I know some of you have hunted Alaska in the past and I know that some of you will hunt Alaska in the future, but most of you will only get to dream of hunting Alaska. Well I moved up to Alaska in 2008 and I'm living the dream. Even though I know I will never see every inch of Alaska I will try to see as much of this great state as I can and take all you dreamers along with me.
Here are some pictures from this falls Caribou trip up the Dalton Highway. I hope you enjoy.
Here's the pipe line north of Fairbanks.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04101.jpg)
The Yukon River looking east.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04103.jpg)
Still heading north
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04105.jpg)
There has to be a Moose out there somewhere.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04110.jpg)
Thinking we need to get organized in Coldfoot Alaska. What we didn't know is we had another six hours of driving.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04113.jpg)
Just another picture
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04117.jpg)
The wife and I
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04118.jpg)
Here is looking south as we are climbing up to the summit of Atigun Pass
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04121.jpg)
Well I will stop here for the night. More to come tomarrow night.
Cheers
Olin
I grew up in Fairbanks and travelled the Haul Rd. for caribou and sheep a few times. Thanks for the memories.
Beautiful pictures, however all but the first one are too large and will likely be removed.
Read here about sizing pics.
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=096228
Looking forward to "the rest of the story" !!!
Awsome pics.
Fantastic pictures, please keep posting them.
Could someone please explain why the pipeline in the third picture zigzag's so much, is it an expansion issue due to the climate?
Cheers
Hi guys, I have had that dream for a long time now. Its a long way from my home in Australia but I will get there for a look around. Love the photos mate.
Thanks so much for sharing.It is a dream of mine too,but...
:campfire:
Someday... I lived in Fairbanks as a pup, and have a brother born there, but haven't been back. Going on a sightseeing trip next summer,but will only get to fish on that one. Maybe a hunt before I'm too old to walk in the muskeg. Thanks for the pics.
Its always great to live a dream. Thank you for sharing yours with us.
that looks awesome. i have seen a few of those spots in person and they are beautiful. enjoy your hunt, good luck, and have fun.
My self and 3 friends did a do it yourself hunt on the Haul Road 3 years ago. It was awsome! We will return and do it again one of these days, maybe sooner now that I've seen your post Thanks for the reminder!! sw
Always wanted to go after watching Dick Proenekki in "Alone in the Wilderness"....Phil
I was planning a motorcycle trip on the haulroad but thats for another list. However, I did put an order in on a 3 pcs TD. My plan was to ride on the bike and hunt in the south. (Can you say cheap trip?) Say for hogs. Now I'm thinking a little bit differently. North...
Martin
thanks for sharing :thumbsup:
On with the trip north
This one is about the same picture but it shows more of the mountains.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04122.jpg)
Well we finally reached the summit of Atigun pass. Its hard to see but, them there are Sheep. Not the North Dakota state animal kind, they are Dall Sheep :) . Mostly ewes and lambs.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04124.jpg)
Here is the north side of Atigun Pass. The brooks range is certainly a unique mountain range. Every thing you would imagine except the lack of vegetation, shrubbery and trees.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04128.jpg)
The further north you get the flatter it gets. Were starting to get into some major tundra here. That is by far the weirdest and hardest terrine you can hike in. The analogy of walking on a water bed full of bowling balls is about as close as it gets. Let me tell you that stuff is nasty.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04129.jpg)
Well after about 15 hours of driving we finally made our first camp just south of Happy Valley
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/IMG_0643.jpg)
With no Caribou in sight we decided to go to Deadhorse and get more fuel. What we didn't expect is how far it was. We drove and drove. On the way we came across a pile of Muskox. They have to be the most prehistoric looking animal I have ever seen.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04138.jpg)
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/IMG_0646.jpg)
Very cool...... :thumbsup:
I wish I was there with you. This is truly a dream of mine....Good Luck and enjoy the ride...Bobby
This my dream also. thanks for taking us along.
On our way north to Deadhorse we came across some Ptarmigan. This was Becca's (My wife) first longbow kill. It was about a 20 yard shot. Rosey picked one off also. Unfortunately this was the only killing that was done through out the week.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04131.jpg)
Finally made it to Deadhorse. This was a strange town to me. The whole town seemed to be temporary. It looked like at a drop of the hat they could pack up that town and disappear. We made two long trips to Deadhorse for fuel and grocery's. What we didn't know is they don't have grocery's. Every one eats at the cafeteria. We figured we could buy some bread and lunch meat. We figured wrong. The only thing you can buy besides a hot meal at the cafeteria is junk food. Pop, candy bars, chips and things like that. So we took a few pictures and headed south.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04154.jpg)
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04153.jpg)
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04150.jpg)
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04152.jpg)
Never made that far north when I as up there. I stayed around anchorage. Made it down too Seward a few times to snag salmon. Did most of my hunting up metal creek or the ship creek dranage just off FT Richardson. Ahhhh what times. Thanks for shareing
Ya this stuff makes me Jealous I now have to go to google earth and day dream for a bit...Keep it coming..
Becca wondering where all the caribou are. :goldtooth:
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04141.jpg)
Well after a couple days of not seeing any caribou we decided to move camp. We went back south and made camp # 2. This is me showing everyone how strong I am.
[ (http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04146.jpg)
I am having trouble with my Photo Bucket Account.
