Started cutting a trail today in the next valley over from the house, for spring bear and snared it along the way. Cut about one mile and put out snares every where I crossed hare trails. Smoked the belt on the machine but had a spare. No time to call as I had hoped. Got home as the sun was setting, 2:30 in the afternoon. Will cut more line Christmas day and check snares.
Hunt hard, die tired
John
Start of trail
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee266/sagalsaka/DSC_0140-1.jpg)
Beat tired, ready for the woodstove
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee266/sagalsaka/IMG_0717-1.jpg)
Getting a cup of coffee before heading home
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee266/sagalsaka/IMG_0720-1.jpg)
Sled snares and shoes, all got a good work out
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee266/sagalsaka/IMG_0716-1.jpg)
Road home
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee266/sagalsaka/DSC_0120-1.jpg)
View from the living room, nice sunset today
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee266/sagalsaka/DSC_1215-1.jpg)
You should frame the last one .....WOW!
Cant wait till you check em! :corn:
Merry Christmas to you and yours John
Merry Christmas to you as well Al. Have to go into town tonight want to watch my son play a hockey game. May post some pictures later tonight if I can stay awake.
I was showing my daughter your pics as you posted and she said to be sure and let you know, she wants to trade homes with you.....
Great pictures John, thanks for sharing. Are those self portraits, or do you travel with a partner?
Quote from: Tikaani on December 21, 2008, 07:27:36 PM
Smoked the belt on the machine but had a spare.
Seems pretty dangerous to be out in those conditions alone.
Pat
I am almost always alone Pat.
I do carry a satellite phone though, when I remember to bring it.
Cool pics as usual :highclap: :highclap:
Always enjoy em !
Scott
Are there still trappers' cabins around or some other place to hole up if you get stranded or the weather socks you in? Or do you carry some type of shelter with you?
Pat
That's great stuff, John. Is that ice in your beard in a couple of those pictures? It sure is gorgeous up there in God's country. Thanks for sharing with us. :congrats: :congrats:
Quote from: Tikaani on December 21, 2008, 07:54:21 PM
I am almost always alone Pat.
I do carry a satellite phone though, when I remember to bring it.
Great pictures! That sunset is beautiful. :congrats:
Have you looked at the Spot Satellite Tracker? That might be an option when you are out alone and need help.
Click here ------> Spot Tracker (http://www.findmespot.com/en/)
That is really awesome John. Thank's for giving me a better Idea of what you live in/around. Stay safe.
Barry
I love looking at the pictures, but it is cold enough right here for me -5 right now.
Jerry
Al P.
Yeah thats ice and frost but there is some of the grey stuff in there to be sure.
Semp,
I will look in to the Spot tracker, the sat phone works great, thankfully I have never been in a position to use it for an emergency, the wife always knows where I am heading.
Pat,
I usually have my sleeping bag and a tarp.
Thanks for all the comments, Barry will talk to you sometime this week.
John
Wow! :shck:
So that show on TV when they say "Tougher in Alaska", they aint, I say they aint just horsin around are they.
I just cannot believe that you can be out there all day, bustin your a__ and freezin it off at the same time, having trouble with the Sno Machine, watching your time trying to beat dark, your heads half froze...AND STILL take the time to snap some shots for us back here. :yoyo:
Unbelievable and very admirable :congrats:
Thanks so much for taking us along on these journeys :biggrin:
AWESOME PICS :highclap:
My youngest son was standing here as I was looking at these pics. He knows who you are John and he's pretty convinced that you are tougher than the Hulk....... :eyebrownod:
I thought that was quite the compliment coming from a kid that knows a lot about super heros. :wink:
It looks like a wonderful albeit difficult time. :yoyo:
Hey John, NIce pics and thanks for sharing.
Make sure ya stay stafe up that way, I heard they had to rescue a trapper that went through the ice up there last week.
Todd
i WAS THINKING JEREMIAH JOHNSON :bowingsmilie:
Quote from: Bopeye on December 22, 2008, 06:40:49 AM
My youngest son was standing here as I was looking at these pics. He knows who you are John and he's pretty convinced that you are tougher than the Hulk....... :eyebrownod:
I thought that was quite the compliment coming from a kid that knows a lot about super heros. :wink:
It looks like a wonderful albeit difficult time. :yoyo:
I appreciate the comments, but truthfully, I am an average Joe, I try and get home every night to my woodstove and am not doing anything unusual, I just tolerate the cold. There are a lot of guys that run lines just to get out. A lot of guys hunt etc.. There are guys out in the villages and some that live in cabins year round. They run 100-200 mile lines and are as tough as nails, they enjoy total solitude. I am not doing anything special just having fun.
John
Theres nothing like being out in the cold then relaxing by a hot woodstove....get toasty warm so your wet clothes are steaming....woodsmoke smell and a crackling fire...I was wondering about that coat your wearing whether its commercial or a custom made one ? Nasty from Little Alaska (VT)
It is custom made by a lady in the village of Tanana. She makes them for dog mushers. My wife had the ruff made for me, it is a 1" band of beaver then 2" band of wolverine and then about three inches of wolf. I use two fur hats depending on the temp. One is fisher and one is muskrat, my wife had them both made for me as well, the rat because they were the first animals I trapped as a kid.
John
Ruff
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee266/sagalsaka/91cb11f9.jpg)
Beautiful work and looks mighty warm...I was just talking to Possum Al about fisher cats up here....we called em pekans when I was growing up....I also wetted my first steel on the Mighty Muskrat....interesting little critters !...you can hunt em up here as well as trap them.
It looks cool and warm that's for darn sure.
Wait a minute :doh2: That didnt come out right.
Quote from: FinsnFur on December 21, 2008, 10:40:12 PM I just cannot believe that you can be out there all day, bustin your a__ and freezin it off at the same time, having trouble with the Sno Machine, watching your time trying to beat dark, your heads half froze...AND STILL take the time to snap some shots for us back here. :yoyo:
Unbelievable and very admirable :congrats:
Thanks so much for taking us along on these journeys :biggrin:
Sure appreciate your pix & stories John. Thank you so much. V.V.
Quote from: nastygunz on December 22, 2008, 09:16:40 PM
Theres nothing like being out in the cold then relaxing by a hot woodstove....get toasty warm so your wet clothes are steaming....woodsmoke smell and a crackling fire...
Amen! ;yes; :biggrin:
Yeah, that is an awesome coat! :wink:
MENTAL NOTE: CANCEL THAT CASE OF BEN & JERRYS ICE CREAM YOU WERE SHIPPING FnF FOR XMAS...... :biggrin:
Quote from: FinsnFur on December 22, 2008, 11:01:19 PM
Quote from: nastygunz on December 22, 2008, 09:16:40 PM
:hahaha:Nasty from Little Alaska (VT)
:roflmao: :doh2:
John's one of the nicest guys I've met around Fairbanks. He built me one of those fancy diamond-plate boxes for my machine awhile back and we went out calling a couple of times. Things at home here were very crazy with the death of a close family member, so I didn't keep in touch with much of anybody during that time. John, if you're ever looking for anybody to go out with you here in town, just give me a ring or shoot me an email at snowcamoman@gmail.com
It looks like you built and moved into your new house too, absolutely awesome! Have a wonderful Christmas with your family and hopefully we'll catch up sometime soon.