life in Fairbanks and with her husband, naturalist Adolph Murie, who together made great contributions to our knowledge of Alaskan wildlife and the spirit of Alaska's early settlement.
• Richard Nelson, Hunters of the Northern Ice; Make Prayers to the Raven; Heart and Blood: Living with Deer in America; The Island Within-these books, written from an anthropological perspective, investigate numerous aspects of Native American culture.
• Dan O'Neill, The Firecracker Boys-Project Chariot was a plan by the Military Industrial Complex for the peaceful use of nuclear weapons, proposing to detonate nuclear warheads off the coast of Point Hope, annihilating the surrounding region to create a safe shipping harbor. The plan was narrowly defeated.
• Jack Roderick, Crude Dreams: A Personal History of Oil and Politics in Alaska
• Glenn Sheehan, In the Belly of the Whale-an anthropologist for the Barrow Arctic Science Consortium and principal investigator in one of this year's TEA projects describes trade and war in Eskimo society.

Field Guides:

• Robert Armstrong, Guide to the Birds of Alaska
• Janice J. Schofield, Alaska's Wild Plants: A Guide to Alaska's Edible Harvest
• Dave Smith and Tom Walker, Alaska's Mammals: A Guide to Select Species
• Raymond Leung, James C. Rettie and James D. Kavanagh, The Nature of Alaska: An Introduction to Familiar Plants, Animals and Natural Attractions
• National Geographic Society, Birds of North America
• Kate Wynn, Guide to Marine Mammals of Alaska