Editor’s note: This is the first part of a two-part column. See next Saturday for the second part.
Some road trips never turn out as expected. Our lives seem to take on a daily routine with known outcomes. These types of trips are a deviation from all that. Even when they turn rogue, they still provide memorable experiences.
During our fall season, or somewhere close, I usually find myself venturing to Idaho, Montana or Alaska. This year it would be another return to our 49th state.
My original plan was to travel several hours north of Fairbanks, a stone’s throw from the Arctic Circle, to take in some caribou hunting. However, this year’s trip took a bit of a twist.
Alaska is home to some of the most stunning scenery in North America.
In the beginning, I asked my wife Peggy to come along. “It will be an experience you’ll never forget,” I promised her. Several years back I convinced her to join me on a hunt in the wilderness regions of Idaho, so she has experienced desolate and remote areas before. However, this time things would be a little different.
Last November I happened to run into Kokomo residents Brad and DeDe Zeck.
“I have always wanted to do adventures like you do,” Brad said. “Something like that is at the top of our bucket list,” he added emphatically.
My plan was to rent a motor home in Anchorage then begin my trek north. I have taken this route before. The scenery along the Parks Highway as we would pass along glaciers, wilderness areas and Denali (Mt. McKinley). Since I knew my wife would be joining me, my plan was to hunt for several days then start fishing our way back to the Gulf of Alaska.
“If you are serious about it, contact me immediately after the first of the year,” I told Brad. This would also give me an idea about his true intentions.
To be honest, I didn’t expect to hear from him. Although he likes to fish, hunting wasn’t in his wheelhouse. Unbelievably, on Jan. 2, he called. “We are in!” were the first words I heard over the phone. I couldn’t believe they actually wanted to embark on a trip of this nature.
“We need to have an in-depth conversation because I’m not sure you realize what you are getting in to,” I cautioned.
Several weeks later, we met for supper where I tried my best to describe how the trip would unfold. I explained how comfort will end the day they leave their house. I also mentioned they would be stuck in the Arctic for several days while I hunted.
“The weather could be brutal as well, with driving rain, wind like you’ve never experienced and possibly snow squalls.”
“In August?” he questioned. I reminded him we would be camped a few miles from the Arctic Circle.
I tried to convince them maybe a cruise would be more in order.
“I know they are nice and very comfortable,” said DeDe, “but we will see the same things many others have. We want to see things most people haven’t.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as this type of trip would offer plenty of that. We would not be solely visitors to this great land, we would literally immerse ourselves in it.
Then, several months later, I was having a casual conversation with good friends and Marion residents Bill and Natalie Harris. We talked about hunting and fishing when I mentioned our Alaska trip. A week went by when he called back.
“John, our 40th anniversary is in August and I was wondering if you would mind if we rented our own motor home and tagged along with you,” he politely asked. Bill had joined me on a previous hunt to Alaska so he knew what they would be getting into.
“I wouldn’t mind at all and the more the merrier,” was my response.
After the flight to Anchorage we picked up our motor homes. The Harrises would be travelling in a 24-foot RV while ours was a 26. After a trip to a local grocery store where we supplied-up, we began the trip northward. Alaska is huge. It is the size of our next three largest states, California, Texas and Montana, combined. Most is inaccessible by road and there are no interstates in Alaska, however the state does maintain several paved highways in certain areas.
We left Anchorage on the Parks Highway. The views are stunning. We made a quick stop in Denali National Park, home of Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America, stretching 20,310 feet skyward. Most of the time the mountain is shrouded in clouds and fog but we did manage to catch a few second glimpse of its majestic peak.
The Parks Highway crosses over 40 bridges spanning beautiful gorges, streams and rivers. It amazed several in our group to see huge moose feeding along the roadway. “Can you imagine the stories they could tell if only they could talk,” I said out loud numerous times as we passed old, dilapidated mining and hunting shacks. Some of the shacks were completely destroyed by grizzly and black bears looking for grubs and rodents.
… To be continued.
HUNTER ED. CLASS
Howard County will host an Indiana Department of Natural Resources certified Hunter Education course Sept. 14 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and Sept. 15 from noon-4 p.m. The free program will be held at the Nature Center located in Jackson Morrow Park.
To become certified, students must attend the 10 hours of class instruction and pass a 100-question final exam. Certification lasts for life.
To register just search for “IDNR hunter education classroom course” and select the Kokomo location.
Formal programs of this nature are actually nothing new. In 1972, the Indiana Legislature directed the IDNR to provide a course of instruction in hunter safety, principles of conservation and sportsmanship. In 1993, the Legislature realized its importance and took another step making Hunter Ed. mandatory for everyone. Because of this, anyone born after Dec. 31, 1986 must complete the program before purchasing a valid Indiana hunting license.
However, the state does provide apprentice licenses to gauge the interest in the newcomer before deciding whether or not to complete the 10-hour class.
