Alpacka Raft makes rugged, hand-built wilderness boats. They’re the real deal. And who can argue with this? “…our vision is not focused on the boat. It’s about doing what you want to do and going where you want to go.” Amen.

At 6’1″, I paddle the Denali Llama. For most people, I’d also recommend one of the spray deck upgrades.

One quick tip: If you’re going to use the packraft with a bike, invest in some straps/webbing and buckles to cinch the load down. Paracord and other line doesn’t hold things in place as well as the flat straps. Keeping everything on the bow tight makes all the difference.

9:ZERO:7 (fatbikes.com) For the salty and wet areas I take my bike, I have one basic guideline: stay away from steel when possible. After living on a boat with a bike for a few years, rust infiltrated nearly every bit of steel while other metals held up — “stainless” steel doesn’t help much. 9:ZERO: 7 pioneered aluminum fatbike frames, and make titanium options as well. I like the aluminum hydro-formed frame. The standover height is better on their XL than my full-suspension bike in L. When you’re jumping on and off the bike all day in nasty terrain, standover makes a huge difference. My other frame requirement is a 135mm spaced rear dropout. This is to accommodate the Rohloff hub with internal gears. Standard gear components (derailleurs) tend to disintegrate in sand and salt. Considering my needs, the best frame out there is the 9:ZERO:7 135 offset frame. Bonus points for them being named after the area code I remember growing up in Alaska. And… double extra bonus points for using the number 7 and spelling out ZERO in all caps. Although branding experts would probably recommend against that approach (try explaining which letters and numbers to use over the phone), but at 77ZERO, we totally get it.

Nature Shop is an online retailer selling premium “nature inspired” brands and products that are kind to your body and to the environment.

Among other things, Nature Shop stocks the complete range of merino wool clothing from Icebreaker of New Zealand. After testing some Icebreaker clothing for a year, I’ve decided to work as much as possible into my layering strategy. My base- and mid-layers are Icebreaker from Natureshop — including hooded sweatshirt, LS top, leggings, arm warmers, balaclava, boxers, gloves, and socks and socks and socks.

Jennies Gluten-Free Bakery (macaroonking.com). “Jennies Macaroons have been 100% natural and delicious since 1973. Our macaroons are the #1 seller in the health food industry. All products made in a Gluten Free, Nut Free, Dairy Free and Peanut Free facility.”

I’m a huge advocate of fueling humans with fat. The conventional wisdom and pseudo-science vilifying fat is almost completely bogus. In recent years, science has been showing that training to increase fat metabolism (oxidation) can improve athletic performance. The carb-loading paradigm is dead.

Coconut and coconut oil are the best source of Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs are directly converted to energy much faster than other fats. Jennies macaroons are naturally packed with MCTs, making them a superior source of high-density energy when you have to carry your own food. Oh, and… they’re also super delicious.

Wildplans.com is a new service for organizing and sharing your outdoor life. It’s launching after I leave, and before I return so all I can say is that they’ve been great supporters of the expedition so far.