To be continued
Olin
Mr. piggy,
The pipe line zig-zags to slow the velocity of the oil on the downgrade, if I recall correctly.
Best Wishes
What beautiful country, thanks for sharing the pictures.
Great pics, keep them commong. Alaske is my dream place to hunt. Thanks!
Great tour. A lot different than I imagined! I actually have an invitation to hunt the haul road (caribou bowhunt) with an employee (fellow bowhunter)of AK Game & Fish but stupid me, I haven't taken him up on the offer. I'd rather moose hunt but will probably procrastinate and do neither.
Thanks for the pics and tales Big O!
Awesome, Thanks for the memories. Lived in North Pole from 1981 to 1992. Made that trip many a time!
LD
I was up there a couple of years ago< I loved seeing your pics... Thanks
Joe
Let's see more pics. I just made my 1st trip to AK this Oct. It's an amazing place!
Awesome! I've been wanting to transfer jobs up to Alaska, but my wife says if I transfer jobs, I go alone. Well, I guess I'll miss her. Just kidding - but I'm still working on her.
Hopefully I have better luck tonight.
Here are is a picture from camp.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04159.jpg)
Yes we had fog. These two are from camp also.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04143.jpg)
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04144.jpg)
This is an Alaskan sock dryer.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04160.jpg)
This is the Sag river ferry service. If you couldn't tell we didn't find many caribou. The ones we did find were across the river. Glad I took the advice of others and brought a raft. We chased a small herd around for a day or two but no blood. I did get one shot at a small bull but I MISSED :banghead: . I was laying on my belly caught out in the open with nothing to hide behind. When I rose up and shot he ducked like he was a B&C whitetail in the middle of gun season. My arrow flew helplessly over his back by 6 inches. We just weren't having much luck on our trip. On a another stalk I belly crawled in front of a herd of caribou feeding. There were several respectable bulls that I would gladly put a tag on. Wouldn't you know it I thought my luck was changing when the biggest bull was feeding right to me. When he got to 25 yards The thought went through my mind " now just turn broadside" low and behold he did. I was thinking about getting ready to brace my self to kneel up, and all of a sudden they spooked. The wind was blowing in my face and I was still laying on my belly and now they are gone. What happened was there was another guy after the same group and he didn't see me and I didn't see him. When the caribou turned away from him, he gave up and started walking out in the open and spooked the caribou. If he would have given me another 20 seconds I feel I could have made a good shot. Oh well.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/IMG_0666.jpg)
This next photo is borrowed from a friend. On day while we were chasing caribou he took a walk up the mountain behind camp and found some sheep. He weeded through the ewes and lambs and got to within 15 yards of a band of rams. The biggest two were 7/8 curl. Not being legal he just sat by and took a few pictures.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/IMG_0659.jpg)
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/IMG_0657.jpg)
As I was going through my pictures I noticed that I don't have any pictures of Caribou. Kinda disappointed, I asked my wife why we didn't have any caribou pictures. She informed me it was because we are hunters and not photographers. If we see prey animals we are out hunting them not taking pictures of them. I guess I will accept that explanation :readit: . I have realized that I need to work on my photography skills a bit.
Well with several blown stalks and no dead caribou we decided to head for home a day early. I will just post several pictures of our way home. I hope you enjoyed my trip up the hall road.
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04165.jpg)
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04164.jpg)
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04166.jpg)
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/DSC04170.jpg)
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/kodiakkid08/IMG_0672.jpg)
Great pics. Thanks for sharing.
Umm, O.....why doesn't that bear have a hole in its side?
Lived in Wasilla for 7 years. I miss the State and everything about it terribly. What brought you up there?
That was great....Thanks
Is that Spruce Tree alive??
Made it to SE Alaska for a wedding. I will be back there on a bowhunt some day. Those pics are outstanding. Good stuff.
Keith, No it is dead now. A while ago some idiots actually tried chopping the thing down(worthless pukes). They didn't succeed but did manage to girdle the tree enough that it died. Now the furthest tree that is living is on the other side of the road about 150 yards south of that one.
O. Saw your rig up there. We were the green chevy PU with a camper pulling the 14ft cargo van. We go every year. Stop by and have coffee next time. Bill
Awesome post and pics, I look forward to your to your post's on Alaska.
Thank you
QuoteUmm, O.....why doesn't that bear have a hole in its side?
Ah Steve
Wished it did, but there was too big of a audience. :smileystooges:
QuoteWhat brought you up there?
Toklat1
Brown bears!!!! I just cannot justify paying $20,000 to hunt bears when I can do it myself if I am a resident :thumbsup:
Thanks all for the kind words everyone.
Cheers
Olin
Wow, simply awesome! :clapper: :clapper:
I hope ill be able to make it there one lucky day!
Great pics man, really enjoyed the thread!
Thanks for the story and pictures. Very cool.
Great story and pictures! Thanks!
Retiring the end of April, 2011. Planning on driving to Alaska July, 2012. Thanks for the photos of the Haul Road, not what I had in my mind's eye, I will have to see for myself now.
Thanks again for taking us along.
Dennis
Nice pics, keep us updated!
Cool trip!
Nice trip!
Wow!
Now I really want to take a hunt trip Alaska :)
Great pics!
Thanks for sharing.
Margly
Nice pic's, thanks for sharing them.