40 road trip north

[BC40]

Hi guys, I'll be briefly dropping by FSJ this weekend. I've chosen to use up my holiday time this year looking for some four legged swamp donkey's up Alaska Hwy. Mmmm, moose burgers...
So if you see an overloaded old 40 struggling with an olive drab trailer in tow, that's me. Deny, I'll try to make it up there at a reasonable time Saturday night to go for a couple . That is, if I don't get lost taking the 'short cut' before Dawson you described.

 

[Deny]

Do you want me to scan and email you a map? I guess you need directions to my place too eh, or are you going to try and push on past FSJ to meet up with your dad late Saturday night? (highly suggest you crash and try and find your dad in the early morning when the sun is out and you can see though)

 

[BC40]

The map would be good, though I could probably find it by the directions you emailed. Yes directions to your place will help. I don't think I want to try going past FSJ in one day .

 

[Ratpuke]

Hi guys, I'll be briefly dropping by FSJ this weekend. I've chosen to use up my holiday time this year looking for some four legged swamp donkey's up Alaska Hwy. Mmmm, moose burgers...
So if you see an overloaded old 40 struggling with an olive drab trailer in tow, that's me. Deny, I'll try to make it up there at a reasonable time Saturday night to go for a couple . That is, if I don't get lost taking the 'short cut' before Dawson you described.

Can I come??

 

[BC40]

Absolutely. Barring any troubles I should be there some time well after dinner but before sunday starts.

Wait, did you mean for beers or for moose?

 

[BC40]

Well, got back late Tuesday. It was a great trip that I hope to get to do every other year. Back earlier than expected though.

Was nice to stop in FSJ and see Charla and Deny, been a while since Rivershiver. Was also good to meet Howard and bs about the 60's cruisers and his experiences.

That drive up was a very long day for me. Last minute cruiser and trailer prep plus packing Friday night until 11pm, nap until 3am, packed up the gear till 6, then on the highway shortly before 7. Including a couple longish breaks from driving it took me until just before 11pm when I pulled into Deny's driveway. Thanks for letting me crash there Deny.

Last week was summer weather warm with mid week highs to 25*C in the shade. We spent until Thursday just hiking and sightseeing, trying our best not to find the right moose. Saw lots of wildlife, drowned the quad in a creek crossing, and lazed about working on the tans for those first few days. Clouds on Thursday saw a slight drop in temperature and the animals started to move again. Friday morning was colder, moose and elk were getting active again. My dad called in a legal bull and after that we had a lot of work to do. By Sunday it was below 0 overnight, but we were woken in the night when a young wolverine found our camp. He didn't do any real damage and thankfully didn't mark any meat so no harm done. We were agreed to pack up on Monday morning anyhow.

Following my dad back in his army chev was a slow drive doing a consistent 80kph. Despite the ~1200lbs trailer behind me the cruiser did ok returning heavy. We parted ways in Cache Creek, him heading east, me south. I still ended up doing 80kph because of a crazy headwind and rain in the Fraser canyon.

I'll post up a couple pics tomorrow. I trust there are fewer squeemish veggetarian types hanging out in the swamp donkey section ;p. Deny, the rut is on, should be right timing for you guys.

 

[RockDoc]

Good to hear you had a successful trip.

 

[Ratpuke]

Deny, the rut is on, should be right timing for you guys.

ha ha!

....

Congratulations! Should've shot the wolverine and given me the fur so I could get a hat made. Wolverine hats are the best.

Lemme at those pics!

 

[Deny]

Sounds good, we are heading out on Saturday morning. Sorry was so busy with work, would have liked to head out there to see how you guys were making out on the weekend.

X2 on the pics.
Cheers,
Deny

 

[BC40]

Here are a few of the first half of the trip.
First pic is heading west for the hills. A lot less gravel travel than I was expecting since they paved so much of the 95 road from Alaska Hwy.
Second pic is our moose camp. The tent attaches to the back of the pickup so you get the best of both a wall tent with wood stove and the security and no mice of a canopy for sleep and storage.
Third pic is from a bluff where we sat and watched a 5 point bull elk wandering along the floodplain. No telephoto so my shots of the elk are blurry zoomed in.

 

[BC40]

OK, second part of the trip.
First pic we got our bull. I'll spare you the graphic before and after stuff. I had the task of carting everything back to camp. The quad is a very old honda 2wd 250, basically a big red atc with four wheels. Good thing it was so dry or it might have been much more work getting the quarters back to camp.
Second pic is from the road home.

 

[Deny]

nice swamp donkey!

 

[73fj]

You just need a bigger trailer like this.