Category Archives: Journal Entry

Going outside, driving the Alaska Highway in winter

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snowy road

Icy, snowy conditions along the Alaska Highway

Thursday, December 17, 1981—finished fixing the truck, shopped and went to Nelchina, unloaded supplies, then to Tazlina and unloaded more. Lost a hundred pound propane tank. Stopped to ask Blake to feed the dogs and pack for the trip to Minnesota. Friday, December 18, 1981—picked Darrel up and started out at 12:30 a.m. Arrived at Hanes Junction late in the morning. Whitehorse, we had supper, Watson Lake, we got there at midnight. The roads are snow covered and ice under the snow.

Saturday, December 19, 1981—we arrived at Dawson Creek at 6:30 p.m. and ate supper. The roads are very bad. Darrel took turns driving my pickup. Sylvia sits in between us. It’s not comfortable sitting in the middle, this truck has a gear shift, it’s not automatic—but she’s not complaining.

Sunday, December 20, 1981—at 6:00 a.m. in Edmonton, the roads are very bad and it’s blowing snow. It’s tiring to drive.

Monday, December 21, 1981—we got to Saskatoon at noon. The roads are still bad and blowing snow. We kept on going and ate supper in Winnipeg.

Tuesday, December 22, 1981—Arrived in Fargo at 5:00 a.m., dropped Daryl off at the bus station where he met a friend to drive him to South Dakota. We went on to Motley and then to Cushing and stopped at the real estate agent, then to Little Falls to sign the sale papers for the west 80, then to Minneapolis to Darrell and Nadia’s. The kids came over to visit us. I slept a lot, trying to catch up.

Thursday, December 24, 1981—here at Nadia’s, lots of visitors. Visited Kevin’s relatives in the evening.

Friday, December 25, 1981—nice Christmas day with the kids and friends.

Saturday, December 26, 1981—it was snowing, we went out shopping and then we went out again for supper.

Sunday, December 27, 1981—went over to Beverly’s for supper and a movie.

Monday, December 28, 1981—went to the farm and visited some people and got some things that we had in storage over at the chicken house on the east farm. Got back to Nadia’s late.

Tuesday, December 29, 1981—did some shopping and visited Beverly, Kevin and Vanessa.

Wednesday, December 30, 1981—we did more shopping and played with Vanessa and it’s snowing and warm. We have plans to go to Theresa’s for supper this evening. Had Minnesota venison for supper and a good time.

Thursday, December 31, 1981—had goose for dinner and a nice visit all day. Went to Paul and Ruth’s in the evening.

Friday, January 1, 1982—visited with Paul, Ruth and Steve all day and had a good time.

Saturday, January 2, 1982—went to Nadia’s. Darrell helped me get loaded and ready for the trip back to Alaska. We left there and went to the farm, and then from the farm, we drove to Fargo, North Dakota. The roads were snowy and icy. We got there at 9:30 p.m. and waited for Darrel to arrive. Soon, Darrel, Larry and Doug arrived at 12:30 a.m. We all visited for a while and then we left for Alaska.

Sunday, January 3, 1982—still traveling. Roads are better though, but it’s cold. It was -40° . More of the same, shopped in Fort Nelson—more cold.

Monday, January 4, 1982—when I we got to Watson Lake today, it was -56°. No one was shutting off their vehicles if they expected to drive them. Our truck is stiff, mechanically. For instance, the brake and the clutch feel strange when you use them. The doors on the truck have shrunk up and they rattle. The cold air blows in; the heater barely keeps it so we can stay in it.

Tuesday, January 5, 1982—blowing snow and icy roads and very cold. We had a detour from Jake’s, Corner to Carcross and then to White Horse. We did a little shopping and then had ice fog and snow and high winds and more cold all the way to the border. A distance before the border, in the night, Darrel was driving and I saw vehicle tracks that appeared to me that they went over in the other lane of the highway and gone off into the ditch. So I asked Darrel to turn around and go back so we could look to see if there was somebody in the ditch. We got back to this place and I got out and walked around and I had a flashlight. I could see where this vehicle had left its lane and left the highway, over the end of a culvert and into the ditch, over on its top and gear and cans of fuel and lots of stuff was lying around in the snow. The vehicle was destroyed; it’s a brand new Ford ¾ ton pickup. I walked the perimeter looking for tracks of anyone who might have been stunned and walked or maybe wandered out on the snow and brush—I found no tracks out there. We hadn’t seen a vehicle in hours. Those folks must have been really lucky that someone came along and picked them up—of course we’ll never know what happened to them.

Wednesday, January 6, 1982—we arrived home about 7:00 a.m. and rested all day. The temperatures here at home are running -40° to -55°.

Thursday, January 7, 1982—got up late and it’s still -55°.

Friday, January 8, 1982—unloaded part of the pickup, visited Jackie—Blake wasn’t home. Had supper with Bob and Margaret Schmidt.

