[Trak Ratt]

Ok, later August 2012; we flew into Fairbanks, paned for gold, dusk ATV tour of Denali featuring finding a still steaming pile of bear scat, Guy got killed and mostly eaten by a brown the day after we left. Ended up probably being one of three we'd had breakfast with on our last day in Denali. But none of us could connect a face to name when we heard the announcement. Got stalked by a bull moose while on a self-guided walking glacier tour. If you don’t know they are get very aggressive that time a year. Move slowly from mostly clear area and to tree thicket. Horseback riding in Kenai, narrow gage train through White Pass to the Klondike and several whitewater rafting trips spread out over 10 days. On one (Denali) our guide wrenched his shoulder when the raft's ore kicked back off a tree snag so I got a chance to "pilot" the raft through a couple of sets of rapids and into the pickup point.

Indian maiden was actually pretty enthusiastic, and while not a wolf the guide said his dog was very experienced... Actually, the dog liked to range a head, kind of an early warning system, and guide encouraged "chatter" as we rode for same reason Light drizzle that day kept bugs down and made the forest quiet beyond description. Drop offs on side of some trails provide amassing views!!!

I had an older .357 6" Dan Wesson (exposed barrel nut) in a cross draw, and a SWEET older 45/70 Winchester that I’ve lusting after ever since. Lever action long gun was stored in a traditional front mounted saddle scabbard. L was concerned about follow-up shots, so choose a very ancient 4" barred .38 Special S&W wheel gun in a traditional western(ish) rig, stoked with silver tips (there was a qual session behind the horse barn. Her groups were tighter but then the DW spit .357+Ps L originally wanted a saddle rig for the SW. But our guide pointed out that the horses would likely bolt for the barn at the first sniff of predator. So having it on your hip, while laying on your back, watching your horse retreat made a LOT more sense than watching it disappear through the trees on your saddle.

Drover slickers may have made getting to anything inside a challenge but did keep us reasonably dry. Kicking back in front of a wood stove at the end of the trail waiting for my 1st, of several toddies…. Priceless!!!111!!!oneeleven.

I have to admit that 4 wheeling through the old forestry areas outside of Skagway was really more in my wheel house than trying to project my will on 1600 lbs. of dog food with a mind of its own. All in all good times, even with the claw marks on the outside door of our room at the Copper River Lodge. The tour bus breaking down next to the family of browns hunting a moose café was interesting…

Oh, and we did get to see a huge calving of the Columbian Glacier on one of our last days! How big??? The ~60’ boat we were on needed to turn toward the glacier to ride out the wake.

BTW, ice from Glaciers is crystal clear, any color it has is reflected light or pollution. The crew proved this buy scooping a good sized chuck out of the bay to show everyone.