I Can Do This

I Can Do This

This story would not happen in today’s world and I for sure would not have had to walk out.  The Satellite phone has changed everything about what could be an emergency.  I worked for four different guides in 1983 and none had radio or telephone communications.  All of these guides are still in business today and wouldn’t even think about not having a Satellite phone.  Most have multiple phones.  Single sideband radios were the only option back then.  Many times the signals were not very good and in some areas no signal at all.

After my being involved in this particular incident, Brent and I made sure that we had some type of communication for AAA Alaska Outfitters.  We purchased a portable single sideband radio from Surveyors Exchange in Anchorage.  Like I said, some days the signals were so bad you couldn’t use it but that usually didn’t last but a day or so.  It was better than nothing!

As soon as Satellite phones came out we purchased one.  It weighed 28 pounds and cost $4,200. They charged us $2 a minute but it was a great feeling when I landed my cub at camp and could call Karen to let her know that I had made it.  If you ever stop by Surveyors Exchange in Anchorage ask Antonio to show you that big phone.  He still has it there.  I personally think Surveyors Exchange is one of the best places to rent or buy a Satellite phone in Anchorage.

Hope you enjoy my first guiding experience.

Becoming a Sheep Hunter

Becoming a Sheep Hunter

Over the years many friends and acquaintances told me that I should write a book.  My wife has always been my biggest supporter and was always telling me to write it down, keep a journal, but that didn’t happen.  The problem is, I’m a good story teller but not a good writer.  English and writing have never been strong points for me.  My oldest granddaughter Jaime Rapp, who has her Master’s Degree in 20th Century American Literature and has taught English at Cal State, volunteered to be my ghost writer.  Man, I should have taken her up on that offer.  I have written a few short stories for the Alaska Professional Hunter Association so maybe one of these days I’ll get that book written.  My grandson Jared told me after writing my blog for a few years I will have my book.  Again we will see.

This story has been laying on my desk for at least 15 years.  I occasionally worked on it and even told numerous people that I was working on a book.  This was to be my first story.  One of my decisions I had to make was whether to write about Alaska hunting in general or write a sheep hunting book.  I choose sheep hunting because sheep have always been my real passion.  Once I began guiding I wasn’t able to devote the time needed to become the sheep hunter that I wanted to be.

It’s crazy how sheep hunting can get into your blood.  It is the hardest hunt physically and because of the terrain which is beautiful, can also be the most dangerous.  I guess it’s the challenge!  It is hard for me to explain but every year when I start to see that little shade of red on the beautiful mountains and the weather starts to cool, my thoughts are always about those big rams. 

Becoming a Sheep Hunter is the first of at least six stories that will follow this next year.  Follow along as I climb after those beautiful Dall rams.

What's a Duck Worth

What's a Duck Worth

All decisions have consequences.  "Don't do anything stupid!"  Strike two!

Friday the 13th Bear

Friday the 13th Bear

Since people are still black bear hunting I thought this would be a great time to post a bonus black bear story.  My granddaughter Jordan Juliussen-Johnson wrote this story when she was 11 years old.  It was her summer activity story for school.  Her teacher really liked it and at the urging of her mother, Michelle, she decided to submit it to the Anchorage creative writing contest sponsored by the Anchorage Daily News and received an Honorable Mention Award.  She also gave a copy to my wife and me for Christmas.  Since the Alaska Professional Hunters Association had been seeking ways to interest young people in the field of hunting, I thought they might be interested in publishing Jordan’s story.  They accepted it and it was published in the 2004 Spring Issue.  Her story was the main reason she was asked to audition and was selected for the ZOOM project (a televised children’s program on PBS) “Fishing with My Grandpa” which was filmed in Anchorage and Kenai.  

Jordan took a caribou in our Western Alaska area the following year and seemed to love hunting.  However, while Jordan was away at college, she called us one evening telling us that she had watched a video in class showing how they killed cattle and that it was pretty brutal and sad.  She said she didn’t think she would ever be able to eat meat again and for sure wouldn’t be able to kill an animal.  I told her that was a normal feeling and that was fine if she didn’t want to hunt anymore.  I told her that she may change her mind again later in life and that hunting is not for everyone.  She still loves to fish and is an excellent fisherperson. And, she does eat a little red meat now and then, so who knows.    

We just attended her wedding this past April.  She married a fine young man, Nate Johnson who loves Alaska, fishing and hopefully hunting.  We are looking forward to taking him on his first ever hunt this fall.  Jordan was a beautiful bride.  She is the first of our grandchildren to get married.  Hopefully when she has children of her own, I will be able to share and pass along my passion for hunting with my great grandchildren.