Saturday, January 9, 1982—went to Glennallen grocery shopping. Mike P. and Ken K. stopped in and brought Judy back and told us of a dead moose along the highway east of us. We called it in to fish and game and they came out and looked at it and said I could have it for dog food. Henry pulled it home with his wrecker. That really worked well. He could winch it out to the road, and pulled it right down the highway into the lodge parking lot. When I butchered this moose, I found it was pregnant.

Monday, January 11, 1982—put a handle in an ax and visited with Sam.

Tuesday, January 12, 1982—cut quarters off moose with an ax. Dan Billman stopped by and we had a visit.

Wednesday, January 13, 1982—pulled two quarters of the moose to a place where I would be cooking it for the dogs. Lee Dudley and Darrel G. came to the lodge and we played cards and dice games and visited. We have a game called Ship Captain & Crew….We all like to play that.

Claiming land and Norman walks 3 hours in the dark to cabin

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Iron traps

Common traps

Sunday, November 29, 1981—we flew into Old Boot Lake and got camp set up. We’re planning on staking and claiming some land in what the state has called Green Acres.

Friday, December 4, 1981—I got up early, had breakfast and gathered supplies, went to Tazlina and went to John’s place. Loaded the snowmobile and drove the machine back to Eleven-Mile Trail and then went 4 miles to the upper lake above Old Boot Lake. We have a tent camp there on Old Boot Lake. The snow was really deep and when I would come down the hills the snow would flow about six feet ahead of the machine. I’m going downhill that way and it flows out and along the sides. My heart in my throat, I’m hoping that I don’t get stuck. When I get there, Daryl and his dog, Rufus are doing okay. He had been flown in to the cabin site with this tent that is a military—army tent. It’s designed for winter camping.

Saturday, December 5, 1981—the days are really short, so we got what we would call a late start and it’s really cold. We got some compass bearings and paced off some land and shoreline. We did see over a hundred caribou yesterday, their tracks are all over. Saw two moose cows with calves and two fox track. When we get up on the higher places of these properties, there are some nice views.

Sunday, December 6, 1981—it was a nice day, but pretty cold. Cut firewood. We’ve got 720 feet of land boundary measured. We’ve got a hundred foot steel tape that we used. Then we took some time and looked at building sites. Building sites must be a hundred feet set back from the shoreline of the lake. Saw a few rabbit tracks and a place where ptarmigan or a spruce hen had dived in the snow to sleep—it’s pretty warm under the snow. We sure liked the nice views from around here. Darrel isn’t feeling very well.

Monday, December 7, 1981—I’m sick and what we picked up, we don’t know, but I snowmobile out—woke up sick in the night, didn’t get much sleep. Both the carburetor and steering froze up on the snow machine. Finally got it going. I had a big heavy screwdriver on the snow machine and a hatchet and I would hammer on that screwdriver handle and chip the ice out so I could get the steering so it would move. I got to Jan’s about noon. Then went home and later went to the land office in Glennallen, and then shopped for groceries. After that I went to Mike’s with a message from Henry.

Tuesday, December 8, 1981—I’m still sick.

Wednesday, December 9, 1981—I slept late. It’s a nice warm day but I don’t feel good this morning. I decide to go back in and I’m pulling the sled. Broke more trails and set six traps. Got a red fox thawed out, skinned and stretched him. He had two porcupine quills in him—so they meet porcupines and get a quill once in a while. Got things ready for the trip out, saw two moose, had a camp robber and a rabbit in the traps. An owl ate the rabbit. I made one fox set, caribou had been moving around.

Thursday, December 10, 1981—we do some more measuring on Old Boot and also across the middle lake and land dividing it from Upper Lake and another part of that lake. This is the area that Darrel has chosen. We’re expecting a plane so we snowmobiled an airstrip on the lake. Made four, square posts with the chain saw to mark our post corners with.

Friday, December 11, 1981—chipped the ice out of the steering on the snowmobile again this morning. Took two stakes with us to Darrel’s 40. Rufus has died. He had some kind of kidney problem and Darrel wanted Rufus over on his 40. We put in the stakes and chopped two lines and flagged them. Then we went to my 40 acres and staked and flagged one line and measured my lakeshore. It was getting close to dark so we get in stove wood for the night.

Saturday, December 12, 1981—we looked at what would make a building site and evaluated the lines of the sides of the 40 and then packed up to leave. Chris came in on our landing strip to fly Darrel out just before dark. I went out with the snowmobile pulling an empty sled. Then we celebrated at Nelchina.

Monday, December 14, 1981—we unpacked the Green Acres gear and packed to go out to the traplines.

Tuesday, December 15, 1981—I had a tough time getting in to the cabin. The trail was not good all the way to Blue Lake. I lost the trail entirely— deep snow. I knew where Blue Lake was and I was trying to get there and I came up over a small ridge. Just as I got to the top, there was no place to go but a bunch of alders. I got stuck in them and then the darned Ski-Doo wouldn’t start. I tried to cut some of the alders out from under the machine so I could get going but the machine just would NOT start. There was nothing to do. It was right at dark, so I started walking towards the cabin. It’s probably two miles to the cabin from where I’m stuck. The bunny boots sure got heavy! Soon it’s dark, but there were stars shining. They gave enough light so I could follow the trail—especially when you know it. When I get here, the cabin is in fine shape. I had wood split and ready to build fire. I get a fire going. It’s been dark for some time, walking on the trail. I got here three hours after dark. Saw a caribou, moose cow and a calf and three ptarmigans today.

