Gear For Wildlife Spotting in Nome
Essential gear for wildlife spotting in nome
the pack that does it all
Our plane arrives in Nome, Alaska. An hour later, we leave the tiny airport with our bags. I’m carrying essential gear inside my 41-liter WANDRD PVRKE bag. It’s my go-to for trips like this where I need organization and quick access to my camera. We pick up our truck and take the Taylor road out of town.
The All-New PRVKE has seen some serious upgrades from the original PVRKE Lite. The flexible rolltop feature allows you to store your personal things in one travel bag. Upgraded shoulder padding, weatherproofing, internal organization for your camera, a laptop sleeve, and more make this bag a practical and fun choice for the trail.
we saved the best view for you
As we’re driving towards camp, Joey, our local bird expert, urges us to stop the car and grab our cameras. Overhead, a long-tailed jaeger is performing various acrobatic maneuvers. Kris and I snap action shots of this beautiful creature while my brother Herman watches the red-necked phalaropes in the nearby lake through his Celestron Nature DX 8x42mm Roof Binoculars.
Celestron is the industry leader in optics. Their binoculars are designed with extra-low dispersion glass to help you spot wildlife on the trail without sacrificing detail or brightness,
Get close to the action with Celestron binoculars.
hardly roughing it
We’re here to photograph the formerly extinct Alaskan Muskox. We set up camp alongside an icy lake and I’m grateful for my Nemo Tensor Ultralight Sleeping Pad which keeps me comfortable and elevated off the rocky soil.
Nemo is a Climate Neutral Certified brand using recycled and reclaimed materials free of PFC and PFAS. They’ve partnered with environment-focused brands such as Climate Action Corps and How2Recycle in order to shape their company into a truly sustainable organization with the environment first in mind.
Get some rest on their wide selection of sleeping pads.
Mountain house munchies
It just wouldn’t be backcountry camping without a ready-to-eat Adventure Meal. Before we wrap up for the night, we gather around for dinner. My latest favorite is Buffalo-Style Chicken Mac and Cheese.
Mountain House meals are made for adventure. Their freeze-dried process has been perfected over 50 years which means they don’t sacrifice flavor. Their meals come in a wide variety of flavors, are lightweight, and are ready to eat in just 10 minutes.
Plan your next meal with Mountain House Adventure Meals.
a cozy retreat in alaska…or anywhere
I’m eager to get a good night’s rest in preparation for our big adventure tomorrow. I’m enamored by the biodiversity we’ve already spotted here. This landscape feels untouched, even for Alaska. My Clostnature Lightweight Backpacking Tent feels inviting in this cold weather. I zip in and hunker down for the night.
Established by three mountaineers, Clostnature is dedicated to interweaving truly sustainable initiatives into their timeless products. Every product you purchase has a lifetime warranty on material and workmanship defects.
Browse more Clostnature tents, designed for backpacking, mountaineering, camping, and hiking.
headlamps are a camp essential
Our day begins at twilight. The local willow ptarmigan squawking right outside camp made sleep difficult. Wearing my Ledlenser headlamp, I pack up my gear and set out to find our Muskox.
Ledlenser holds over 100 patents due to their commitment to innovation in the illumination industry. Standing by a seven-year warranty, they also reduce waste and resources by offering the option to replace faulty parts.
Keep the lights on. Get a Ledlenser headlamp for camp.
finally, what we came here for
We begin on Council Road and quickly spot a large Muskox herd with multiple calves. Muskoxen can be aggressive during calving season but with my Canon RF 100-500mm f4.5-7.1 L IS USM I safely capture them from a distance. We leave the creatures in peace and continue our drive along the coast of the Seward Peninsula.
This Canon super telephoto zoom lens is compact, travel-ready, and lightweight. Featuring one Super UD and six UD lenses with fluorine-coated front and rear lens elements that make it resistant to dirt, moisture, and oils while L-series construction provides reliability when you’re framing even the most challenging shot.
Read our NOME STORY
The feeling of timeless immediacy.
