ALASKA EXPEDITION 2010

“That sounds serious!”

“nuclear carrot cake!”

“T1mberwolf....doesn't your man work at REI? What does he do there?”

“Dangit, now I have to report to the I found a turn in my pack thread.”

“was it a left or right turn?”

“you forgetting me for some reason, I was with Yogisan and you gave us a tour of your place”

“OMG How could I be so remiss! I apologize. It will be good to see you again. And you can punch me in the arm if you want to!”

“man, she forgets about us and i let her drive my dodge nitro!”

“Had a long phone call with our Bush Pilot today. They are about to close down the lodge for the winter, temps now dipping as low as 10 and winter right around the corner. He plans on getting us out there as soon as we arrive and is not booking any other trips that day giving us first lift.
We are locked in for a landing at Jarvis and a pick up at Grizz Lake float plane to Jack Lake. Sending him a down payment first week in Feb. We also discussed a back up plan if the creeks are at flood stage on Nabesna road (we cross 3 streams no bridges) due to rain or warmer that normal temps melting Glaciers. Tells me he has a wheel air strip 2 miles from Jack Lake just before our first stream crossing. So looks like we have a solid plan with a solid back up to get us to Jarvis.”

“And I had FUN FUN FUN till my friend Yogi took my Dodge Nitro away!!!

Fridge great to hear. You are all over this!”

“All I know is that he is a "Specialist" at everything he does.”

“T1mberwolf..I am not working at REI!”

“Their loss, I'm sure.”

“we ain't going to sheep lake?”

“'ll be posting a definitive trip plan in a few days. I have received a map from Brett one of the Bush Pilots there and a Guide. I'll pot this information on the trips page.
Exact route details are impossible in Alaska....just ask Spam or Jackstraw....this is not any thing you have ever Backpacked on before. Those maps I mentioned are the exact ones that will cover this trip. We will be moving each day approx 6 to 8 miles. If you think you can explode and do a 20 miler I'll be waiting for you in camp when you finally catch up with me.”

“how much daylight to they get up there in july?”

“I mentioned that in a couple mail Letters to you. july where we are going will be approx 21 hrs so since you said you like to hike until the sun set I guess you won't be getting any sleep. Those 3 hrs of dusk and yep it never get dark.....”

“We will not be marathoning this trip. It does not work in Alaska and I know....My first year there I thought we would hike 50 miles across streams, glaciers, up hills and down hills...hu I think we hikes 20 miles and it kicked all of our Butts. I laugh now at anyone who says anything about bolting up a Hill or down a field or oh look it's only right down there hehehe....What looks like a mile can be a mile but hike through..Tussock and BOG is totally different and that mile feels like 3 miles......yea ask DUB or Chin Music... so this is not a marathon hike. Take our time and enjoy the walk and SCENERY”

“gee, i was only askin' cause i thought there was a lot of light in july”

“Geez I was only answering your question!”

“Yogisan is the official Silver Back Grizzly Watch Dog. Those Grizz are Silver Backs.

YOGI. Growl for us Yogisan. Huff and Puff!
last edited: 10/02/09 5:04:25 PM”

“(squeak)”

“Oh yeah that should work!”

“SQUEAK, squeak, I tell you--SQUEAK!”

“squeak ah come on now....don't lure the Grizz to us Yogisan.....you know if you squeak you sound like a mouse and they eat mice. Hey that remind me.....we come across several pieces of rabbit all along the Jacksina. That's where we seen all the bear activity and this is where we will be too.
Squeak......”

“that's it? you go to alaska several years in a row and all you can produce are a few pieces of rabbit along the shore of a small brook?”

“Watching Ken Burn's National Parks series about Alaska. Hope our large group leaves a small footprint.”

“hey I didn't produce any rabbit and that small brook you call is impossible to cross most of the time...Laughing Hey Yogisan....your not in Kansas! Our first year there we said heck man thats just a creek we can cross that....when we had gotten closer we realized no way hosegay.
and those rabbit pieces was torn up by Bears and there were more that one rabbit across a distance of several miles.....many rabbits...now give em a big Yogi GROWL Bobobabobo says yogi”

“HOOYAH!”

“Hell yea.... now thats it....

keep practicing and you will lure some of those females right to you. hehehe”

“I found still a little cheaper airfare at this website if anyone wants to try it out.

http://www.bestfares.com/index.php”

“Thank you, Tango!”