Wednesday, December 16, 1981—I got up early, had breakfast, walked back to the snowmobile and got it un-stuck and off of the brush. It started then and I went back to the cabin and ran some of the trapline. Got a nice marten. Then I got lost from the trail and came out by the highway by way of Old Man Lake.

Sylvia returns, Norman insulates the remote cabin

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a pile of firewood

Plenty of firewood

Sunday, November 1, 1981—Sylvia called. It’s been a while since we talked over the phone.

Monday, November 2, 1981—Sylvia called to give me her plane arrival time.

Tuesday, November 3, 1981—went to Anchorage to pick up Sylvia. James went along and Jeff stopped at the lodge to visit.

Wednesday, November 4, 1981—we got some shopping done before we went out to Nelchina. The road was slippery all the way home.

Friday, November 6, 1981—cut up stove wood, built two dog houses, Rusty and I took the pickup to the wood lot and got one load. It’s a nice day this morning, -5°.

Saturday, November 7, 1981—cut and hauled a load of wood, split and stacked it, some other chores too. Of course, I’ve got the dogs to take care of every day. Went to Tolsona Lodge for the Polack party. They Monday,

November 16, 1981—it was -25°. Got up early and loaded the gear and the snowmobile on the truck and drove to the Eleven-Mile Trail on the Lake Louise Road. Jackie and Ken came twice and Jackie drove their truck back to her home.

We unloaded my truck and trailer at Jan’s on Lake Louise Road. Ken and I then drove the snow machines and sleds to the end of the seismic trail, which was about six miles. Then we broke out our own trail to my cabin. We hung up a few times, especially on one steep hill. It was a heck of a time to get up to the top of that. It was getting towards dark and I felt the pressure of finding the cabin. I go in the general direction that I think the cabin is. Ken was breaking trail for me and I was pulling a real heavy load on my sled behind the machine. We broke out into a more open place and I recognized it and knew exactly where the cabin was. I tried to holler at Ken to catch his attention. He got to be about a hundred yards away from me before he stopped and I waved him over and pointed towards where the cabin would be and he started breaking trail in that direction. We got there just as it was getting dark.

Sure glad to have plenty of wood split an the cabin up. We were so grateful to have hot water to make coffee, get warm and I had Chili to thaw out so we could have something to eat. We were very hungry. We ate the first batch of chili. I could tell Ken was really hungry yet and I could use some more. The next package of chili filled us up. He thought it was a really nice cabin. The evening temperature was running -12° to -15°. Did a few things in the cabin and built a trap carrier for the snow machine. Today was a pretty day and it also had kind of a rainbow in the sky. Very unusual.

Tuesday, November 17, 1981—it was -10°. After breakfast, we got ready and I went with Ken halfway to the end of the seismic trail to make sure he got headed out on the trail with no problems. We said our good-byes and he went out to the road. His wife was to pick him up and take him home. I headed back to the cabin. When I got to the upper end of Blue Lake, I set two marten traps and I got a ptarmigan for supper.

Wednesday, November 18, 1981—Rested all day.

Thursday, November 19, 1981—it was -18° when I woke up and it was cloudy with some ice fog. I found I was really stiff and sore today. I got a slow start. I got out on the trapline and made an otter set and some fox and marten sets south and west of Blue Lake. Saw a few ptarmigan tracks and rabbit tracks but no spruce hens. Nothing much near here, only moose and caribou tracks and some marten and fox. Went hunting for bait, didn’t get anything. Ice fog setting in this evening and it’s -15° tonight. I could see the seismic trail from a high hill west of Blue Lake. I must tell Ken that would make a landmark to follow. Not enough snow for good snowmobiling, it’s really rough.

Friday, November 20, 1981—it was -20°. Slept late, need the rest. Lots of frost in the snowmobile gas, I suppose because of the foggy nights. Broke another trap trail to the north, then east, then south, then back home. Set four marten and otter. No fox bait with me. Saw fox and marten tracks and some caribou, otter and moose. Saw a beautiful small lake today. It was really nice out there. It’s -15° at dark. Fixed supper, read and rested. The Coleman lantern lights the cabin in the evening and I cook on the airtight stove. (A type of wood burning stove.) It’s a medium sized airtight. It’s a really nice stove for a remote cabin like this. I’ve got a big firewood pile that I put up last spring just before snow left. I’ll do that again this coming spring so that I’ll have dry wood to use through the winter.

Saturday, November 21, 1981—it got warmer. I made a short trail. There are no fresh tracks of any kind, so I put up insulation in the ceiling of the cabin. It only took 2 ½ hours, but it sure made a difference in the wood it takes to keep the cabin warm. I sharpened my knives here at the cabin too. It’s -10° this evening.

