ALASKA CARIBOU CAMP 2007 chapter 2

Upon arrival in Kotzebue, we met Kaleb Moore. He was working the camp this year for Northern Air Trophy (the air taxi and guide service that we contracted). He drove us over to our quarters for the stay in Kotz. We had procurred a room with friends rather than pay the almost $200 per night room fee - a room that would be overpriced at $20 a night! Now you may be wondering how we have friends in Kotz. This is a long story, but it amounts to Andrew and I meeting several locals here on the first trip. We have kept in touch. Andrew also attends the same church as a former pastor from up there, Jim Mercer (we attended his church last trip during a wind storm that prevented us from boating across the sound into the mouth of the river on that Sunday). Jim and his wife have since moved to Anchorage due to their medical situation. Darvin is a member at the same church and took us in for coffee and lunch after the service. We forged a friendship there while listening to his amazing stories and making him laugh with good ol southern humor. He helped us immensly on that trip. I'll never forget that first trip in 2002 - Andrew and I were holed up in a connex (shipping container) along the north beach of the village. I felt bad as we occupied the space until the weather broke. Darvin drove us around and asked where we were staying. When he saw the connex was our meager homestead, he looked in bewilderment and laughed. I laughed too and then asked the question I had been pondering, "are there homeless people here?" He looked at me like I was an idiot (arguably the case) and laughed loudly and said emphatically, "No?! ha, you mind as well tell your family 'hey - I am going to die now!' " It was then that I knew I liked this guy. I was worried about stealing a homeless mans shelter. Darvin was worried about me! It gets 80 below zero in the winter. There are no homeless people!



We passed the time as we waited for the weather to break again this year. Nothing to do but play yahtzee and dominoes and connect four. Andrew is a freak of nature connect four champ!




We arrived and spent the day reconnecting with our friends and showing Ray around the village. We were to fly out the next day. Unfortunately, the weather didnt want us out there. We were forced to wait another day. Finally, the weather broke! We headed to the tarmac to get our plane ride. Due to the still border line winds, we got in late afternoon. The pilot told us to pick one to go ahead with some gear. If the hole stayed open, he would get the other two in that evening as well. I was elected to brave the possible tentless night of arctic bliss alone. As it were, there was no problem getting back in that day.


We are at the airport, waiting for our plane to come in.
Leaving little Kotzebue behind
Getting out into the wilderness. After landing, Matt Owen (the pilot) informed me that it would be at least an hour before he could return. So on my hip goes the .44 magnum, on my shoulder goes the .300 wsm, in my pack goes the video camera. I am off to scout around in the area to familiarize myself with the surroundings. This is critical for getting into shooting position on the migrating caribou. I hiked out about a mile, attained the highest immediate peak and glassed about. I saw a pretty good bull over the next ridge. You are not allowed to hunt on the same day that you fly (unfair for the animals), so I watched him through the scope and felt pretty good about our location. I return in time to film Matt bringing in Andrew and Ray. It was still very windy and made for a great video.
With camp made, rifles sighted in, dinner eaten, coffee in our hands, food bag out away from camp, area scouted for morning, we plan ahead for getting Ray's bull on the morrow