Author Topic: Surprise Encounter  (Read 17829 times)

Offline MountainMan

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Surprise Encounter
« on: September 11, 2005, 01:22:16 AM »
In another thread I mention my experience of two weeks in the Alaska bush a few weeks ago.  I emailed a few pics to some on the forum and was asked to post a few.  Hopefully these come out fine.

In a very isolated area this grizzly came out of the undergrowth about 30 ft. in front of me.  The pic is my first view as I stupidly moved my camera.  
http://www.thingameez.com/store/dave-mtnman/grizz-04.jpg

She walked straight toward me and about 15 feet away turned and started eating blueberries.  Needless to say I was frozen in place - once again not being smart taking a picture - figured if I was going to go at least a picture of the culprit might survive.
http://www.thingameez.com/store/dave-mtnman/grizz-03.jpg

http://www.thingameez.com/store/dave-mtnman/grizz-02.jpg

As she walked away I noticed the cubs - one pictured - I considered this one of my nine lives.
http://www.thingameez.com/store/dave-mtnman/grizz-05-withcub.jpg

A young brown bear just came out of the salmon stream - I was on the other bank.
http://www.thingameez.com/store/dave-mtnman/grizz-01.jpg





"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away..."


Offline MountainMan

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Re: Surprise Encounter
« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2005, 01:26:32 AM »
Sorry guys - must of did something wrong - let me try the first picture again.


"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away..."


Offline MountainMan

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Re: Surprise Encounter
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2005, 01:32:06 AM »
Picture 2


Picture 3


Picture 4


Pic 5 - Brown Bear
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away..."


Offline MountainMan

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Re: Surprise Encounter
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2005, 01:56:33 AM »
Thanks to Chris for his help with the picures

I spent some time with Trapper Jack north of the artic circle - flew in on a small plane.  He is hundreds of miles from any town.  He recently buried his eskimo wife by the cabin who drowned.  He spent two days digging her grave in the frozen earth.  That is Jack in the picture.

Jack makes his living  from trapping and selling wolf, moose, caribou, bear, fur and jewelry made from teeth and claws. Also taking in people like me. Those are wolf skulls on the outside of the cabin. Solar gives him some power in the summer when it never gets dark - in December it is never light.   He lives mainly by eating meat that is stored under the cabin in a small room dug in the ground that is always frozen.





Cabin interior - uses a radio phone that can "sometimes" reach the ranger.


Jack's neighbor's cabin and stream by his cabin - picture taken at midnight.




"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away..."


Offline MountainMan

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Re: Surprise Encounter
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2005, 02:19:46 AM »
The dall mountain sheep and caribou are favorite of the wolves.  Trapper Jack has constant problems of wolves trying to eat the dogs - they got two last winter.  Came right to the cabin and grabbed them.  Sorry taking up so much space.



"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away..."


Offline Newt

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Re: Surprise Encounter
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2005, 12:05:41 PM »
DAVE!!!!!!! 15ft away from mom w/cubs??? I'd rather be in downtown Nue Aulins with only a sling shot. :o
No matter how you struggle and strive, you will never get out of this world alive.

Offline RJ HEDLEY

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Re: Surprise Encounter
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2005, 01:14:03 PM »
Thanks for the Photos and commentary.
RJ=


 
 

Offline Michigunner

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Re: Surprise Encounter
« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2005, 02:51:00 PM »
Wonderful pictures!

Thank you!

Offline theirishguard

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Re: Surprise Encounter
« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2005, 02:53:27 PM »
Dave, thanks again for the great pictures in the frozen tundra1
I guessed I missed the photo of the brass balls!    Tom
Tom Watson, DVC , Quis Separabit ,  Who dares wins, Utrinque Paratus

Offline MountainMan

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Re: Surprise Encounter
« Reply #9 on: September 11, 2005, 03:10:48 PM »
Glad you guys liked the photos.  I was armed - in my pocket was a pen knife with a 2 in. blade.  What was going through my mind was a few years ago a client of my wife was killed with one paw hit from a grizzly - he got between the mom and her cubs.

The bear never looked me in the eye so I'm not sure she saw me - she was scoping out the blueberries all around and the wind may have been in my favor.  Don't know what would have happened if she had not seen some blueberries that were interesting and decided to turn.
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away..."


Offline tracker

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Re: Surprise Encounter
« Reply #10 on: September 11, 2005, 05:19:23 PM »
Dave,

Thanks for the photos and commentary. I admire your
courage and sense of adventure but don't give you
the same high marks in judgment.

But then, I made 300 carrier landings in my younger
days so I am not much one to talk. I think a lot of
us like the rush and excitement from pushing the
envelope.

Offline Michigunner

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Re: Surprise Encounter
« Reply #11 on: September 11, 2005, 05:27:05 PM »
300 landings!  Wow!  I could barely land on grass and concrete.

If the carrier was tied up in a big swimming pool, with no wind, I might consider landing with a Piper Cub.

Maybe.  Maybe not.   ;)

Bill


Offline tracker

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Re: Surprise Encounter
« Reply #12 on: September 11, 2005, 05:57:15 PM »
Come to think of it, looking at that small looking deck
at night must be similar to staring down a Grizzly and
her cubs.                      

Offline Michigunner

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Re: Surprise Encounter
« Reply #13 on: September 11, 2005, 06:10:21 PM »
I would have to chicken out in both cases.  Sorry to admit it!

I've heard too many scary stories about the grizzly bear.

Another problem would be landing with a very black night and fog.

I was watching a Discovery program the other day about carriers.  You could hardly see across the deck, I mean it was Yucky.  All of a sudden a jet landed!

Bill  

Offline theirishguard

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Re: Surprise Encounter
« Reply #14 on: September 11, 2005, 06:41:49 PM »
Bill, I saw the same carrier show. Not much light at all. Talk about suck it up!!
A friend of mine called after tyhat show, he is a retired Delta Capt.,  and ex navy pilot. He said that is what it looks like. No light you just have to feel yourself aboard.
Tom
Tom Watson, DVC , Quis Separabit ,  Who dares wins, Utrinque Paratus