Sunday, November 22, 1981—it was -10° in the morning and 0° at noon. Very bright and sunny, no wind. Measured the ice on the cabin lake. It’s 13 inches with 4 inches of snow on top. I made two sets on the ridge back of the cabin. No new game or fur tracks anywhere. It was really nice all day, but it looks like snow clouds 20-30 miles to the north by east, I can see some really nice peaks from in the higher ridges. This country right through here has little high places. When you get up on them, it’s about 2700 elevation and often times, you get a real nice view. It helps keep track of where you are in the country too, once you learn what it looks like. The cabin stays lots warmer now and heats with less wood since I insulated the ceiling. It’s -10° this evening.

Monday, November 23, 1981—it’s 5° above zero with a light dust of snow falling overnight. It was 8° at noon. I ran both lines today—no fur. Did see a cow and calf moose though. It seems to be much warmer. There is a lot of overflow and water that comes up through the ice and soaks the snow. Plan to go out to the road tomorrow.

 

Finding a grizzly kill and choosing remote cabin site at Old Boot Lake

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trees with snow

Stand of trees near Nelchina

Wednesday, September 16, 1981—Darrel and I are going out with the swamp buggy. We got the gear packed, but didn’t get started until late. We got about a half mile off the road and stopped for the night.

Thursday, September 17, 1981—the next morning we were up early and we drove the seismic trails on our way to Ranger lake and we were climbing a small knob with the “mean machine” (also known as the swamp buggy) and as we got up to the top, the brush is all torn up and piled. We realize that this is where a grizzly has made a kill. We aren’t too worried in the machine we’re in. We looked the place over and there was part of a yearling moose that still hadn’t been eaten. Later we saw a pretty darned nice, bull moose swim the lake just south of Ranger Lake. We walked around Ranger Lake and were not overly impressed. We’re looking for land to claim in this “Green Acres” that the state is putting up for people to claim for cabins and land of their own. We did see ducks, two swans and a flock of large geese fly over. This was before I knew that the geese nested and raised young in this part of Alaska. Quite a few geese were nesting in this area.

Friday, September 18, 1981—cloudy early then the sun tried to shine. Got a late start, ran seismic trails looking for a way to Old Boot Lake. Generator quit. Camped for the night at a starting place to walk to Old Boot Lake in the morning. Raining, tent got wet, slept in swamp buggy.

Saturday, September 19, 1981—got up early ate breakfast but got a late start. Saw wolf, caribou and moose tracks and sign. Walked right to Old Boot Lake across country from another seismic trail. It’s a very nice lake. Looked it over and also stopped at other small lakes. Quite windy all day. Got back to camp close to dark. Darrel and I each found 40 acres that we would like to get from the state in this “Green Acres”. They happen to be side by side. He has one along one lake and I have one on Old Boot Lake itself. I chose Old Boot Lake and Darrel chose the lake right next to Old Boot Lake. Later he named it “Satiety”.

Shooting at Tazlina, hunting boo and moose at the trap cabin

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map of Tazlina Lake

Location of Tazlina Lodge

Friday, July 24, 1981—got to Tazlina at 5:00 a.m. The place is pretty littered with broken glass and bullet holes in the glass of one cabin. I felt sorry for Darrel. He was managing the lodge and alone there in that respect. This fella who had come to the lodge, got rowdy and (I don’t know the name of the guy) Darrel put him to sleep in one of the cabins and then this guy took to shooting out the windows and carrying on. When the owner comes back, it will be a mess, But Darrel did manage to get this fella under control.

Monday, August 10, 1981—went into Gulkana to the Alaska State Office, Bureau of Land Management and applied for a remote parcel of land. Henry and Tom Murdock are going to Delta for construction work. Thursday,

August 20, 1981—got gear ready for Doug and me to go caribou hunting. His dad wants Doug to go out with me to the trap cabin and hunt. He’d like to see Doug get a caribou. Prior to this, I had taken Doug out with my 20 gage shotgun and introduced him to shooting. He did real well with the shotgun; he could hit whatever he aimed at with it. He didn’t have cartridges for the rifle that he was going to use, so before we went in to hunt, I took him with me to Anchorage and got cartridges. Had a tire fail on the way into town.

Chris Ronning flew me out first and the hunting looked good around my cabin, saw a moose and caribou and a few good bulls. We got to the cabin about 5 p.m. Doug is real interested in the cabin and the area out here. We got a little rain, then it rained hard after dark. We’re grateful for the cabin as opposed to camping in a tent tonight. The cabin is in fine shape, no varmint damage at all.

Friday, August 21, 1981—we got up early, had a good breakfast, hunted to the south, came back for lunch and then we went north and I showed Doug an old bear den. A while later we saw a caribou at 500 yards—only for a second. Too far and no chance for a shot. We saw one nice flock of ducks on a lake. Then we came back to the cabin and Doug fixed some blueberries. Dan and Chris both flew their planes over the cabin this evening and we went out again for an evening hunt. No luck. Did some cabin chores and cleaned up around the place—covered some old sawdust piles. Doug fixed his own chocolate drinks. He does well for a boy his age.

