Kathleen's (aka- Aksheephuntress) Sheep Hunt, ALASKA


buckee

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That's a disaster! I hope they find something salvageable that was dropped. But I realize the chances are slim.

What a sour way to start. Attitude helps you keep it together on a trip like this. Kathleen and Terry have that going for them.

I pray they have no more setbacks.

On the bright side if the river floods and becomes impassable at least they won't have to pack the raft and a sheep out.

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Good News UPDATE: Sunday Aug 10

Bad News Update Folks Aug09 at 6:00 PM

One of the biggest hazards of this hunt, has happened. They made it to their dropped supplies OK, but a bear (or the bears), got to it first. :( Everything was destroyed, and they can't even find the raft. :(

If by chance they find it, Kathleen said she will try to call me back, but not to worry if she doesn't. She will call tomorrow.

Now the biggest problem with this problem is of course the raft. It was their easier transport out, especially in the case that she is successful getting her sheep. They packed in enough food to last them OK, but now...NO Raft.:rolleyes:

They also can't get another equipment drop made, because the area is now closed to all air-traffic. It's going to be a long pack out. :eek::(

Yesterdays update sounded pretty bleak, but Kathleen called me this morning shortly after 11:00am, with much better news.:)

It took them 5 hours, after talking with me yesterday, but amazingly enough, they found the raft, intact and hidden well in another tree. It is so thick in there, that it was very hard to see it.

Also, much of the grub, that they thought was gone, was found mostly intact, but scattered everywhere by a small Griz.

Kathleen was amazed it hadn't all been ripped open and eaten, as bears usually do, but they were able to salvage much of it, in spite of the bear/bears.:)

She asked me to especially thank you for your prayers, because God was obviously listening. :) All is well.

When they woke this morning, there was a big cow moose, a few hundred yards from them, and coyote tracks everywhere. They are not alone ..LOL;)

There were two other hunters camped just across the river from them, and they will be hunting the other side of the River. Kathleen and Terry, spotted some sheep up above the other hunters, on their side of the river, but haven't seen anything on their own side yet.

This afternoon, they will hike up a for a couple of hours, to check out a saddle, between two mountain peaks in hopes of seeing some sheep there, so we can only hope for the best there.

She also mentioned, that Griz is open there today too, and she hadn't considered taking one, until they found their cash scattered all over the place yesterday. Now, she says, "If I see a griz, it's mine...LOL" :D

Note: Kathleen also said that on their way out, when the time comes, they will have to remember that there is a big drop in the river (a few hundred yards) with a waterfall, that they will have to get around. They hadn't know about that before the trip.

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They are truly blessed to find anything intact after bears went through it.

I'm glad they noticed the falls on the way in. That would be a nasty situation to venture into blindly. I suspect they'll stop when they think they are close, scout ahead and confirm exactly where it is. Then get as close as they can and portage around. That's what I would do. But they may figure a better solution.

The saddle area is a good bet. With patience glassing an area like that they have a good chance for success. A good saddle may funnel several herds. With luck, the first herd might hold a shooter ram.

More prayers sent.

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Sherm,

If you think about it next time, get some updated lat. and longs.

I'd like to look up where they are on Google Earth. :cool:

Their food and raft stash were at 63 degrees N 38.27 minutes, 145 degrees W 18.00 minutes

I tried looking it up, but I guess I was typing everything in wrong.:rolleyes: I'm pretty sure I know where they are on the map, but if you can make sense out of those co ordinance, let me know.

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