The flying community lost a great pilot Sunday February 4, 2018 as he took his very last flight. Gary was a good friend to many and especially to those of us who knew him through AAA Alaskan Outfitters. Gary started flying for AAA in the fall of 1991. He was the chief pilot for the Dog Salmon River Camp until he retired in 2014. I personally learned so much about flying “super cubs” from Gary. He always knew he could count on me in short field landings and flying in bad winds but knew my weakness was flying in low visibility. His super cub, 645 Romeo Fox, flew about 3 MPH faster than 36 Alpha, which was good because Gary would be ahead of me and would talk me into staying focused and keeping calm in those conditions. I know he saved me more than once.
A New Goat Area
I returned to Elmendorf AFB after my remote tour at Galena during the summer of ’76 and continued my pursuit for both dall sheep and mountain goat. I still used a bow to make it more of a challenge while looking for those record book animals. I upgraded my bow to a PSE compound. Those old compounds were nothing like the new ones but I was still amazed how flat it shot. My rule was if the animal wasn’t bigger than my best I wouldn’t even make a stalk.
Hunting Shows and Conventions
Every year at this time outfitters and hunters alike are heading to their favorite sports/hunting shows. This is where most outfitters book the majority of their clients. These shows give the hunter/client a chance to meet guides face to face before they spend their hard earned money for their hunt of a lifetime.