Saturday, August 22, 1981—we got a good night’s sleep, got up early, it’s a beautiful day. Ate a big breakfast and started walking up to Nye Lake. The climb from Hole Lake up to Nye Lake is steep. I showed Doug how to take deep breaths to get more oxygen into his lungs. Thus, more power in his legs.

When we got there, we spotted four caribou and two legal moose bulls, one was 40+ inches at a hundred yards and another boo that I wasn’t quite able to get Doug in position to shoot. There is a gravel esker in that area that wolves use for whelping pups in the spring. I put Doug on top of one end of the esker and I went to the other end. We hope the height will help in spotting game. After some time, a nice bull caribou appears out of the brush walking in our direction. I wanted Doug to have the shot, so I slipped down the other side of the esker and over to Doug. He gets ready for the caribou but it doesn’t show up! Evidently a current of air had taken our scent to the caribou and he just disappeared into the brush. That afternoon, Doug didn’t get a chance for a shot. Then we saw another moose that was too far for shooting and then a light colored moose cow and another moose nearby—they weren’t legal.

Walked back to Hole Lake, just as Chris was looking for us to see how we were doing. He over-flies people to see if they’re okay. He stopped and told us of several moose that he had seen that day. We got back about 4:00 in the afternoon and did some cabin chores. Then a medium-sized bull caribou and two others came up to the cabin and laid down 12 feet away from the back side of the cabin. I just happened to go outside and saw them. I quietly went back in the cabin and we got the guns and got out of the cabin and got Doug in position. They got up and ran so I took a shot at the running bull but missed him. Doug didn’t get a chance to shoot.

Sunday, August 23, 1981—got up, ate breakfast, took off for Nye Lake—first I walked down to Hole Lake and left a note for Chris there. Then went on to Nye Lake to hunt. Saw six cows and a bull caribou soon after we got there. They were passing the spot where I wanted to hunt. We stayed at that spot a long time, then climbed a knoll—20 minutes later, a big, bull boo walked by right where we had been previously. Doug didn’t get a chance to shoot at that one either. We aren’t having very good luck.

Chris was to meet us at 3:15 p.m., but he didn’t stop. Something he must have had to do. We went to another knoll at the other end of the lake and no luck there. Saw another bull go by (one horn) that good crossing. Chris flew by again. Then we started for Hole Lake and he flew over again. Doug was ready to go home by this time. I twisted my knee going down to Hole Lake. We waited there for Chris for quite some time. We saw a loon take off the lake and circle it and a hawk that was hunting and lots of fish rising in that lake. Chris didn’t show up so then on to the cabin. We were really tired tonight. It had been a beautiful day though. Then Chris and Brent Myer flew in just at dusk and dropped a smoke signal canister. They landed and parked the plane down on the lake and came up from Hole Lake to the cabin and had coffee with us.

Monday, August 24, 1981—Chris had Doug and me out to Tazlina by noon and we stopped at the outlet of Old Man Lake to watch the red salmon spawn. Saw lots of ducks and swans from the air too. Chris is a really good pilot. When he came to pick us up this morning, the temperature was warming up fast. He was going to be taking off out of Hole Lake so he thought it would be better to take Doug down to Blue Lake and come back and pick me up to get out—too much weight with both of us. Doug was a little apprehensive about being at Blue Lake all alone. I told him that it wasn’t likely that a bear would be around there and we would be there shortly.

Chris came back and I got in the plane. Chris started down Blue Lake and the temperature had warmed up even more—with warm air, the plane doesn’t get the lift that it needs to take off. We’re getting down there towards the end of the lake and it’s not looking good. Chris aborts the take-off. We turned around and went down to the other end of the lake and he went deeper into the lilies and turns the plane and we start down the lake again and it’s looking like we’re going to make it and the plane DOES lift off the water. Chris then lands at Blue Lake and we pick up Doug (that’s when we stopped at the outlet of the lake to watch the red salmon spawn). There’s lots of ducks and swans on Old Man Lake, really a neat area. There are a number of old cabins around there and we know three owners that have cabins there.

Fishing Expedition to Egegik, Alaska

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a map of Alaska's Kvichak Bay

Egegik, Alaska

Tuesday, June 9, 1981—Sylvia has been in Minneapolis. She called to tell me that mother has had a stroke. Later James and I went to borrow a trailer to help Henry but couldn’t get it.

Tuesday, June 30, 1981—went to see Billmans. Denny is in town. Left some lettuce for Dan and Patti and worked on the door of the swamp buggy. Rain in the morning and sunny and wind in the afternoon. Mike asked me if I wanted to go to Egegik with him. His sister Judy had tendonitis and she needed help with her commercial fishing netting and I agreed to go.

Wednesday, July 1, 1981—I got packed after 2 a.m. on July the first. Mike and I drove to Anchorage and stopped at a store where I bought some gear to go commercial fishing at Big Creek, Judy Phillips’ site at Egegik. We arranged for our tickets and caught a WEIN flight to King Salmon. We transferred to a smaller plane for a flight to Big Creek and landed on the beach there. The tide needs to be out so the plane can land on the hard sand. It was fishing time when we arrived that day and we jumped right in, pulled our hip boots on and helped Judy pick fish in her net. We got 360, six pound fish (red salmon—beautiful). Met Scott, who fishes and Claudia who fishes, they both fish nearby. Claudia is also Mike’s landlady back in Copper Center. We set up the tent in a strong wind and were really tired, but slept real well.

