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Step 1
Pick your poison. That is to say, choose what sort of adventure you'd like to prepare for. Are you interested in white water rafting? Bear watching? Mountaineering? They're all available in Alaska.
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Step 2
Learn the basics of what you're getting into. For a technical adventure trip like climbing Denali, this may be required before you're allowed to sign up--or you may have to present yourself ahead of departure time for the necessary training. Stack this process in your favor by reading up on the necessary information beforehand. If you're going bear watching, for example, you can read about how to be "Bear Aware" so that you have the basic rules memorized before you even get to Alaska.
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Step 3
Research. If you're traveling with a guide company, inquire about their safety record and what sort of precautions they take. Local mountaineering or rafting clubs, fish and wildlife or park and forest services and specialty gear shops are all good places to inquire for more information.
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Step 4
Prepare yourself physically. In general, the stronger you are and the better your endurance, the easier it'll be to handle the rigors of the Alaskan wilderness, and the more energy you'll have left to enjoy the experience. You can also prepare for the specific demands of the Alaska adventure you've undertaken. Will you be mountaineering? If so, you can plan on carrying heavy loads uphill for long distances. Get in shape for that now. Backcountry hiking? Better break in those hiking shoes and get used to logging miles right away.
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Step 5
Learn any technical skills required. If you're taking a guided trip, you'll either be required to know a certain skill set before signing up or be taught the necessary skills before setting out. If you're on a self-guided trip in the wilderness, you need to be especially confident of your skills. Don't try to learn from a book; hire a qualified instructor to teach you and double-check your proficiency before you head out on your own.
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Step 6
Practice the technical skills you learned--whether in preparation beforehand or thanks to a helpful guide on the trail--until they become second nature. Being able to take appropriate measures without freezing up or spending time thinking about it may be what saves your life on an Alaska adventure.
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Step 7
File a trip plan. Always make sure someone that's not on the trail with you or involved in any other risky activities knows where you're going, how you're going to get there, and when you'll check in to let them know you're back. Make sure they know who to contact if you don't check in as planned. Finally, make sure you stick to the trip plan you filed; it won't do you any good at all if you don't.
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Step 8
Plan for rapid changes in weather. The old saying, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes," definitely applies to any Alaska adventure. You may encounter freezing temperatures in the middle of summer or a relative heat wave--with floods because of melting--in winter, and still be expected to perform whatever tasks are required on your trip.
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Step 9
Get to know the local flora and fauna. Learn the basics of being bear aware and also what to do if you encounter moose. Learn about common poisonous plants, such as monkshood, and poisonous berries such as the deadly baneberry.
