Alaska Gear recommendations

All,
I will be visiting Alaska for 10 day in late June/early July and would appreciate your recommendations on what photo gear to take. We are definitely making a trip to Denali NP as well as take the cruise to Glacier Bay NP. I have the following gear in mind
1) Bodies: 50D with 350D as backup
2) Lens: 17-40, 70-200 f/4L IS and planning to rent a 100-400
3) Loads of CF cards

Would it be wise to carry a tripod? I may have to check it in on the airline

Any other recommendations are appreciates.

Vinay

I would definitely take a tripod but I am basing that on the way and what I like to shoot. Personally I would have a lens that fills in that area of 41-69mm between the 17-40 and 70-200. I only carry about 4 cards with me but have my laptop with me so that I can download after a day of shooting. How many cards you take is a personal choice. If space is an issue check your settings to make sure that you are shooting in one format or another, shooting RAW+JPG takes too much space in a hurry, imo. I would consider a 1.4 teleconverter. These are small and don't weigh much and would give you extra reach should you need it. I've been to the Glaciers in Alaska and found a circular polarizer was an asset.

I always check my tripod inside of one of my suitcases. Sometimes you will get through security, others not. It really is dependent on the agents at the security checkpoints. I always have more gear than I can carry on so I will put extra lenses in my hard sided suitcases and after dozens of trips I have never had a problem. The gear you list should be able to be carried on quite handily.

100-400 won't be long enough for most wildlife in Denali or on the cruise. Is there any way you could rent a 400DO and use a teleconverter?

RikWriter wrote in post #12463535
100-400 won't be long enough for most wildlife in Denali or on the cruise. Is there any way you could rent a 400DO and use a teleconverter?

+1. I've been to Denali and 400 just isn't enough. IMHO, I think you need 500 to 600 minimum for wildlife shots.

Thanks for all the replies folks. I will keep in mind about the reach of the 100-400.