Thursday, July 2, 1981—it’s very windy, sand blows into everything. Wind blows on the tent so hard, it just pops and sometimes it lays down right on our face. We have it tied off to a plane that has been wrecked on the beach. That anchors our tent and keeps the wind from blowing it away. We went over twice to “Andys” fish buying. Judy sells to him. We met several people that work on the beach fishing. Judy needed more help and some guys helped carry her nets all around the sand dunes. Saw a dead seal—teeth looked old. Then I went over to another fish camp north—it’s bigger. Five skiffs and some bigger boats fish out of there. On the way back to Judy’s the wind picked up to 40+ miles per hour and we guyed the tent down some more. It sure pops in this wind. Met a guy by the name of Mike and two girls. We slept well after a great supper. I filleted fresh caught, sea run salmon for our supper. Excellent repast!

Friday, July 3, 1981—got up at 6:45 a.m. The wind has dropped some. Judy’s net had gotten partially buried in the mud last night and we only got 87 fish. We were all disappointed. She and a friend of hers canned salmon tonight.

Saturday, July 4, 1981—ate a little rice and went out to pick the net. Got 547 fish—nice, big red salmon. It was a high tide and she’s repairing holes in the net now. We’ll set in deep water for tonight’s tide. Didn’t get enough tide, one net had very few fish. Sunny day, nice in that respect. C-119’s and DC3’s haul most of the fish from this camp.

Sunday, July 5, 1981—up early, just as the tide is going out. Got a bite to eat and coffee, picked the fish out of the net. We got 500. We loaded them on the camp truck and reset the nets and got 247 this evening. Saw a small, dead, spotted seal. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful sunset.

Monday, July 6, 1981—went out with Scott to help him—half his net is tore up. Judy and Mike got 289. It was a little windy, but sunny. We did some beachcombing and then on the evening tide, we got 129 more salmon.

Tuesday, July 7, 1981—it’s blowing and a light rain, 489 fish in the morning. It rained all day and we got only 130 fish that evening.

Wednesday, July 8, 1981—it’s blowing pretty hard, cloudy. We got 240 fish. It’s sunny today. Later in the day we went beachcombing and found a glass ball, wood, and plastic floats. Saw one bear track, one dead seal. Got only 150 fish. The net got rolled by the tide and consequently we didn’t get very many fish.

Thursday, July 9, 1981—a very good day. We got 1107 fish this day. Judy is very happy. It’s rainy and nearby is Ed’s place. Ed is sick and Claudia asked me if I would take his place fishing. So I’m pulling fish over there now. I got a 130 fish outta the net I picked and I get paid for picking salmon here. One of the men who worked on a fishing boat got an infection of some kind in a wound and got very sick. His body actually stiffened out. They phoned out for a plane to come and fly him to medical help. Surprisingly, he was back in a few days and went to work. In between fishing periods and tides, we walked along the beach looking for things that had washed up on the beach. Occasionally a seal would tear a big hole in the net, and Judy would repair it. What with the carrion washing up on the beach, attracting bears, we paid close attention to our surroundings, especially in the darkest part of the night. This is quite an experience for us—me a Minnesota farmer.

Going outside to attend a funeral, Sylvia stays in Mn

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headstone

Norman and sylvia return to Minnesota to attend a funeral

Tuesday, May 5, 1981—changed oil and filters on the truck. Nadia called to tell me that Roger Shequen had been killed in an auto accident. James will drive us to the airport to go to Minnesota for the funeral.

Wednesday, May 6, 1981—we didn’t have any cash on us so we gave Roy a check and he gave us cash to pay for the airline tickets. James drove us to the airport and Anchorage. We arrived in Minneapolis at 1:00 p.m. and went to Beverly’s first, later to Nadia’s.

Thursday, May 7, 1981—up at 4:30 a.m., went to the funeral for Roger. This was a very stressful time for us. We paid our respects to Roger’s family and parents and then while we were near Motley, we stayed with Taymond and Clara Hanson that night. (We had bought their farm from them some years ago).

Sunday, May 10, 1981—Beverly and Theresa and their families were all at Nadia’s for Mother’s day. Paul’s family went to Leader to be with Ruth’s family.

Monday, May 11, 1981—went back up to the farm, looked up the renters and so forth all day. Took Ernie H. and his wife Diane out for supper. Sold some hay that I had for sale. Returned to Minneapolis at 3:00 a.m. on the 12th.

Tuesday, May 12, 1981—up early and still tired, made some calls and went over to Paul and Ruth’s and back to Nadia’s. Beverly and Vanessa came over for supper.

Wednesday, May 13, 1981—Nadia’s husband, Darrell gave me a book on wilderness living. That was thoughtful of him. Flew home to Alaska. James met me (Sylvia is still in Minneapolis) at the airport and we did some shopping for groceries. Then we went to Nelchina. It’s great to be home again.

