Off Grid Alaska

[Native Horn 3515]

29 minutes ago, mooseoutfront said:

The shit stick revelation really struck a chord with this board lol

Nope.  We've had the same shit stick for probably 10 years.  It's an old pickaxe handle that I cracked when I was digging our cold hole.

This is the content that texags will NEVER see, unless they are referring to their outhouse in East Texas.

[Pescado_Rojo 19428]

29 minutes ago, mooseoutfront said:

The shit stick revelation really struck a chord with this board lol

Nope.  We've had the same shit stick for probably 10 years.  It's an old pickaxe handle that I cracked when I was digging our cold hole.

That former ax handle is like...

[gernblansten 3197]

That former ax handle is like “I’ve seen some sh….never mind.”

[RPM 26354]

Ax handles always get the shit end of the stick. 

[luke duke 6414]

The shit stick revelation really struck a chord with this board lol
Nope.  We've had the same shit stick for probably 10 years.  It's an old pickaxe handle that I cracked when I was digging our cold hole.

Do you put a notch in the handle after each use?

[mooseoutfront 3643]

2 hours ago, luke duke said:

Do you put a notch in the handle after each use?

I like that one

We will now

[mooseoutfront 3643]

Happy Solstice!

We start gaining light now, which is much appreciated

Sunrise is around 11, sunset is at 3

Shortest day of the year

[Brisketexan 105336]

10 hours ago, mooseoutfront said:

Happy Solstice!

We start gaining light now, which is much appreciated

Sunrise is around 11, sunset is at 3

Shortest day of the year

Look on the bright side.....when you tell the little woman "we're gonna get freaky ALL NIGHT LONG".....you need, like 3 viagras to get it done.  Might want to up your cardio, too.

[mooseoutfront 3643]

4 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

Look on the bright side.....when you tell the little woman "we're gonna get freaky ALL NIGHT LONG".....you need, like 3 viagras to get it done.  Might want to up your cardio, too.

 

[Judge Roybeanbag 11821]

4 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

 "we're gonna get freaky ALL NIGHT LONG"

[Wally Fairway 5586]

Hoping Moose has hunkered down, seeing reports of -40° in Fairbanks, and 75-100+ inches of snow recently in Juneau and Anchorage.

[Carl Spackler 3504]

11 minutes ago, Wally Fairway said:

Hoping Moose has hunkered down, seeing reports of -40° in Fairbanks, and 75-100+ inches of snow recently in Juneau and Anchorage.

Sounds like an average Alaska winter.

[mooseoutfront 3643]

7 hours ago, Wally Fairway said:

Hoping Moose has hunkered down, seeing reports of -40° in Fairbanks, and 75-100+ inches of snow recently in Juneau and Anchorage.

Winter finally showed up about 2 weeks ago.  Before that it had been the mildest winter we've ever experienced.  Less that 2 feet of snow total and it had only been below zero a handful of times.  Then the bottom dropped out.  Got to 63 below at the cabin last night.  It's been below -40 at the cabin for 11 straight days.  Supposed to start warming early next week.  The shitty thing is the Lights are usually spectacular when it's this cold, but we've had nothing in that regard during this stretch.  Burned more wood in the last couple of weeks than we had in the last couple of months combined.  We have noticeably more daylight now.  The sun will eventually win and spring isn't that far away.

Cheers Wally

[Scheiss Meister 8411]

I once heard that when it's springtime in Alaska, it's 40 below.  Doesn't sound like that much of a relief, but I've never experienced it, so...

Thanks for sharing your experiences with us, @mooseoutfront.

[Ten Bears 2483]

40 below Fahrenheit or Celsius?

 

[jeevsie 3740]

IYKYK

[shadow_operative2.0 16028]

On 3/19/2022 at 11:02 AM, mooseoutfront said:

The Iditarod rarely comes through my area. Every once in a while though due to trail conditions. Mushing is big up here. There are daily race updates on the radio. Mushers like Brent Sass and Jeff King are celebrities in Alaska. The Iditarod gets all the press, but the Yukon Quest is a much tougher race. 

Okay, I know jack-&-shit about this race, but I’m sorta, kinda following it this year. Two questions… 

When is it expected to end?

