Enticing outdoor uses for that $1,022 Permanent Fund check

I had big plans for my PFD this year. Me being me, I didn't wait for it to actually drop to make my move. One sunny Saturday in August, I purchased a fat bike with my rectangular piece of plastic, and Oct. 6th, PFD day, I will pay off my credit card.

This column is for all the measured, patient outdoorswomen and men who waited, and perhaps need some inspiration for how to spend $1,000. This is also for people who consider this money a surplus; an extra drop of cash that comes from on high annually. I have gratefully accepted the PFD in previous years to pay down debts or cover other expenses, and this year I feel lucky to have enough (or at least tell myself I do) to plunk down on an outdoor toy.

Gear

Let's start with the not-so basics. It seems that there is always some new piece of gear that I convince myself I need. Perhaps it's an inflatable pillow, or plastic collapsible pots that I suspect could give me cancer but at least will save room in my pack. These items are in the $40-50 range though, surely, with $1,022 to spend, one can do better.

With winter around the corner, I have my sights set on the fluffy, warm down products out there. Outdoor Gear Lab rated Feathered Friends' Snowbunting sleeping bag at the top of its list for best winter bags. Feathered Friends is a Seattle company specializing in down products, and while I don't own one of their bags, people talk about them with a kind of awe that's enticing. The price range: $500-$1,000.

[Top-rated winter sleeping bag]

Another prospect, with winter on its way, is a four-season tent. These tents are great for winter since they're designed to withstand wind and snow, and they trap heat (which can work against you in milder weather). Four-season tents for 2 people are in the $600 range.

Or maybe, to get through winter it's best to invest in a piece of gear that makes me think about times to come. This time of year, adventurers (even outfitters) shed gear like crazy. Maybe next summer I want to get out on the water more. Perhaps there's a used packraft on Craigslist or at a consignment shop like the Hoarding Marmot in Anchorage. At full price, a packraft still seems like a solid way to spend a PFD — they typically cost a bit less than $1,000. Add in lessons come spring (more on that later) and you're in pretty great shape.

[Anchorage outdoors consignment shop Hoarding Marmot]

Donate

Many of us made donations to causes we care about through Pick.Click.Give. when we first applied for our PFD. But now, with the cash in hand, I can give directly to organizations and causes I care about. One of my personal favorite local organizations is the Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage. When we get snow, they are out there grooming the trails citywide so we can all enjoy them — essentially for free. When we don't have snow they are busy at Kincaid making snow, creating winter. (anchoragenordicski.com)

Lessons

Learning a new skill is where spending $1,000 outside can get interesting.

Maybe it's time to get into backcountry skiing. Alaska Avalanche School offers courses so you can read terrain and ski safely. Level 1 classes are $395. This is something I've wanted to do for a long time — and with the rest of the PFD money, I could make a dent in the rest of the necessary backcountry skiing gear (beacon, shovel, actual skis, etc.)

Given that I take field trips into remote places, I might sleep better at night knowing I had more than a rudimentary first aid certification. National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) offers Wilderness First Aid (and more advanced) courses. These intensive, multi-day courses cost $775. But for those of us who play outside regularly, it's a pretty solid investment.

[National Outdoor Leadership School courses]

And, still looking ahead to summer, there's always paddling classes. Alaska Kayak Academy offers kayaking courses, from whitewater to packrafting, throughout the summer. The introductory course on packrafting is only $100, but the two-day packrafting safety course (recommended for those interested in running class II and III water) is about $300.

Experiences

This is probably the most efficient way to spend a full PFD in one spot.

First, book a yurt in Homer across the bay for next summer. Save some cash for the water taxi and don't forget your reservations at the Saltry restaurant in Halibut Cove.

Yurts are about $80/night, water taxis cost roughly $70 per person roundtrip, and it's up to you how much you'd like to spend at the Saltry. I could make a pretty big dent in $1,000.

But maybe summer is too far away. Rent a lodge somewhere for the weekend. Cabins in Hatcher pass are $135/night; it seems like a pretty good deal to grab some friends for the weekend and book out a few of the cabins then ski, snowshoe, and sled all day.

[Hatcher Pass cabin reservations]

I'm sure no one in Alaska will have a hard time spending this year's PFD. If anything, let this list serve as inspiration for gifts for yourself or loved ones as the holidays come up.

If you're really at a loss, though, there's always the fat bike.

Alli Harvey lives, works and plays in Anchorage.