Broken leg, -25° and 20 miles from help

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man down with broken leg in snow

Norman breaks his leg miles from anywhere

Monday, March 23, 1981—still a little sick, got some things ready to go back to the trapping cabin. I think I sold the Taymond Hanson 160 acres in Minnesota to a neighbor.

Tuesday, March 24, 1981—Mike came over and we left for trap cabin to get traps for the ratting expedition in another area. Ski-Doo is giving me engine trouble. Hauled wood. Put two 55-gallon drums up on the platform Cache. I will store things in them over summer. Put sharp spikes around both cabin windows to discourage bears from trying to get in. Quite tired tonight. It’s really great to be out here at the trap cabin. I think Mike likes it out here too, he is a woodsman at heart.

Wednesday, March 25, 1981—after breakfast, we went to the trap cache and brought the rat traps back here to the cabin. Had lunch and loaded everything we needed to take out to the highway on our sleds. Left the cabin after dinner some time—I was leading on my Ski-Doo pulling a heavy load on the sled behind me.

About four miles out, I was going up a short rise in the trail and gave it more gas. I don’t know how it happened, but I got knocked off my snow machine and landed butt down on a 5-gallon can of gas. My right leg was dragging in the trail in front of the runner of the sled I was pulling when the runner caught on a tree, pinning my leg in between. The Ski-Doo and sled dragged on around the tree and I went airborne and landed in a low place six or eight feet down off the trail.

When Mike arrived, we took my Sorel boot off and all the socks so I can feel my lower leg and find out how badly I was hurt. The right leg lower small bone was broken, knee twisted, and same for the ankle. It was -25° or thereabouts so we wasted no time getting the socks and boot back on. We decided Mike would drive my outfit and I would drive his smaller machine with no load. I got my right foot tucked on the running board and it wasn’t too bad until we got close to Old Man Lake. Mike couldn’t get my Ski-Doo to pull the sled up a short, but steep rise up off a small lake we were crossing. He worked hard and tried everything he knew. The sun slipped down below the trees taking the temperature even lower.

Mike came out to me on the lake to see what I wanted to do. He was concerned about leaving a sled load of gear sitting here. I told him I was cold from just sitting and he should move the sled out of the way so I can drive by and we would go on to Dan and Patti’s, which was about 18 miles from where we were. He did that and we had just gotten out onto Old Man Lake when a local pilot spotted us and taxied over. Mike walked over to him and told him what was up. This pilot offered to fly me to the airport at Gulkana. It was a small two passenger plane and I dreaded trying to get that bum leg stuffed into the close quarters of that plane, and then out again at Gulkana so I refused his kind offer.

When I got to Billman’s place, Patti saw me drive up and came out, took my left arm over her shoulder and helped me into the house. Mike came in on my Ski-Doo a little later and drove me to the little hospital in Glennallen. I have one broken bone, crushed muscle and a wrenched knee and ankle. This of course, wrecked the rat (muskrat) trapping expedition.

Thursday, March 26, 1981—I sure don’t like being in the hospital. Mike and Sylvia came to get me in the evening and when we got home, Charlie came to visit for a while.

Friday, March 27, 1981—Peter and Sam came to visit. It’s sunny today and I’m recuperating, but slow. Sylvia went to a movie with Betty and the kids in Glennallen. There isn’t much for TV here and the movie house in Glennallen is about all we have.

Saturday, March 28, 1981—my knee is red so we went to the doctor and he said it’s okay. He put a walking splint on my leg and I’m walking now—carefully. Went to KROA at Mendeltna for an Italian feed. The lady that owns it is Italian and a good cook. We had a good time there that evening.

Sunday, March 29, 1981—I hobbled up to the lodge once and back home I slept a little and read one book—I read lots of books. It’s a favorite pastime for me.

Monday, March 30, 1981—I laid around most of the day, babying my leg.

Tuesday, March 31, 1981—went to the doctor to take the splint off.

Quiet time at the trap cabin

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Man in red parka and icy beard with a dog

Norman with his dog Mike

Tuesday, March 3, 1981—ran the dogs again today, five of them and they did quite well. Went to see Hoffmans—met Max Junior then came home and ate. Fed the dogs and went to Gunsight Lodge.

 Wednesday, March 4, 1981—ran the dogs with Mac in the lead, Chrissy second, then Judy, Micky, Niki and Oscar. They all did quite well.

Saturday, March 7, 1981—I started making hatchet sheaths. Mike called, then Dan called and offered to fly me to Blue Lake so I can stay at my trap cabin a few days. His new plane is very nice.

Sunday, March 8, 1981—left Dan’s about noon. Sam flew with us. We looked over the country. It was really nice, we could see so much of the land—then we landed at Blue Lake and broke trail to the cabin. On the way there, we had no trail. I had to go by where I thought the cabin was. It’s a little over a mile through the brush and trees and I led them to within a few yards of the cabin. The guys were quite surprised how I did that and I just passed it off as an everyday thing. Dan and Sam were on skis and I was on snowshoes. The cabin was just as I had left it. It was a nice day and we had a really good time there. I really appreciated Dan taking me.

