Trip Finder
Northern Lights
Information for Enrolled Students

Packing List

Keep in mind that June and July are still pretty chilly in Alaska! Warm layers are very important, as evening temperatures can dip down in the low 30s.

Long Underwear / Base Layer Top

Synthetic, non-cotton, medium-weight long sleeve top, 1 hooded sunshirt

Qty: 2
Patagonia Capilene Crew, North Face Wander Sun Hoodie

T-Shirts

Minimum of 2 synthetic, non-cotton t-shirts, other shirts may be cotton

Qty: 6
Patagonia Capilene T-Shirt, Marmot Windridge

Long sleeve Sun shirt

Qty: 1
Patagonia Men’s Tropic Comfort Hoody II

Lightweight Top

Synthetic, non-cotton. This can be a fleece pullover, sweater, or a full-zip jacket

Qty: 1
Patagonia R1 fleece

Fleece Jacket

Heavy-pile fleece pullover or full zip jacket is good

Qty: 1
Patagonia R2 Jacket

Rain Jacket w/ hood

Must be 100 % waterproof - not water resistant (do not pack a Frogg Togg)

Qty: 1
Patagonia Torrentshell or Marmot Precip

Insulating Jacket

Poly-fill or medium weight down insulating jacket - mandatory for Shasta climb

Qty: 1
Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket

Sports Bra

For girls

Qty: 4

Required Clothing Items

Long Underwear / Base Layer Bottom

Synthetic, non-cotton medium weight long underwear bottoms, one pair can be leggings for girls

Qty: 2
Patagonia Capilene Lightweight/Midweight Bottoms

Rain Pants

Goretex, 100% Waterproof pants large enough to fit over regular pants

Qty: 1

Fleece Pants

One pair heavy fleece pants; Optional if you bring long underwear

Qty: 1
Patagonia Synchilla Fleece Pants or Patagonia R1 Pants

Hiking Pants

One pair synthetic, non-cotton hiking pants

Qty: 1
Patagonia Quandary Pant

Underwear

Synthetic, non-cotton are best (but a couple pairs of cotton are okay)

Qty: 6

Long Pants

1 pair of jeans or khakis, or extra pair of leggings

Qty: 1

Shorts

Two pair nylon, quick dry shorts

Qty: 2
Patagonia Baggies

Required Clothing Items

Gloves

One pair of waterproof, medium-weight fleece gloves

Qty: 1

Warm Hat

Wool or fleece, non-cotton beanie (This is very important.)

Qty: 1

Baseball Hat

A baseball hat or wide-brimmed hat for sun protection

Qty: 1

Bandana/Buff

Bring one of each for additional sun and wind protection. Buffs are tube-like and can be worn up to 12 different ways providing versatile sun protection. Can even be worn as a headband!

Qty: 1

Mosquito Head Net

Qty: 1

Required additional items

Hiking Boots

Heavy weight boots with ankle support - break them in before arrival!

Qty: 1
Vasque

Camp Shoes

Crocs without holes are strongly recommended

Qty: 1
Crocs Specialist II Clog)

Socks

Non-cotton, lightweight hiking socks

Qty: 8 Pair
Smartwool or Darn Tough

Gaiters

Knee length - must have strap to fit under hiking boots; no zippered gaiters, Goretex and Velcro only!

Qty: 1 Pair
Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters- Men’s

Required Shoes

Duffel Bag

100 – 155 liters

Qty: 1
North Face Base Camp Duffel XL or Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 100 L

Backpack

Internal frame, 70 – 90 liters

Qty: 1

Backpack Cover (waterproof)

Used to cover provided backpack

Qty: 1

Mesh Stuff Sack

For dirty/wet clothes

Qty: 1

Day Pack

20 – 30-liter daypack /school backpack is fine

Qty: 1
Patagonia Chacabuco Pack 26 L

For carrying all of your gear

Sleeping Bag

Synthetic sleeping bag rated 0° – 20° Fahrenheit with a compression stuff sack; MUST be synthetic

Qty: 1

Ground Pad

Insulating ground pad

Qty: 1
Therm-a-rest RidgeRest or Therm-a-Rest ProLite

NOTE: Your duffel bag needs to be able to fit all of your belongings. Your sleeping bag & ground pad will take up a lot of the room in your duffel, so we encourage you to pack light around those bulky items.

