Some Arctic River
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Some Arctic River
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.
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.
This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
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Re: Some Arctic River






This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
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Re: Some Arctic River












This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
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Re: Some Arctic River






This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
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Re: Some Arctic River


Extraction:









This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
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Re: Some Arctic River
2wlz:






This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
- Bill Barilko
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Re: Some Arctic River
Nice Grayling!
I remember you saying you loved catching them didn't realise they were good eating.
I remember you saying you loved catching them didn't realise they were good eating.
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Re: Some Arctic River
Wow. That looks great.
Jealous.
Jealous.
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Re: Some Arctic River
Fuckin' eh!
I'm going to the back seat of my car, with the woman I love, and I won't be back for ten minutes!
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Re: Some Arctic River
Very cool, section8. Looks like you had great weather.
The folks getting a close up picture of bear shit made me laugh.
The folks getting a close up picture of bear shit made me laugh.
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Re: Some Arctic River
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.
This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
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Re: Some Arctic River
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.
Boinkity_Boink isn't much of an idiot
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Re: Some Arctic River
Musk Ox.
Nexus the criminally insane whore/backstabber wrote:You missed the porn site I set up in your name....Shall I send the link to everyone?
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Re: Some Arctic River
Bill is correct.
This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
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Re: Some Arctic River
section8 wrote:
What's that? Pump 5?
IMPRISON BUSH!
INDICT HILLARY!
"Lost Soul is largely correct"- VinnyD
INDICT HILLARY!
"Lost Soul is largely correct"- VinnyD
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Re: Some Arctic River
Ambler mine, north of Dahl Creek.
This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
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Re: Some Arctic River
So awesome! You're so lucky you get to do stuff like that. And holy musk ox!
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Re: Some Arctic River
I saw the first draft of the film. When they interview me it looks like I'd been crying.
Damn you, mosquito repellent and headwinds!

Damn you, mosquito repellent and headwinds!
This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
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Re: Some Arctic River
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?
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?
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Re: Some Arctic River
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.

This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
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Re: Some Arctic River
Amazing. Nice rack in the 3rd picture.
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Re: Some Arctic River
Nice Hudson's Bay toque.....have to be Canadian.
Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair.
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Re: Some Arctic River
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.
This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
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Re: Some Arctic River
section8 wrote:
So bears don't shit in the woods?
The words that I've just spoken are the truth, I swear to God
I'm sorry if I hurt you: sometimes I'm nervous; I work so hard
I'm sorry if I hurt you: sometimes I'm nervous; I work so hard
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Re: Some Arctic River
That bear was probably pushing 300 kilograms. My boot is a size 12US. It can shit wherever it wants.
This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
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Re: Some Arctic River
aw. can not see photos:(
can not add my antarctica pics:(
can not add my antarctica pics:(
Taking advantage of what is not working to make changes in your life often leads to your greatest opportunities and accomplishments --GND
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Re: Some Arctic River

I can't see the photos
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Re: Some Arctic River
Lame, I guess tinypic hosts temporarily.
This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
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Re: Some Arctic River
Fowl knaves
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- section8
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Re: Some Arctic River
Here's a re-up. I need to upload some pics from my June trip, too.




























This is the only musical: the mouth. And hopefully the brain attached to the mouth. Right? The brain, more important than the mouth, is the brain. The brain is much more important.
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Re: Some Arctic River
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