Monday, March 9, 1981—a marten has been in my cache here at the trap cabin. He likes noodles and butter. I dried my frosty gear and worked on the dog tie-outs. Went snowshoeing, saw tracks of caribou, wolf, moose and marten. I’m really enjoying being out here at the trap cabin.

Tuesday, March 10, 1981—slept late, don’t feel good. Snowshoed a trail to Blue Lake for the snow machine. Light snow last night, marten visited the cabin. Sunny today. Put out two lines of spruce boughs on the little lake to mark a landing strip for Dan’s plane to land here at the cabin.

Wednesday, March 11, 1981—dressed fur stretching boards last night and more today. Snowed two inches of wet stuff, windy and clearer later this afternoon.

Thursday, March 12, 1981—bright and sunny, got ready to leave. The marten was back in the cache. I ran him away. He scolded much like a squirrel—I imitated him—he scolded more. Dan didn’t show up with the plane to pick me up—something must have delayed him.

Friday, March 13, 1981—up very early. fixed a good breakfast and snowshoed to the trap cache at the west lake, then south to pick up a trap, then back to cabin. Chris R. flew in to visit and Later Dan landed on Blue Lake. He had Mike P. with him. They skied the mile or two to my cabin. After coffee, Dan flew us to his place on Snowshoe Lake. I welded Dan’s Okio (a style of sled often used for freighting). Hauling firewood is hard on sleds.

Went “outside” for Christmas

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colorful glass mosaic

Visiting family for Christmas

Saturday, December 13, 1980–got up early to get ready to go “outside” to Minnesota. Got all packed and started in Dan’s van. It was -45° and the wind was blowing the snow. It’s not fun driving around on mountain roads in these conditions, but we got into Anchorage in time to catch the plane. The airline had to deplane two people who were giving trouble to the crew, so we were late taking off. We had quick connections in Seattle and arrived in Los Angeles and my mother was there to meet us. Our luggage was lost.

Sunday, December 14, 1980—our luggage was delivered to us before bedtime. Having a nice visit with Mother, but I’m getting sleepy as I write this.

Monday, December 15, 1980—slept late and went to the VA park to see the plaque mother’s chapter of the DAR had presented—it’s very nice, liked the looks of it there. We did some shopping.

Tuesday, December 16, 1980—we said goodbye to Mother, left Los Angeles, and arrived in Minneapolis late and went to Nadia’s home.

 Wednesday, December 17, 1980—we called the FLBA office in St Cloud and set up an appointment to meet with those people.

Friday, December 19, 1980—we went over to Beverly’s and visited with her. Theresa’s family came over and we had a really good time visiting with them.

Saturday, December 20, 1980—we went to the Nutcracker Fantasy—beautiful symphony music and all that goes with it as guests of Nadia and Darrell.

Sunday, December 21, 1980—good time here at Nadia’s. Went to a program at their church.

Monday, December 22, 1980—met with FLBA in St Cloud and did business with them.

Tuesday, December 23, 1980—talked to the FHA in Brainerd and the lawyer in Staples, working at getting our business here in Minnesota squared around.

Wednesday, December 24, 1980—took care of farm business in the morning and then on to Minneapolis in the afternoon. Visited with Kevin’s family in the evening.

Thursday, December 25, 1980—they had a Christmas dinner here at Nadia and Darrell’s. She has a beautiful large table and everything was so nice. My gifts were shirts and books. They were really nice—I read lots of books and of course, wear lots of shirts.

Friday, December 26, 1980—took a short walk. Up early every day and we did a lot of visiting with Nadia and Darrell.

Saturday, December 27, 1980—we went over to Paul and Ruth’s and spent time with them.

Sunday, December 28, 1980—we’re having a good time here at Paul and Ruth’s and went to REI and shopped there.

Monday, December 29, 1980—drove up to Motley to stay with Roger and Bridgette.

Tuesday, December 30, 1980—had some farm business in the evening and we found out Bridgette’s mother had died.

Wednesday, December 31, 1980—we did some farm business. Ernie H.and I butchered two lambs and I took them in to the locker plant in Staples.

Thursday, January 1, 1981—didn’t do much all day, up late last night at a party.

Friday, January 2, 1981—I was a pall bearer for Donna Hendricks (Bridgette’s mother). After the funeral we went to see Russell Shequen at the Staples hospital.

Saturday, January 3, 1981—ran all over doing farm business.

Sunday, January 4, 1981—hurried around to go to Minneapolis. Roger and Bridgette (with their son Randy) are driving us down to Minneapolis. There we saw most of our children and will stay at Theresa’s place now.

Monday, January 5, 1981—slept late here at Theresa and Earl’s and played with the grand kids.

Tuesday, January 6, 1981—went over to Nadia and Darrell’s where we enjoyed a good supper. Kevin and Beverly came over and we got to visit with them too.

Wednesday, January 7, 1981—got on the plane about 10:00 a.m. to go to Anchorage. We arrived there 12 hours later and got home at 12 p.m.