Wolfs & Kayaks

[alaska teardrop]

Best not to try outrunning a wolf!

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/wildlife ... 3762c.html

And you kayakers, be safe.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/79 ... 1019c.html

Kristine and her family are close friends and I'm very glad to hear that she and her brother came away from their ordeal OK.

Fred

[Dean Williams]

Wolves are a definite problem here in ID. I'm afraid someone will be killed, and the way it's going, it doesn't seem that such a horrible thing is too far off.

Just a few weeks ago, in a campground only five miles from my house, a man had two of his dogs killed and devoured by wolves. His third dog fought with the wolves as the man retreated hollering for help.

Another man came running and they got to the wolves in time to save the third dog, which had been disemboweled. The wolves only retreated at the sight of two men, as they were coming after the first man until the second one showed up.

A vet was able to save the man's remaining dog. I have a picture of one of the unlucky ones. It's a gruesome sight.

The really scarey part, if it's not already bad enough, is there were children in that campground. Easy prey for these vicious predators.

Whomever the moron was that decided us Idaho folks needed wolves reintroduced needs to have a few in his own back yard. I've already had them in mine, just 40 ft from my house.

Sorry for the rant...just speaking my mind.

[alaska teardrop]

Dean, I guess we know where you stand on the wolf issue.

As for my kayak friends. I heard their story first hand at a gathering last night when they got home.

So briefly, for the kayakers....

Kristine & Joe were in the 4th day of a kayak/camp trip in Glacier Bay National Park.

They were traveling in a two person kayak down Muir Inlet close (too close) to the inlet into McBride Glacier. They were caught by the 18' incoming tide, swept up the channel between the ice and slammed under an overhanging shelf. Joe was thrown out and Kristine was wedged up-side-down in her seat between boat & berg.
Beat up, wet & cold she made it to a beach. Joe, paddles and kayak were separately spun violently by the eddys. He caught a small berg and then a larger. After two rotations around him, he was able to catch the boat and pump it out. Because of the currents, he was only able to reach the far shore across from Kristine. This all took about three hours. The chopper was not a resque craft, but a helicopter that just happen to be training in the area. It landed and offered them a ride. Kristine & Joe, being chagrined born in Alaska adventurers, hesitated, but took up the offer. Good thing, because they went into hypothermic shock on the way to the clinic!

So, there ya go kayakers - watch your tide tables.

Fred

[Miriam C.]

Fred,
I get Canoe and Kayak mag. so I can related to the pictures. Beautiful places that can be very dangerous when not paying attention to natures time table.

Still love the pictures.
Miriam

[Nitetimes]

Whomever the moron was that decided us Idaho folks needed wolves reintroduced needs to have a few in his own back yard.

Sorry for the rant...just speaking my mind.

Some idiot decided we needed them here in PA too, can't for the life of me understand why. They've already been spotted by people, which puts them much closer to populated areas than is comfortable. I guess it's the same fool that thought it was a good idea to bring coyotes back, we've already got them in our backyards.

[Dean Williams]

Fred, I'm glad your kayaking friends are OK. Sounds like a scary ordeal.

[alaska teardrop]

Fred,
I get Canoe and Kayak mag. so I can related to the pictures. Beautiful places that can be very dangerous when not paying attention to natures time table.

Still love the pictures.
Miriam

Miriam, I'll attest to that! More adventures - More Pics

Rich, You're just an Alaskan that hasn't arrived yet! Go North young man, go North.

Thanks Dean, Ya step into the wilderness and take a risk. That's what it's all about on the 'Last Frontier'. Makes for good stories too.

Fred