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

ALASKA CARIBOU CAMP 2007 chapter 1

I almost cant believe it is already over. So much anticipation, planning, eagerness to get there, and waiting for September. My wife and I arrived in Anchorage to the feeling of clean, cool, crisp fall air. No more 90+ degree, humid days. We were greeted by Andrew and Julie and enjoyed catching up. The very next morning, Andrew and I headed out to our secret fishing hotspot - the confluence of the Russian River and Kenai River. This time was different. We were no longer the water slapping, bumbling, overly excited salmon busting stumble-bums. WE were the trout snobs! Andrew briefed me on the overall plan during the 2 hour ride up the Seward Highway (worth flying to Alaska for in itself). When we arrived, a short tutorial and we were off. Andrew and I had quite a good day on the Rainbow Trout waters.

I had reeled in a small rainbow last year, but it wasnt worth mentioning. This year would prove different. Andrew linked up first. I was slowly tuning my game. Finally, it all started coming together. Once I found the correct combination of egg color, weight, length of leader and proper strike indicator style and positioning, I was yanking them out in the kind of manner you may imagine in a Bart Neyman dream.

We enjoyed most of the day just catching and releasing up and down the river. Andrew caught quite a good one and it was possibly his best ever. I had one that may have been a contender, but it escaped just as I was landing it! I did have another that I was proud of. I caught a couple of Dolly Varden as well.

Andrew's best success was a big boy that he hooked out of Cottonwood Hole. This is a particular spot on the river. It is also where Trän caught her first ever red salmon last year. It must have taken at least 10 minutes to get it in. I had tried and tried at that spot, but nothing. He threw in and bang! That's how it is sometimes. I was able to figure out a little rapid a ways downstream. I would cast my egg just above and off side of a small rock and float it through just so. About one in five or ten casts were producing trout! Andrew just could not make it happen here. I guess the subtle differences in our presentations were making one spot better for each of us.

Ray Warren, Andrew's father, arrived the next day. The Next few days were spent making final preparations, packing, re-packing, cross checking each others lists, and removing possible "over packing" items. But, on a trip where you dont have to hike in and out your gear - better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. It was fun to watch the three of us and our different personalities in our packing and approach to the trip. A good balance of approach and emphasis sure made things easy. What was important to one of us may have been missed by the others. The ladies were laughing. I guess it looked like a traveling REI gear and clothing yardsale. One hundred pounds of gear apiece! Off we go...

Cheoah first descent of bear creek falls

Cheoah Kayaking