Life in Alaska

[Nanuq]

Tennyson used the phrase "Nature, red in tooth and claw."

I'm just back from a long walk up the mountain with my dogs. I brought the 12ga. this trip because there's a LOT of bears around.

Going up the mountain I saw two wolves come out of the trees 300 yards away, and angle off across a clearing back into the woods. We kept going, and I stopped to check some bear tracks. I stood up and one of my dogs was halfway to where I'd seen the wolves; the other dog was out of sight.

I shouted and whistled, and heard nothing, then off in the trees I heard her screaming and yelping.

I racked a round and ran off into the woods to find her. I heard a lot of snarling and her screaming but it was moving. So I kept running trying to head off the movement. I whistled a few times and stopped on a trail I crossed to listen. She had gone quiet and I figured it was over for her.

Suddenly I heard noise and whipped around, and it was her running to me. She was exhausted and trembling, but no blood. Off in the trees maybe 80-100 yards away the wolves set up a chorus of yipping, and that deep howl that they do.

I kept the 12ga. level and we hiked out, arriving home 45 min ago. Now she's sleeping beside me on the floor.

I better change her name to Lucky.

[cc33]

I hope she's ok, sounds like she is. What a story, I can't imagine what would have happened if she hasn't been there with you.. Might have saved you from a good fight yourself! Give her an extra big hug when she gets up.

[B3nj4min3]

Wow! I'm terrified simply having read your post let alone experiencing it. Very impressive handling of the situation there. I guess that's partially why all the wolves here in Scotland were wiped out in the late 1600's. Makes the mountain walks a little less treacherous.

Safe hiking my friend and hope your dog is okay.

[Nanuq]

Thanks Benjamin, yeah she survived just fine. She sticks a little closer now when we go up the mountain.

I've had a couple bears around recently and she really snarls at them. It's different because bears just tear stuff up, they don't hunt you. She sure tells them to stay away when we go out! Brave girl.

[vootzilla]

Wow... Hope she's ok.

[chronoluvvv]

hey big guy, have the icecaps melted around you yet ? it's searingly hot down here these days

[Jkay]

Maybe I have not had enough coffee yet today, but didn't this story start with two dogs, and end with one dog? That's minus one dog.

[Nanuq]

Not to worry, the other one's already been there and done that... he's smart enough to stick close in the woods so I don't need to even think about what he's doing when the chips are down.  And he's pretty sure he's the one that bagged this big boy.

 

 

 

[B3nj4min3]

Oh my goodness! Now that's what I call a rug! 

 

And I love the "growl" pose he has on, he's saying 

[Nanuq]

Yeah and it's the biggest wolf I've ever seen.  I had it on the floor and the fricken dog chewed some of its claws off so I hung it on the wall. 

 

I had to hang it diagonal, it was too long to fit otherwise. 

 

 

[B3nj4min3]

It's a good look 

 

With those four acoustic guitars there we could really get some fine music going.....and by the looks of it the wolf won't be doing any howling 

[Nanuq]

I wonder how long it will be until some guitar nerd sees those and has a stroke?  There's some extremely rare firewood hanging there. 

[Rolexman]

Great story!... Glad the little lady is fine.

[Nanuq]

Tonight I'm sitting out on my deck with a fine wine and a fine watch reading a fine book. She's been sleeping at my feet, now she's popped her head up looking out into the woods. She's starting to growl a little. I've been looking and looking, and just now I heard it... heavy footsteps, brush moving and twigs cracking. I'm about to have a visitor.

I'll snap a photo if someone fuzzy pops out of the woods. Until then....

[B3nj4min3]

Quite a surreal experience, almost idyllic....except for the potential fuzzy visitor.

Nothing quite like enjoying a good book in a tranquil setting.

[Nanuq]

Midnight, July 23rd

[Deckard1979]

Damn! That sky looks so clear

 

Beautiful shots Nanuq

[B3nj4min3]

Wow! Absolutely stunning landscape! The red and blue of the night sky works really well with the red and blue of the GMT :-)

[Nanuq]

"A work of art is a joy forever for a winter"

 

Got the firewood stacked, bring on the Long Dark! 

 

 

[dbutlerman]

There be a lot of wood!  Dang!  Does that last the full winter?

[Nanuq]

Yep, that's a little more than one winter's worth.  2.6 cords of good birch for the house and camping.

 

The tough part is going out to the pile to fetch it when it's pitch black, the snow is waist deep, and the wind's blowing hard.  I usually keep 2 day's worth stocked in the garage and let it melt the ice off, then rotate it inside to burn.

[Nanuq]

Well we've got a bit of a breeze blowing outside now, up to 106mph and rising.

[basketbob951]

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[Nanuq]

You're welcome to join me!  I took the dogs out for their morning ritual and they didn't appreciate it much.  I thought it was funny as heck!

[basketbob951]

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