Schitty cocoa??? Enjoy the video, almost an hour long: Heimo's Arctic Refuge

MtnHtr

Once I get some time I'll have to watch more. The books about him "The Final Fronteirsman" is a good read.

Thanks, enjoyed that. He oughta build a cache on poles for his meat, and he really needs a surefire light and some proper sights on that shotgun.

Seemed like an interesting guy, a bit of a philospher even.

His daughter Krin works at the local SW. She basically said that he used to shoot most of the animals that they ate with a 22-250. The shotgun and the larger ruger rifle are relatively recent purchases.

I would like to get him, Miles Martin and Supp Papp who lives out by the Chandler shelf to come into my classroom to talk to my students.

Going Wild and Gone Wild by Miles Martin who lives in Nenana are also great books about living in the bush. I think that of the three Miles might exagerate a bit but the truth is in the telling.

Sincerely,
Thomas

Enjoyed that thank you.
Tom

I'm not wanting to start a fight, but he's managed for 30 some years hasn't he? I was noticing that neither he nor his wife wear any of the fancy clothes/gear that we all seem to think mandatory for a week long trip into much less remote country than he lives in year round.

I can't imagine telling that guy what he "needs" to survive his country.

Very interesting video. I'd like to read the books mentioned too.

I've been to Alaska, been to Haiti too, the folks in Haiti seem to "manage" okay, but there is certainly room for improvement. The guy shot at that bear ten times, that means he had to reload, that means he was lucky as hell to not have gotten mauled, I don't care if he's been out there 130 yrs, that was not handled well. Elevated caches are standard fare in the Alaskan bush, with a steel drum as a poor second choice. He was wearing the best footgear you can wear in that environment, GI vapor barrier boots. You can get by without hi tech clothing in that dry cold environment, as long as you don't break thru the ice on a stream or lake bed.

Great video. Thanks!

I thought about the griz kill as well but it was pitch black and the shooting distance was unknown. I did notice he carried a big iron on his hip and was never without it. I think he did okay, he killed the bear and nobody was hurt.

What would you have done in his shoes? He did say the deed had to be done?

I'm not defending him but it can be really tough to sort out those situations without being there.

MtnHtr

Heimo and Edna are studs. People who haven't lived that far away from people don't understand that it gets very primal quickly. They have lived out there for thirty years. I am sure that the bear had become a problem before. Sometimes things work out in the brush but sometimes it gets to be a bit of a gunfight.

They aren't the richest people in the world and live there by choice. Heimo and Edna did move into Ft. Yukon when their girls wanted to go to high school and then into Fairbanks when their girls were in college and had to take jobs like anybody else. They did that not because it was easier in town but their kids needed them as supports. After their girls had finished their college experience they moved back out to their cabins.

I have seen bush outfits that have elevated meat caches and I have also seen outfits like Korths. One of the important elements of living with Grizzlies is that in that country that they should fear you- if they don't then you will have to deal with them in the worst possible time much like this. My guess would be that the bears in the area understood the balance of power but that the film crew probably eating sweets in the tent probably through the balance out of kilter. It was a realatively young bear and probably curious about the guys in the Arctic Oven tent. There is not much mercy in that environment. Anything that shows any aggression needs to be taken out. Heimo illustrated this.

The other note is that their is a National Geographic special about families living in the bush which Heimo and Edna were pictured in 1984. Not many of the bush people remain.
It is a tough life and people age relatively quickly but they get to be real survivors. Fred Rungee of Slana is now 89 years old and still lives much of the time on his Lake Loraine four miles off of the road. That might seem much less remote than the Korths but Rungee and to pack all of his stuff 4 miles over 1500 ft ridge to his house which is in the same vein.

Heimo and Edna life in a very special way and it is not for us to judge what works for them. It is a tough yet fulfilling lifestyle.

Sincerely,
Thomas

Hey, I'm glad the guy didn't get hurt too, and I ain't kickin' him in the crotch on purpose, I just saw it as a teaching point, and that point is, if you are gonna use a gun at night, you need a no-schit light mounted on said gun. A surefire forearm is spendy but could save your life, there are cheaper options though.

Great video. I will have to watch it completely.
I read the Book about the Korths while guiding Dall Sheep hunters last year.

An other guy still out there - going strong is Ed Stevenson, 80 years old, out on Sheep River. Going strong - 51 years now - stays in there year round.

Seeing how these guys do it, often is different from common knowledge.

Point is:

It is hard to argue with that many years experience out there even if you are right about a thing.

Ralphie-

If you would like to read "The Final Frontiersman" pm me your address and I'll get my copy into the mail. It's the least I can do for you taking me sheep hunting once I draw!

Is this the Sheep River in the Talkeetnas? I've flown over that river many times and noticed there's a cabin with a small airstrip next to it. Might that be his?

I need help , can't get it to play what do I do or what do I need
to play this show. Thanks for any help. Cheers NC

You can watch it here too. I couldn't view using the attached link either so I found it on Youtube.

Great film. I'm more than a little jealous.