Denali Prep, 1 Week Out

Getting way closer! I’m in final preparation mode. I fly to Alaska tomorrow to really ramp up the trip packing and final planning. Guests and guides are already slowly convening in Alaska and we will all be there over the weekend.

Despite my best efforts to make the preparation process efficient and unhurried, last minute packing and departure from home always feels frantic. Life happens. Family travels were amazing, but, as should be predictable with a toddler, less relaxed than hoped for. Efforts to stay healthy in these final weeks have been “mixed”. Again, “to be expected” with a toddler under foot. I mention this not to whine or to point out the failures in my deliberate, careful final approach weeks. On the contrary; to point out the importance of such efforts to smooth final preparation. Life is going to happen; we need to leave space for that to happen while we also pile on the demands of departing into the wilderness for weeks at a time.

In terms of “nuts and bolts” of final departure… I’m using robust, digital “to do" lists and long-proven packing lists. I’m putting things into preliminary piles and making final on-mountain gear calls. I do much of this at home, before flying. Airline travel and Anchorage pre-trip days are both complex enough that I want to have the basic gear decisions made here at home where I can substitute or leave anything unnecessary behind.

Remember to button up your in-town communications. I change my voicemail greeting to reflect my long absence and program an email “vacation responder”. I wish there was some way to reliably and easily program a text message “vacation responder”. I’ve had mixed results with the iPhone settings that are supposed to accomplish this. Does anyone have any tips on that?