CLOTHING & PERSONAL ITEMS CHECKLIST

What you should bring is dependent on what time of year you will be in residence and what you will be doing on a daily basis. 

Late May through early August:

Weather: Daytime high temperatures range from the mid-40s to about 70 degrees F, but Arctic weather can change on a dime. Freezing temperatures and snow are possible at any time.

Clothes: Layers, layers, layers. Avoid cotton, seek fabrics that wick.

• Sturdy raincoat.
• Sturdy rainpaints.
• Hats for warmth, hats to protect you from rain, and hats to protect you from the sun (possibly all on the same day).
• Warm gloves. Waterproof or water resistent gloves. Rubber gloves protect against mosquitoes.  
• Warm, waterproof boots. Muck boots or Xtratufs are good for short hikes in wet tundra.
• Newly sealed and comfortable leather hiking boots are a must for hiking in the mountains.
• A pair of tennis shoes is good for walking on the gravel pad around camp. Open sandals are not allowed in the labs for safety reasons.
• Long underwear.
• Lots of warm socks.
• Bring a good-sized day pack for carrying your gear into the field. 
• Shirts, pants, jackets, etc. Bring wicking fabrics like polypro, polartec, polarfleece and the like), or wool, which stays warm when wet.
• Bring several pants, a pair of shorts.

Laundry:

• You are allowed one load of laundry every other week so plan according. 

Insects:

• Bug dope. 
• Personal mosquito headnet for wearing in the field.
• Bug jackets with hood and net face screen are very popular. You can find them in camping supply stores and catalogs.  
• Mosquitoes, which are abundant in Alaska, seem to prefer dark-colored clothing, so light-colored outer pants and shirts are best

Toiletries:

• Bring all the toiletries you will need. There is no store once you get to Toolik and the Prudhoe Bay store (120+ miles away) is expensive.
• Sunscreen.
• Bug dope.
• Towels, washcloths.

Bedding:

• Sheets, pillows, cases, blankets.

Misc.

• Sunglasses
• Binoculars
• Camera
• Water bottle(s)