The following is an eleven-year’s old perspective on her black bear hunt.  Enjoy.

Black Bears of Prince William Sound

Black Bears of Prince William Sound

Alaska is a beautiful and wild place.  It has mountains, the ocean, rivers, tidal mud flats, glaciers and those unpredictable bears.  Add the quick changing and bad weather and you have an accident waiting to happen.  Spend 60 to 90 plus days a year in the wilderness for 45 years and your chances of something out of the norm happening is high.  Add small airplanes and small boats and the odds go up.  I think about this story and some of the other ones that I’ve shared and wonder if you readers are asking if this guy is a little nuts!  Not really.  I have made mistakes and have learned from them but no matter how safe you are or how well you plan in this environment, things just happen.

So far this year in Alaska we have had two bear maulings, several hikers rescued, a kayaker die and a couple of airplane crashes that I know of.  If you live in Alaska and hunt, fish, backpack, mountain climb or any other outdoor adventure, you will have had or know of someone who has had the same type of experiences that I have written about.

Hopefully some of you will learn from my mistakes and some will laugh or cry because you have been there.

Follow me on my black bear adventures in Prince William Sound.

Hair's Breadth Bear

Hair's Breadth Bear

Since it is brown bear season I thought I would add another story about hunting the big guys.

In 1984 I had the good fortune of meeting and guiding Kurt Jaeger from the small country of Liechtenstein.  I really enjoyed my time with him.  We had a great hunt and he harvested a beautiful 37 1/2" Dall ram.  He booked to come back on a brown bear hunt in our Cold Bay area for the spring of 1986.  He harvested a massive 10'+ brown bear and later wrote a story that was published in a German Hunting Magazine and was picked up and published in the SCI Magazine.  Now it is on line under Guns and Hunting and I have attached that link for your enjoyment.  At that time, Kurt was the only hunter in Liechtenstein who had ever harvested a sheep and brown bear. 

Before he printed the story he gave me a call and told me I would not like it because he added a few extras to make it exciting.  He did this because he was told by the editor that they didn't want another "hunter kills a brown bear story" but something more exciting.  We all know that everyone sees things a little differently anyway.  He is a good story teller and a better writer than I am so I think most of you will enjoy it.  He wrote that I said, "He is a lucky _____."  That is something I would have never said then or now!  With that I hope you enjoy.  Read the story

Graduation Bear

Graduation Bear

“Greg, break off some of those limbs and get set."  "My range finder is telling me it's 180 yards across the gully and 250 yards to where the small creek comes in." That was the elevation the big guy was traveling.  He will probably lie down before he gets here so it might be a long wait.  “There he is!!"

Flying the Super Cub

Flying the Super Cub

 

Looking back on the accident I had a total of 282 hours flying time. The insurance company’s representative told me that statistics show that around that number of hours is when first-time accidents are likely to happen and are quite common.  They also say that a major accident usually only happens once.  Our cub had a 150HP engine and I know now that a 160HP is much better at high altitudes. I made sure that our next cub was a 160HP.  They say you fly a cub by the seat of your pants; you actually feel or experience the plane.  This is so true.  I believe to this day that with my experience and a 160HP engine and doing everything the same but with a little more finesse in my reaction, I would not have crashed.  Every year I found myself landing in areas that I wouldn’t have the year before because of my experience.  Experience in your flying environment is the most important part of becoming an exceptional pilot. 

It was about a month after the accident that Paul Claus, who was flying for us at that time, was flying me back to Chitina.  He asked me when I was going to fly again.  I told him I wasn’t sure. He said he thought it was time and landed on a sandbar on the Chitina River.  He got out and said for us to trade places.  He told me that he had had a few accidents and if the plane hadn’t caught fire I could have flown it out.  He climbed in the back seat and said, “Let’s go.”  I think that take-off was scarier than my first solo take-off.  When I greased the landing at Chitina Paul said, “You’re ready.”

The Worst Day of My Life

The Worst Day of My Life

My accident took place over 30 years ago.  It has been hard for me and my loved ones to get passed this devastating time but, with God's grace, we eventually moved on but not forgotten.  What a wonderful time this was supposed to have been.  Our daughter was getting married and my family was in Alaska for the first time.  I couldn't believe it turned into such a tragedy.  I was overwhelmed with sadness, as I knew I was responsible for the loss of a loved one.

With that, here is my story.

A Walk with Roger Morris

A Walk with Roger Morris

Every now and then I will post a story written by one of my clients or grand kids.  This story was written by Tom Wells and it was published in the Alaska Professional Hunter Magazine in 2002.  I guided Tom on two more hunts where he harvested a 40" ram and a 60" moose.  We had a wonderful time and I am proud to call him my friend.