I'm in the Dillingham Public Library. Just got back from the first trip. Tom got a medium bull caribou. It's not the one that he wanted but the 'bou committed suicide by walking right into camp and Tom decided to take him. Tom dropped him rigth on the shore of the lake so we didn't have to haul him. The plane could taxi right up to the bull.

Then the pilot moved us onto Lake Kulik where there was a canoe waiting for us. We canoed down Lake Kulik, the Wind River, Milkchalk Lake, Peace River, Lake Beverly and down the the Agulapak to the bottom, where we caught a bunch of Northern Pike. Ate some but let most of them go.

All the fires have created lots of smoke so the views of one of the most beautiful places on Earth (Lake Kulik) have been obscured. Hope things will clear for the next trip.

Cooling my heels for a few days, until the 4th, when we fly in to hunt moose.

Pictures to come in a month or so when I get home. Don't want to risk losing them on this unfamiliar computer.

KC

Thanks for the update, hope all goes well on the moose portion of your hunt.

The smoke has blown all the way down here. I didn't choose to live in a rainforest so I could deal with forest fire smoke! You guys keep that stuff up north... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Congrats on the 'bou, luck on the moose.

Whine, whine, whine- BURN, BABY, BURN!

Climax forsts are for squirrels.

Here's a 59 picture slide show of my pictures from the first leg with KC. Thanks KC, it was great!


http://community.webshots.com/album/184121011tkVZKw

Tom & KC,

Thanks for the pix, felt like old home week to this hombre, spent the better part of 10 years tramping around those parts. In fact when you exited the Peace River onto Lake Beverly the cabins on the right belong to the outfit I worked for, Justin Johns aka North Alaska Expeditions. Beautiful country and you're seeing it the way it was meant to be seen up close, personal and with a good buddy. Have a great time and good luck on the hunting. 1ak

Tom

Thanks for the great pics, im leaving soon to meet up with KC to do the caribou hunting leg of this journey, if you have any more pics i'd sure like to see them. Thanks Frank

1akhunter. I see in your previous post you worked for Justin Johns. I hunted with him about 5-6 years ago from Lake Beverly. Were you one of the guides? As I recall, he had a man and wife from Montana who primarily did fishing and a younger man from Montana who helped primarily on the hunting. Since my partner and I were the first hunters we had all three men helping us including Justin. I had a super trip and would recommend his outfit to anybody.

KC and Tom,

Sounds like you two are have a great trip. (You Lucky Guys!)

Tom I looked at your pics last night and really enjoyed them, Thanks both for posting.

Rolly,

Glad you had a good time, the older couple were probably Bill and ____??? can't remember his wife's name. Nice folks, no longer there. The young guy was probably Ryan Friel, good little stud, that boy could fish and we old farts taught him a little something about hunting, he's moved on to. Justin is a good guy and one of the best outdoorsmen I have ever tramped the woods with. I only hunted out of Beverly one time for a moose hunt, man what a cush life eating at a table indoors, hot showers life was good. Most of the time I was running a caribou camp up at Nishlik lake or floating the Tikchik on combo hunts moose/bou, bear/bou etc. Fishing Bear camp is where every one would converge for late season bear hunts and when I headed home. Preferred not to hunt bears during late season as it is boring as all get out except for the shooting part and there is no meat to feast upon after the kill. I hunt to eat, no quarrel with those that like bear hunting in fact my best friend just headed to Dilly to do late season bears, but I just don't get it, must be an ego thing. Had to do a few bear hunts, greasy hides, lots of fleshing and nothing to eat off of them, just not my cup of tea. You should see fishing bear now, they have added more cabins and boats and that was two years ago since I have been there, who knows what they have added now. Anyway glad you hunted with the outfit and had a good time. Time in the field with Justin is always well spent. I miss the guy but I have kids that need raising and someone to take them hunting. 1ak

We did have a super time. I was even pictured in his guides magazine for a couple years. I got a good bou. I am glad to hear Justin is doing well. The names you mentioned were correct for the folks that were helping in Justin's camp while we were there. I was awed by the scenery and the amount of game and fish available in the area. Have a good weekend ! Justin's sister-in-law works for the employer I do.

So know I see who all those fair weather guys are that play in my backyard...........



I have found that cabin to be really cozy in Febuary, glad he leaves it opened.


This one was taken just after you guys pulled out one season. I like to catch those grayling up in the wind late in the year, they really get some nice color to them for photos.


This is the little shack at the top of the wind...


And this one is the cabin at Togiak Spit in late season......


And you might know this place.. It's Golden Horn around mid March. I think I was takein' a break from running trap's.......


You gotta be careful on that lake system in the winter, It can be tricky..



There is a nice interactive map/photot tour of the lake system posted here. You may find it interesting.

~Jeff-A~

nice photos Jeff. I'd forgotten about the water tower at GH lodge, I hear it's active again. Is Dan ? still hanging out there in winter as caretaker? Might could be a grayling or two in those waters. It's some gorgeous country I especially like Golden and Silver horn, Rainbow basin, and Chikiminuk Lake.
Lot's of good times and good memories, my pard should be hunting Togiak this fall. 1ak

I thought those pic's might catch your eye. Last I heard Dan and his wife had done gone bushy. They had quit leaving the place. New owners were just flyin' food in to them on occasion. I think the lodge went private, just some rich dude using it for his summer playground. Dan had gotten into it with a few of my native friends trying to claim half the upper lake territory as his for trapping. I steer clear of the touched ones, I walk a fine line myself. The cabin with the water tank is the one down lake Nerka right by where you can get up into little Togiak lake. Happy holidays to ya.....

Ahhhh to be a rich dude....... I could deal with a little piece of heaven on Mikchalk (sp?) lake. Happy holidays to you Jeff, thanks for the trip down memory lane. It is some fine country. 1ak

always wondered what the place looked like with snow. there is a nice deck in front of the main "lodge" cabin now. golden horn is owned by 3 of the wealthiest families in anchorage, they lease it to CIRI for the summers (as i understand it) and it is pretty much run as a resort for a write-off. their guides left a bunch of lower units in the upper wind this year. the caretaker now (name escapes me) is a good guy, a little bushy when he got there, but in a good way.
enjoy the cabin, stay warm in it. drop by during the season and say hi. we usually have some warm cookies around.
i worked with 1ak a little the last couple years he was out there, and will probably stick it out for a few more. beautiful country, too hard to give up the "mental recharge" i get from my time out there. thanks for posting the pics!
happy solstice!