Thanks for sharing the story. Definitely an incredible adventure.

I had a few nights like that on Kodiak. It's hard to believe how hard that wind can blow!I'm glad your tent was up to the challenge. You don't have to release an arrow to have a great hunt.

Thanks for the take along Kevin.  I spent a year up there and your story reminded me why I went in the first place.

Well done
Deno

Not a writer? Seemed pretty well written to me! When you read a story and feel you're experiencing it just as the writer did I'd say it's pretty well written! No better reading than what you get on this site in my opinion. Great story

Nick

What a fantastic account, I felt like I was looking over your shoulder the whole time. It's your stories that have pushed me to hunt the mountains of New Zealand, next year when funds allow. So thanks!

WOW
Thank you for taking us along!

Thanks for sharing that, and doing it so well!

Kevin thanks for taking the time to write this story.  I enjoyed reading it and yes it was very inspiring. Much appreciation Craig

Wow, what a story. Sounds like you had a real adventure.  

Wow, what a story. Sounds like you had a real adventure.  

Interesting to say the least!  Great adventure and storytelling.  Thank you for sharing.

             

It felt like I was right there helping you hold your tipi together!

Awsome adventure, thanks for sharing with us!

Thnaks for sharing. What a adventure.

Thanks for sharing.

Bravo Sir, I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this story. Thanks for sharing.

That was fantastic. I don't care what you say, you are one heck of a writer! Thanks for sharing!

Plenty of guys have what it takes to do a diy trip, and just never take the leap. All I did was take it. But...you need to know yourself well and understand your capabilities. It's important to know some bushcraft and have good survival skills. An obvious concern is how you'll react to being completely and utterly alone in the wilderness with nobody to help you or talk to. When everything goes great it's a cakewalk. When things spiral out of control as they did for me, you can be challenged in ways you never imagined. If my shelter had blown down in the first couple days of the storm I would have been struggling to survive. Wet gear...makeshift shelter...and toughing it out for days. Nobody could fly in that weather except for certain brief periods. It goes without saying you can take average gear and do it, but average gear would have been a disaster on my trip.

I will be honest here: There were moments...several of them...where I had to fight back some despair. When you're 100 miles from any road and the wind is savaging your tent for the third straight night, you're being tested. Five consecutive days of it will find your weaknesses if you have them. It helps to be either dumb or tough...I haven't fully decided on which is better.

I do recall (easily) that my desire to be hunting was strong, but it faded to an afterthought by around day 5. My focus was on self and security by then until the storm abated. As soon as the weather settled I was ready to hit it, but the opportunity was gone. That's Alaska and that's hunting. The unknown is part of what drives some of us onward.

Again...thanks for reading.

Well said........

Kevin I've spent up to 8 days in the wilderness with no food or water,( my choice, my own crazy survival sorties)..But where I felt with you the most is that card from Marilyn..My wife stashes them every time I go off alone..Every time it puts my head where it needs to be.... Focusing on just making it back home...

Pat...I always tell my wife I am never really alone on any hunt.