Is Seavey, Holmes, or other the current favorite? 

[shadow_operative2.0 16028]

Thanks, moose! Seavey won tonight despite a two-hour time penalty early in the race for killing, but not correctly gutting a moose (not the poster).  

https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/39719071/dallas-seavey-breaks-record-sixth-iditarod-victory

Edited March 13 by shadow_operative2.0

[mooseoutfront 3643]

On 3/10/2024 at 5:58 PM, shadow_operative2.0 said:

Okay, I know jack-&-shit about this race, but I’m sorta, kinda following it this year. Two questions… 

When is it expected to end?

Is Seavey, Holmes, or other the current favorite? 

 

5 minutes ago, shadow_operative2.0 said:

Thanks, moose! Seavey won tonight despite a two-hour time penalty early in the race for killing, but not correctly gutting a moose (not the poster).  

https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/39719071/dallas-seavey-breaks-record-sixth-iditarod-victory

Missed getting back to you in time but glad you saw how it ended

I haven’t heard the full story, but a moose got tangled up with Seavey’s dogs and he had to shoot the thing before it killed them all

Shit like that happens from time to time and there are very specific rules about the meat salvage, because the meat is going to someone out there  It is not wasted

I’ve said it up thread, moose will fuck you up

Most dangerous animal in the woods

 

 

[shadow_operative2.0 16028]

What's the real story here? 

Quote

Before the race even started, officials disqualified Eddie Burke Jr., the race's rookie of the year last year, as well as 2022 champion Brent Sass as allegations of violence against women embroiled the Iditarod. 

----

The committee also disqualified Sass without explanation, other than pointing to a rule governing personal and professional conduct, and race officials refused to discuss it during a media briefing ahead of the race. 

Sass said in a Facebook post he was "beyond disappointed" and that the "anonymous accusations" made against him were "completely false." No criminal cases against Sass appear in online Alaska court records. 

Edited March 13 by shadow_operative2.0

[mooseoutfront 3643]

The good news is Spring might be here next week. Special weather statement about a warming trend. They only do that when they think the ice and snow are going to start rotting

Gotta start being careful on the trails and especially the river and lake ice. 

[Braff Zacklin 13662]

3 minutes ago, mooseoutfront said:

I’ve said it up thread, moose will fuck you up

Most dangerous animal in the woods

I thought we had a lot of moose here in Idaho, and then I went to Alaska ...

[Gil Bang 26020]

I always thought that the squirrel was more dangerous.  Wearing them little goggles and shit.

[mooseoutfront 3643]

1 minute ago, shadow_operative2.0 said:

What's the real story here? 

Haven’t heard any scuttlebutt, at all  

Which is kinda weird

Alaskans don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story, no rumors is no bueno

But you know the deal concerning these types of allegations

[mooseoutfront 3643]

Nenana had Tripod Days last weekend. 
 

Tripod is set. Get your Ice Classic tickets before the ice breaks

[Hornius Emeritus 12488]

I've written about my niece on this thread. She lives with her husband near Galena, Alaska, which is a very small settlement on the Yukon river. Galena demands a lot of its residents. About seven months ago she sent me a few photos of her husband with a moose that he shot. She said it took about 8 hours for him to field dress it and that he didn't get home until 2:30 a.m., but "at least now we have food for the winter."









 

[UTCzech III 2907]

24 minutes ago, mooseoutfront said:

Nenana had Tripod Days last weekend. 
 

Tripod is set. Get your Ice Classic tickets before the ice breaks

Passed through there last summer, tripod was ready and waiting..

 

 

Edited March 13 by UTCzech III

[mooseoutfront 3643]

48 minutes ago, Hornius Emeritus said:

I've written about my niece on this thread. She lives with her husband near Galena, Alaska, which is a very small settlement on the Yukon river. Galena demands a lot of its residents. About seven months ago she sent me a few photos of her husband with a moose that he shot. She said it took about 8 hours for him to field dress it and that he didn't get home until 2:30 a.m., but "at least now we have food for the winter."









 

Nice bull. Moose hunting is always wet work

Cool 4 brow tine paddle…wide

46 to 48 inches?

