Amazing British adventurer / Busted in Russia...

[alaska teardrop]

Sometimes we get some amazing travelers passing through!

www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7 ... 08,00.html

These two just made a wild crossing of the Bering Straight to Russia.

Fred

[doug hodder]

Fred....kinda reminds me of a practical joke we pulled on a group in a camp next to us in Atkasuk, they were doing tundra research....it's a little no where, unknown, extinct village about 75 mi. South of Barrow....we had our camp, they had theirs, our senior surveyor was Eskimo...we took a helicopter from our camp, and dropped him about 2 miles west of theirs...he had a walkie talkie in his jacket...had nothing on him at all, food etc....and in our camp we watched through the surveying instruments and had the receiver end of his walkie talkie...he walked into their camp...told them some story about walking from Nome to Barrow....they flipped out....and bought it...we also operated 24 Hrs...so used to buzz their camp at about 10' and moon them regularly...gosh...I can't imagine why they didn't like us....but what a good time in the wilds of Alaska.... Doug

[alaska teardrop]

Fred....kinda reminds me of a practical joke we pulled on a group in a camp next to us in Atkasuk, they were doing tundra research....it's a little no where, unknown, extinct village about 75 mi. South of Barrow....we had our camp, they had theirs, our senior surveyor was Eskimo...we took a helicopter from our camp, and dropped him about 2 miles west of theirs...he had a walkie talkie in his jacket...had nothing on him at all, food etc....and in our camp we watched through the surveying instruments and had the receiver end of his walkie talkie...he walked into their camp...told them some story about walking from Nome to Barrow....they flipped out....and bought it...we also operated 24 Hrs...so used to buzz their camp at about 10' and moon them regularly...gosh...I can't imagine why they didn't like us....but what a good time in the wilds of Alaska.... Doug

Doug - Atqasuk, Seems there's a few more folks around town these days. Best keep your butt in the helicopter! They'll think that you're some crazy goose that flew up from California for dinner!

www.city-data.com/city/Atqasuk-Alaska.html

Fred

[doug hodder]

Originally, it was a combination hunting camp and a starting point for a cat train to haul coal to Barrow, probably 5000 55 gal drums from fuel laying about......at least I think that is what they were hauling...wow, what a difference 30 years makes.... at the time that was way remote...I had to talk on the radio to Anch. to get the info on how to tune the carb on an old Cushman Traxter that we were using....wonder if the old quonsets we were living in were there...they are probably the city hall now....right on the Meade River.... Doug

[doug hodder]

PS Fred....Vietnam vets make the best helicopter pilots....we couldn't have done any of the work, stunts that we did without them, you sure stirred up some fun times for me.... PM me for an interesting, albeit non PC story about visiting Will Rogers crash site that you brought up earlier on another thread....I thought it was funny, but I'm a sick individual.... doug

[alaska teardrop]

Originally, it was a combination hunting camp... wow, what a difference 30 years makes.... at the time that was way remote... ..right on the Meade River.... Doug

Doug - Since then, ANILCA (Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act-1980) and North Slope oil wealth have made it possible for some people to return to traditional sites. Still very much a subsistance lifestyle. That's why I would worry about your flying over a group of hungry goose hunters with your fancy drawers pulled down!

I've spent a fair amount traveling through and fishing in the ice pack in boats (those helicopter pilots, weather providing, sometimes also helped to find the leads). It's very intense with the currents/wind et.al. However, this story impresses me, because they walked on the ice dragging their gear on sleds, swam and floated the gear in the freezing leads between crushing ice bergs and managed to climb up on the next flow!

PM me for an interesting, albeit non PC story...but I'm a sick individual

Doug, although, I am extremely Politically Correct, I shall be interested in your sick humor and PM you right away.

Fred

[Classic Finn]

Ok Fred - cmon and get us were comin over too... from the russian side ok.... comin to look at your teardrops...


You,ll see our blue redbird with the finnish flag - that be us...

Classic Finn

[alaska teardrop]

Hey Finn - When you get to Wales, just keep paddling South to the Yukon. Then up the Tanana and Chena. I'll be waiting at Pikes Landing for you to plant your flag. I'll buy and fire up the sauna! Buy the time you reach the Yukon the ice should be out.

Fred

[Guest]

They'll think that you're some crazy goose that flew up from California for dinner!

[alaska teardrop]

Dean - Looks like you may have a vacation on your mind.

Wish we could see up your sleeve!

Fred

[alaska teardrop]

Busted...

www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1747143,00.html

[alaska teardrop]

Well, he's back on his way home.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/engl ... 975988.stm

And now another passing through in the other direction.

http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,141 ... 72,00.html

[madjack]

ya know, I was wondering what it was about Alaska and crazy people..and then I realized that if you are going from here to there ya just gotta go thru Alaska...
madjack

[alaska teardrop]

Yup, Madjack. We have our share.

Including one trying to make a living building teardrops on the edge of civilazation!