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Hi Buck.
Just viewed your movie Alone Across Alaska and was truly taken aback by your journey. How great ! Can you tell me what you did with your food at “night” when you were sleeping ? Not too many places to hang it!!
Thanks. Brian
Hi Brian,
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed Alone Across Alaska!
Until I got to the Haul Road I put the food in a tightly closed plastic bag and hid it directly downwind of my tent about 100 yards. A bear that could smell the food would smell me. I never had a bear bother my food. In country with un-hunted bears or bears habituated to stealing food, that would be a bad idea. In Gates of the Arctic National Park, where bears aren’t hunted and backpackers are more common, backpackers are required to carry a bear canister, which I did. I stored food in that and put it downwind of my tent. Once I got to the river I had bear-proof containers as well.
My cached food was all stored in bear-proof containers. If it hadn’t been, some of it would likely have been taken by bears or other animals.
Good question!
Buck
Thanks Buck. I guess it pays to be smarter than the average bear! Good luck in your future travels.
Brian
Dear Buck,
I just watched “Alone Across Alaska” and want to tell you how much I enjoyed it, and mention the fine memories it brought back to me. I spent 6 weeks in the Arctic NWR on two separate trips several years ago mostly in the Jago and Aichilik drainages. Didn’t see muskox there, although I’ve seen many on Banks Island in Canada. We did see literally thousands of caribou, however. 36 years ago I spent 2 1/2 weeks making a circuit of Mt. Igikpak with a small group led by Molly McCammon. You probably know her, since she’s been in Fairbanks for some years. She told us that at that time probably fewer than a dozen white people had ever made that hike. Your film showed some places in the Gates where we hiked, including that unnamed lake near where you put in on the Noatak. What a fine adventure you had! If you’re interested, I’d enjoy having you see some of my photos from those two places. To see them, go to “Images” on my website and you’ll find a keyword search. The best way to get to the Gates pix is to type in: gates ak nps and for the Refuge use ANWR. I hope they will bring back some pleasant memories for you as well. Did you know the pilot Roger Dowding out of Fort Yukon? I flew to and from the Refuge with him two different years, and he was killed there in, I believe 1992. Thanks again for the great film, and let me know if you enjoy seeing any of my photos from ANWR and the Gates.
Sincerely,
Steve Warble
Mountain Magic Photography
http://www.agpix.com/stevewarble
Hi Steve,
I’m glad you enjoyed Alone Across Alaska! You have seen some beautiful country in Alaska, that’s for sure.
I didn’t personally know Roger, we just knew some of the same people.
I checked out your photos. Nicely done! You’ve got a good eye.
Thanks for the comment,
Buck