Cutting it up alone in 8 hours is actually pretty quick work

That dog has a wonderful life

[mooseoutfront 3643]

44 minutes ago, UTCzech III said:

Passed through there last summer, tripod was ready and waiting..

 

 

Skeeter season!

Assuming you were heading to Fairbanks?

You drove right by the turn off to my place

[Hornius Emeritus 12488]

34 minutes ago, mooseoutfront said:

Nice bull. Moose hunting is always wet work

Cool 4 brow tine paddle…wide

46 to 48 inches?

Cutting it up alone in 8 hours is actually pretty quick work

That dog has a wonderful life

Oh, yeah .. the dog is loving life, no doubt. He's got a yard the size of Austin to play in.

[RPM 26354]

4 hours ago, mooseoutfront said:

Nenana had Tripod Days last weekend. 
 

Tripod is set. Get your Ice Classic tickets before the ice breaks

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that ain't a tripod.

[UTCzech III 2907]

9 hours ago, mooseoutfront said:

Skeeter season!

Assuming you were heading to Fairbanks?

You drove right by the turn off to my place

Yep, Fairbanks and North Pole.  I shoulda honked.  No shit about those skeeters too, jesus.

[Ten Bears 2483]

Quadpod?

[thunderlounge 7935]

5 hours ago, Ten Bears said:

Quadpod?

Octopod?

[Chewbacca 7785]

19 hours ago, mooseoutfront said:

 

I’ve said it up thread, moose will fuck you up

Most dangerous animal in the woods

 

 

We have quite a few moose out here and this is QFT.  

[DixonHur 11376]

1 hour ago, thunderlounge said:

Octopod?

Nonapod

[mooseoutfront 3643]

On 3/12/2024 at 11:47 PM, RPM said:

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that ain't a tripod.

Rural Alaskans are very aggy like in some ways

They hold traditions abnormally close

I’m sure the first tripod was actually a tripod

That’s just what they call it

[mooseoutfront 3643]

Snowmachine weather

The Alaska Range in the distance

[Wally Fairway 5586]

1 hour ago, mooseoutfront said:

Rural Alaskans are very aggy like in some ways

They hold traditions abnormally close

I’m sure the first tripod was actually a tripod

That’s just what they call it

50 inches of ice sounds like a lot, my guess would be that things isn't moving for several weeks later than last year.

Has it ever gone into June?

[mooseoutfront 3643]

12 hours ago, Wally Fairway said:

50 inches of ice sounds like a lot, my guess would be that things isn't moving for several weeks later than last year.

Has it ever gone into June?

https://www.nenanaakiceclassic.com/brochures

 

According to the link above the latest date the ice has gone out is May 20

[Judge Roybeanbag 11821]

31 years ago this week, my wife and I took our 2 week honeymoon in Alaska. This was a pic from when we drove a Toyota Corolla from Haines to Fairbanks.  Pretty sure that’s the Wrangells in the background.  It was a great trip.  Started in Seattle, h ferried from Ketchikan to Juneau, then Haines, drove to Fairbanks and took the train back to Anchorage.  
 

 

[Wally Fairway 5586]

On 3/17/2024 at 10:48 AM, mooseoutfront said:

https://www.nenanaakiceclassic.com/brochures

 

According to the link above the latest date the ice has gone out is May 20

 

On 3/12/2024 at 11:48 PM, UTCzech III said:

Passed through there last summer, tripod was ready and waiting..

 

 

 

 Done - thought I'd look to see how much I was left at the end of April, the answer is zero

[UTCzech III 2907]

40 minutes ago, Wally Fairway said:

 

 Done - thought I'd look to see how much I was left at the end of April, the answer is zero

Pretty interesting, I read up a little more on it and watched a couple of YT videos.  Every June a new tripod is built, so the one I saw last year was brand new.  In March, they take it apart, drag it out on the ice and put it back together.  It's made out of spruce logs (I thought it was metal...).  A cable is attached to the top of the tripod and runs to the tower on the bank.  It has a set of pulleys, so the cable is actually rather long, with a bucket at the end.  The tripod does not have to fall into the ice for the contest to end, the cable just has to be pulled far enough, around 100 yards, for the bucket to be pulled all the way to the top of the tower, that sets off a siren and stops two separate clocks keeping time.  The video below, the ice from upstream finally caught the cable and dragged it far enough to raise the bucket, well before the tripod ever finally went into the water.  Pretty cool.

