Some Arctic River

section8 · Post by **section8** » Thu Aug 24, 2017 2:09 am

A few weeks ago I had to guide some filmmakers on a trip on Some Arctic River so they could get footage for a documentary they are making about Alaska wilderness. The trip was supposed to be 10 days but got stretched out to 12 when a storm event caused the river to rise dramatically and turn our gravel bar extraction point into a tiny island. But, that meant an awesome helicopter ride out.

There was a shit-ton of bears. We ran into them almost every day. I don't have any bears pics, though, because I was the hazer. I can't remember the last time I had to use a shot gun that much. The first night a bear came and opened up one of our supposedly bear proof containers and ate the bagels and cream cheese. The party woke me up and I ran it off. Apparently, the film crew hid in their tents but still got footage of me running around a gravel bar in my underwear firing beanbag rounds at a grizzly bear.

In addition to hella bears, we saw caribou, musk ox, spent an evening howling to a pack of wolves directly across the river from us, lots of little stuff like foxes, spawning salmon, and tons of raptors including peregrines and gyrs with fledglings.

I brought a really shitty (but indestructable) waterproof work camera, so I hope the film crew shares some pics with me.

section8 · Post by **section8** » Thu Aug 24, 2017 2:10 am

section8 · Post by **section8** » Thu Aug 24, 2017 2:13 am

section8 · Post by **section8** » Thu Aug 24, 2017 2:15 am

section8 · Post by **section8** » Thu Aug 24, 2017 2:29 am

Extraction:

section8 · Post by **section8** » Thu Aug 24, 2017 2:31 am

2wlz:

Bill Barilko · Post by **Bill Barilko** » Thu Aug 24, 2017 3:41 am

Nice Grayling!

I remember you saying you loved catching them didn't realise they were good eating.

DCComic · Post by **DCComic** » Thu Aug 24, 2017 8:25 am

Wow. That looks great.
Jealous.

Homerj · Post by **Homerj** » Thu Aug 24, 2017 3:16 pm

Fuckin' eh!

Nines · Post by **Nines** » Fri Aug 25, 2017 3:03 am

Very cool, section8. Looks like you had great weather.

The folks getting a close up picture of bear shit made me laugh.

section8 · Post by **section8** » Fri Aug 25, 2017 4:09 am

Bill Barilko wrote:Nice Grayling!

I remember you saying you loved catching them didn't realise they were good eating.

It's my favorite freshwater fish. They aren't great, but grilled in butter, with the roe, on pilot bread, in the Arctic - they are the best.

The folks getting a close up picture of bear shit made me laugh.

They were artistes. It was a huge pile, though. My boots are size 12.

Scrubb · Post by **Scrubb** » Fri Aug 25, 2017 5:47 pm

Tell me what made the various hoof prints. I know they're not moose or bear, any of them, but don't know what they are.

Bill Barilko · Post by **Bill Barilko** » Fri Aug 25, 2017 5:57 pm

Musk Ox.

section8 · Post by **section8** » Fri Aug 25, 2017 6:47 pm

Bill is correct.

Lost Soul · Post by **Lost Soul** » Fri Aug 25, 2017 10:20 pm

section8 wrote:

What's that? Pump 5?

section8 · Post by **section8** » Fri Aug 25, 2017 10:32 pm

Ambler mine, north of Dahl Creek.

avalon_ · Post by **avalon_** » Sun Aug 27, 2017 3:13 am

So awesome! You're so lucky you get to do stuff like that. And holy musk ox!

section8 · Post by **section8** » Fri Sep 01, 2017 10:40 pm

I saw the first draft of the film. When they interview me it looks like I'd been crying. :lol:

Damn you, mosquito repellent and headwinds!

Scrubb · Post by **Scrubb** » Tue Sep 05, 2017 6:36 am

You big baby!

Total Reject · Post by **Total Reject** » Tue Sep 05, 2017 6:15 pm

That's some wide open country.

Were you just canoeing from an established camp? Just curious how you got your supplies in and if the watercraft was already there for you to stuff with dry bags and such. Did you have to do the meal planning, and if so, what did you take?

section8 · Post by **section8** » Tue Sep 05, 2017 7:22 pm

Total Reject wrote:That's some wide open country.

Were you just canoeing from an established camp? Just curious how you got your supplies in and if the watercraft was already there for you to stuff with dry bags and such. Did you have to do the meal planning, and if so, what did you take?

We paddled for 10 days, 120 miles total. Broke and set up camp everyday. Spent two extra days stuck on a disappearing gravel bar before being picked up.

That 'cabin' was the only structure.

We flew in with 206s on wheels. Had to haul everything in. Landed on a gravel bar. We would have been picked up the same way if the water handed shot up.

We all planned our own food. I brought a mix of backpacker meals and high calorie stuff you don't need to cook like dried meat, dried fruit, and nuts. I like it when all you need to cook dinner is a couple cups of boiling water.

Stan In Maryland · Post by **Stan In Maryland** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 2:20 pm

Amazing. Nice rack in the 3rd picture.

eric84 · Post by **eric84** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 7:37 pm

Nice Hudson's Bay toque.....have to be Canadian.

section8 · Post by **section8** » Sun Nov 05, 2017 4:43 am

Total Reject wrote:That's some wide open country.

Were you just canoeing from an established camp? Just curious how you got your supplies in and if the watercraft was already there for you to stuff with dry bags and such. Did you have to do the meal planning, and if so, what did you take?

I just remembered a past discussion that involved TR - this float was on the Noatak River.

ben_hanscombe · Post by **ben_hanscombe** » Thu Nov 23, 2017 3:50 pm

section8 wrote:

So bears don't shit in the woods?

section8 · Post by **section8** » Sat Nov 25, 2017 7:12 pm

That bear was probably pushing 300 kilograms. My boot is a size 12US. It can shit wherever it wants.

gnd · Post by **gnd** » Wed Jul 04, 2018 8:28 am

aw. can not see photos:(

can not add my antarctica pics:(

mishmish · Post by **mishmish** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 6:22 pm

I can't see the photos

section8 · Post by **section8** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 6:44 pm

Lame, I guess tinypic hosts temporarily.

mishmish · Post by **mishmish** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 6:48 pm

Fowl knaves

VinnyD · Post by **VinnyD** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 6:51 pm

If you use postimage you can set an expiration date or not.

https://postimages.org

section8 · Post by **section8** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 6:57 pm

Here's a re-up. I need to upload some pics from my June trip, too.

mishmish · Post by **mishmish** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 7:35 pm

Heyyy thanks. Nice musk ox. Google tells me they are big hairy goats ( ?!) I had assumed they were some cousin of bison. Hope he/she wasn't out there alone

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