Dopp Kit*

Contains: toothbrush, toothpaste, prescription medication, travel shampoo & soap, deodorant

Qty: 1
Patagonia Black Hole Cube 6L – M

COVID-19 Vaccination Card + Copies

Valid COVID-19 vaccination card + 2 additional photocopies of your vaccination card

Qty: 2

Prescription glasses + Contacts

If your child wears glasses and/or contacts, please bring at least one spare pair of glasses/ lenses. Contact lens wearers should bring a pair of glasses as backup in addition to contacts

Qty: 2 Pair

Required Hygiene Items
*Please keep all toiletries in your checked luggage, with the exception of your toothbrush and any personal/prescription medication

Water Bottles

Minimum 32oz water bottles

Qty: 2
Nalgene 1L wide mouth

Cup with Lid

Sturdy plastic or metal; thermal plastic mug is best

Qty: 1
16oz Nalgene wide mouth

Bowl with Lid

Large enough to hold a meal

Qty: 1
Tupperware or Nalgene

Plastic Spoon

Qty: 1
Light My Fire Spork

Sunglasses

With 100% UV protection

Qty: 1
Goodr

Sunglasses Holders

Qty: 1
Croakies or Chums

Nylon Stuff Sack

Synthetic; sleeping bag size - for food storage during backpacking

Qty: 1

Camp Chair

Qty: 1
Crazy Creek

Required for your trip

Carabiner

Two (2) non-plastic carabiners

Qty: 2

Whistle

Small, pea less plastic will do

Qty: 1

Wallet

Personal wallet with $200 spending money and valid identification

Qty: 1

Additional Required Items

Backpacker's Pillow

Small, a luxury in the backcountry

Qty: 1

Digital Camera

With charger, extra battery, and 32-64 GB memory card

Qty: 1
Canon Powershot G9 X

GoPro

With charger, extra battery, and 32-64 GB memory card

Qty: 1

External charger

Portable charger / power bank to charge camera and GoPro

Qty: 1

Notebook with pen

For journaling

Qty: 1

A Good Book

Paperback books are less bulky

Qty: 1

Not required but highly recommended.
*Since we don’t allow cell phones during the course of our trips, you may not use your phone as a camera. Leaders will take photos that will be shared at the end of the summer.

Packing Tips

In the event that your luggage is delayed or lost in transit, we want you to be prepared. Therefore, wear tennis or hiking shoes on the plane. Plus, pack the following items from this packing list in your daypack / school backpack carry-on:

  • A change of clothes (underwear + t-shirt + shorts or pants)
  • Your rain jacket
  • Prescription medications & toothbrush
  • ID, money

These items are already included in the packing list – they are not additional items!

Lodging

Sleeping

4-person, single gender tents at frontcountry and backcountry campsites.


Eating

Please bring all personal eating utensils listed on the packing list. Moondance will provide all group cooking gear.

If you have any special dietary restrictions / considerations, please contact the Moondance office for further information.

Flights

Northern Lights 1, June 11-June 30, 2024

Arrive
  • Anchorage, AK (ANC)
  • Tuesday, June 11, 2024
  • 4PM-9PM
Depart
  • Anchorage, AK (ANC)
  • Sunday, June 30, 2024
  • 7PM (June 30)-12AM (July 1)

Northern Lights 2, July 6-July 25, 2024

Arrive
  • Anchorage, AK (ANC)
  • Saturday, July 6, 2024
  • 4PM-9PM
Depart
  • Anchorage, AK (ANC)
  • Thursday, July 25, 2024
  • 7PM(July 25)-12AM(July 26)

Important Travel Notes:

  • If you’d like to book your travel through our partnered travel agency, Fly My Group, please follow this link and use the registration code “moondance24” to start the booking process. They are familiar with all Moondance flights.• Keep in mind the group travels to and from the airport together, so arriving and departing within the specified windows below is very important.

    • Remember when booking your child’s flight to allow at least a 2-hour layover in any connecting airport to avoid missed connections or baggage delays

    • If your child flies as an unaccompanied minor, please remember to pay the unaccompanied minor fee for both legs of the trip when booking travelo We will contact you in the Spring to give your child’s trip leader’s names and contact information for the unaccompanied minor contact. In the meantime, please give the airline your information.

    • Ideally, fly direct and depart early to prevent any problems with flight changes and delays.