 

[mooseoutfront 3643]

Weather has been beautiful here. Quite possibly the easiest Spring breakup we’ve gone through. Took a hike in Denali NP. Saw a first for me, a collared grizzly sow, a few caribou who were camera shy, and one of my favorite spots; the Savage River. 

[DixonHur 11376]

I haven't read all 17 pages...do you ever have bad run ins with brown bears?

What's been you're most harrowing experience with an animal in Alaska?

[mooseoutfront 3643]

3 hours ago, DixonHur said:

I haven't read all 17 pages...do you ever have bad run ins with brown bears?

What's been you're most harrowing experience with an animal in Alaska?

I'm almost positive I've told both of these stories in the thread so I'll summarize...

Never really had problems with any bears, black or grizzly.  I had one pretty close call with a grizzly when I was taking water samples out in the field for work.  Dude was standing on his back legs clicking his jaws at me from about 20 to 30 feet away.  Thought he was going to charge me but he didn't.  Butthole puckering distance for sure.

The other was when I was snow shoeing home one evening.  The wind drifted us in and I had to park about a mile or so from the cabin.  Forgot my headlamp at home that morning and forgot the pistol in the truck when I started home.  Couple of wolves followed me for a little while.  They were close.  I could hear them breathing and stepping through the snow.  Couldn't see them at all, it was a dark night.  They peeled off after a bit.  They could have had me if they wanted.

Predators really don't want anything to do with humans.  If you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone.  I've said this many times in this thread, moose are by far the most dangerous animals in the woods.

[DalTxHornFan 3117]

5 minutes ago, mooseoutfront said:

I'm almost positive I've told both of these stories in the thread so I'll summarize...

Never really had problems with any bears, black or grizzly.  I had one pretty close call with a grizzly when I was taking water samples out in the field for work.  Dude was standing on his back legs clicking his jaws at me from about 20 to 30 feet away.  Thought he was going to charge me but he didn't.  Butthole puckering distance for sure.

The other was when I was snow shoeing home one evening.  The wind drifted us in and I had to park about a mile or so from the cabin.  Forgot my headlamp at home that morning and forgot the pistol in the truck when I started home.  Couple of wolves followed me for a little while.  They were close.  I could hear them breathing and stepping through the snow.  Couldn't see them at all, it was a dark night.  They peeled off after a bit.  They could have had me if they wanted.

Predators really don't want anything to do with humans.  If you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone.  I've said this many times in this thread, moose are by far the most dangerous animals in the woods.

Perhaps the best thread on Surly.  Thanks.

[Ten Bears 2483]

It doesn't get any more serious than a Rhinocerus moose about to charge your ass.

[royiv 9355]

1 hour ago, mooseoutfront said:

I've said this many times in this thread, moose are by far the most dangerous animals in the woods.

This. I grew up doing a bunch of backwoods camping in the Canadian Rockies and Alaska. Bears never really bothered me. You take the necessary precautions and they pretty much leave you alone. Moose? I’m scare to death of them to this day. Fucking prehistoric looking animals that can maim or kill you before you know it.

[BabaYaga 15320]

On 5/10/2024 at 6:05 PM, royiv said:

This. I grew up doing a bunch of backwoods camping in the Canadian Rockies and Alaska. Bears never really bothered me. You take the necessary precautions and they pretty much leave you alone. Moose? I’m scare to death of them to this day. Fucking prehistoric looking animals that can maim or kill you before you know it.

Obviously growing up in Texas neither animal was in my purview much.  I used to love Les Stroud's alone in the wild shows (Survivorman).  The only time I saw him really lose his shit and be visibly scared was in deep brush with bull Moose around him and he couldn't see where they were and a jaguar that tracked him in S. America.  He said the same thing, that moose will stomp you into grade jelly with extreme prejudice.