Unleashing Adventure: How to Pack for 15 Days on the Yukon River

Yukon River Essentials: How to pack for 15 days on the Yukon River

Packing for 15 days on the Yukon River is an adventure in itself. Knowing how to pack efficiently for a multi-day river expedition can make or break your trip. From calorie-dense meals to lightweight cooking gear, this guide will show you exactly how to pack for 15 days on the Yukon River and ensure a safe, enjoyable experience.

Packing for 15 days on the Yukon River is all about balancing calorie-dense meals, multi-purpose tools, and lightweight gear. Here’s how we planned and packed food, cooking essentials, and everything else needed for a successful and delicious trip down the river.

Meal Planning: Calorie-Focused and Delicious

Eating well on the river doesn’t require freeze-dried meals or expensive camping food. Here’s what we brought to keep us full, energised, and happy on the water:

Breakfast

• Day 1 Luxury: Fresh eggs and bulky rolls made for a hearty start.
• Go-To Breakfasts:
  • Muesli with powdered milk and extra raisins.
  • Pancakes (just add water) for variety.
• Coffee: A morning must! We brought ground coffee, powdered milk, and switched to coffee mate when powdered milk ran out.

Lunch

• Wraps: Lightweight and long-lasting, ideal for carrying.
• Fillings:
  • Hard cheese (a Scottish staple!).
  • Salamis, squeezy mayonnaise, or ranch dressing for flavour.
  • Crunch: Crumbled dry biscuits, like saltines, added texture.
  • Extras: An apple or two to chop onto wraps in the first few days.

Dinner

• We avoided freeze-dried meals in favour of affordable, simple ingredients:
  • Smash (instant mashed potatoes): Quick, filling, and versatile.
  • Rice and Pasta: Lightweight staples that go with everything, along with pesto!
  • Noodles: Lightweight just add water and fill up
  • Powdered Soup: Warming, tasty and filling
  • Tinned Foods: Spam, corned beef, tuna, and baked beans.
  • Fried Treats: Fried spam or corned beeg with onions added a comforting touch.
• Blissful Combos: Smash, fried spam, onions, and baked beans became an evening favourite.

Snacks

• Energy Bars: At least six per person per day—calorific, robust, and tasty.
• Dried Nuts and Fruit: Lightweight and packed with energy.

Packing Food Efficiently – How to pack for 15 days on the Yukon River

Packing food for a long trip requires organisation, and ziplock bags were our best friends.

• Repacking:
  • We removed packaging from most items and transferred them into ziplock bags for easier storage.
  • Tinned items like corned beef and tuna stayed in their cans, which we burned in the fire to eliminate smells before crushing and packing them out (Bear aware).
• Storage Tips:
  • Categorise meals by day for quick access.
  • Pack in your food barrels according to Day 1, Day 2, Day 3. This helps to a degree the need to empty the barrels to find items.
  • Use dry bags for additional waterproofing and black bin liners are your friend for extra protection.
• Leave No Trace: We followed the golden rule of packing out all waste.

Cooking and Cleaning Essentials

Cooking on the river is simple when you have the right tools. Here’s what we packed:

• Stove & Fire Gear:
  • Firelighters, matches, and lighters for easy fire-starting.
  • A folding saw for cutting dead firewood to the right size.
  • We were lucky to often have fire pits for at least 1/3 of our trip which made cooking easier and nostalgic. Nothing beats cooking on an open fire!
• Kitchen Kit:
  • Chopping board, travelling bucket, scrubber, and washing-up liquid.
  • Collapsible bowls and plastic mugs—lightweight and multi-purpose.
• Coffee Pot: Our morning luxury item for fresh coffee.
• Sharp Knives: Essential for food prep and general use.

The best coffee you will ever taste! Percolated on an open fire.

Staying Hydrated

Fresh Yukon River water was our main drink throughout the day. We filtered it for safety, ensuring a steady supply of clean hydration.

• Morning: Fresh coffee to start the day.
• Evening: A warm cup of tea with powdered milk.

Toileting on the Yukon

The Yukon offers a mix of surprises when nature calls:

• Intertidal Pooping: Our preferred method, leaving no trace as the tide washes away.
• Long Drops: Occasionally available along the route, much to our delight.
• Cat Holes: When needed, our trusty trowel did the job. Pro tip: don’t forget the toilet roll!
• Bag it and Bin it: The principles, the Mountaineering Scotland page provides guidance on responsible outdoor toileting to minimise environmental impact and protect water sources.

Lessons Learned

1. Everything Tastes Better on the River: Hard-earned meals after a full day of paddling are unbeatable.
2. Calories Over Nutrition: Energy is the priority on long trips—don’t skimp!
3. Simplify Where Possible: Multi-purpose items save space and effort.

In the next blog, we’ll explore how to shop smartly in Whitehorse, from navigating local stores to finding the gear and guidebooks you’ll need to complete your adventure.

Ultimate Yukon River Adventure Guide: Your Complete Blog Series

• Master the Yukon Adventure: What You Need to Know Before You Paddle
• Unleashing Adventure: How to Pack for 15 Days on the Yukon River