Paul put in for a caribou permit this year for up around Denali. We went with some friends on the 10th of September. We left home early Monday morning and met up with the Yeckleys in Eagle River that afternoon. From Eagle River, we headed up toward Cantwell about 4 pm. We went 30 miles down the Denali Highway from Cantwell.
The mountains and scenery was beautiful on the trip up.
We got to camp about 8:30 at night. It was getting dark, so we hurried and set up what we absolutely needed for the night, roasted some hot dogs, and turned in for the night. It’s a good thing Paul and I bought some new sleeping bags that go down to −10 F with our wedding money, because it was 18 F when we woke up the next morning. The ground was covered with frost. It was warm in the bag, but I really, really, really did not want to get out of it. However, eventually I had to go visit the bushed and was forced to get out of bed.
The next day, Debbie and I fixed up camp a little and arranged it to be there for the next few days.
After fixing up camp, we went exploring a bit. We walked down to the stream that was close by. On the way, we ran across a bunch of blueberry bushes that were covered with berries. They were extremely ripe and would squish as you were picking them. They tasted delicious.
We didn’t get to enjoy the camp we’d fixed up for long, because Paul shot a caribou in the first two hours of the hunt. He got a cow that was about 180 lbs.
While the boys put away the caribou, Debbie and I headed out for a ride.
It was fun to cook over an open fire. We ate tin foil dinners and roasted hot dogs. I had forgotten how good tinfoil dinners can be. Besides hamburger, we put in summer squash, zucchini, red pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, and onion. It was really tasty.
The next morning it was warmer. It was about 38 F. We had a slow morning and cooked a lot more hotdogs. Then we packed up and headed to Eagle River. The Yeckley’s helped up butcher the caribou at their house Wednesday night and Thursday day.
I was proud of myself. I hate the feel of raw meat, but I stuck my hands in it anyways and got them all slimy and bloody. It was really gross!!!
However, I am really grateful for the help. If it had been just Paul and I it would have taken quite a few days to get it done. especially considering I had no idea what I was doing.