“We need to do a gear shake down trip some time next spring, and wanted to set up a trip central to everyone. I'm looking at May at a RIVER fording trip, one we can exercise River Fording Techniques and discuss gear and other information and input about our Alaska trip.
There are a few I know would not attend due to the extensive distance for a short weekend out so if you cannot make this one you will no tbe left out of the Trail Talk.
Be loOking in the near future for a trip link associated with our Alaska Expedition trip. I know of an area that has just the right small river crossing challenges and pretty much central to most of us going to Alaska. STAY TUNED”

“they need to be REALLY cold river crossings to truly test certain things...”

“sunny this so true. You little sneaker”

“You bet, it must be cold enough for a head-soaking and numb skull coefficient test.”

“yea Marko the head of what!”

“Here are a couple of sites about bear canisters.

http://www.wild-ideas.net/products.html
http://www.bearvault.com/
http://www.basegear.com/bearcache.html”

“Tango I think we is talkin about the head of that pig we ate this past weekend at T1mberwolf's BIG HUGE PIG PARTY only those there know for sure.....hehehe”

“You ate the head of a pig? Kinda yucko!”

“nope not the head but I did see Jackstraw eat the ear. Sow pig and I forgot her name?”

“Really yucko!”

“How to Use a Bear Canister

The most important part of using a bear canister is what goes inside it. Make sure all food, all trash are inside the bear canister. This includes but is not limited to all sealed or packaged food. As a general rule, if you put it into your mouth it should probably be stored in a bear canister.
The bear canister only works if it's closed and locked! Be sure to keep it closed and locked, even while you're around your campsite. Place the canister on the ground in a flat, level area 100 feet or more from your campsite. Take care not to place it near a cliff or any water source, as a bear may knock the canister around or roll it down a hill. Do not hang or attach anything to the canister (ropes attached to the canister enable a bear to carry the it away). You can place pots and pans on top of the canister as a bear alarm if you like.
The best way to carry a bear canister is inside your pack. Think of it as a big stuff sack, though it will always occupy the same amount of space. Later in your trip, when you have eaten some of your food, you can place other items inside the canister to conserve space.

Packing a Bear Canister
With forethought and planning, it's amazing how much food you can fit into a canister. If you choose the right foods and repackage them, you can maximize canister space. It takes a little effort and time but the results are rewarding.
Remember, when you are using a canister ALL - food and garbage - must fit inside the canister throughout your entire trip unless you are in attendance or actively preparing your food.
How to pack a canister:
Choose the right foods.
Plan out and Measure out every meal.
Repackage your food into baggies or small containers.
Put the canister and your kitchen 100 feet from your sleeping area. Leave the canister on the ground. Do not hang the canister from a tree.
Food Choices
Choose foods that are compact, compressible and high in calories. This includes rice, tortillas, jerky, flat pastas, dehydrated powders, nuts, dried fruits, peanut butter, candy and nutritional bars. Since you are trying to put as much food in the canister that you can, think about volume when you purchase food. For example, instead of bread rolls, buy tortillas. Instead of macaroni, choose spaghetti. You get the picture - don't waste space on bulky food items. Dehydrating your own food is fun and inexpensive.
Plan Your Menu
Carefully count every meal that you will be eating. By doing this, you will save weight and space. Put all the food on a table and plan each meal, snack, drink and condiment. Pre-measure and pre-mix food.
Repackage Your Food
Take food out of its original package. This allows you to fit more food inside a canister and reduces the amount of garbage you generate. Repackage food from boxes, bottles, jars and cans into resealable plastic bags. These bags are flexible and fit into small spaces. Force air out of packages. Poke tiny holes in freeze-dried packages to release the air. Save instructions for cooking and put inside meal bags. Write food contents on outside of bags with a permanent marker.”

“I didn't see Jackstraw eat the ear of the pig
But I did see Fridge dance an Irish jig”

“"Later in your trip, when you have eaten some of your food, you can place other items inside the canister to conserve space."

Uh huh, like dirty socks....”

“Thats correct Marko NOT your UNDERWARE!”

“Do you keep your thunder #&%!$ in there?”

“Nope I keep that all rolled up in my pocket.
Marko have you seen the new Fart bags now being offered to those who pass gas while in there tent? Bomb proof bags.
They gave several away at Trail Days this past year ....I'll bring you one...I know you don't believe me but I'll show ya!”

“Smells like a bed of roses, huh?”