Careless planning
\nDick and I grabbed our backpacks and headed to the cabin to give the pilot space to load the hunters gear. As we\u2019re walking away, I tug on Dick\u2019s jacket sleeve,
\n\u201cdid you see those two hunters giving our gear the evil eye?\u201d
\n \u201cShush, they can hear you.\u201d
\n \u201cWell they did\u201d, I whisper back.
\n\u201cAnd why was the pilot all worked up over the weather? The weather is great.\u201d
\n \u201dWe\u2019ll be fine, the pilot is just being over cautious.\u201d
\n\u201cWell, this sure is a perfect day and we are going to have a great week.\u201d
\nWe walked about twenty yards to the cabin.
\n I add with a bit of excitement as Dick opens the door.
\n\u201d Oh great! the door opens out, so the bears can\u2019t push the door in
\n \u201c Not a lot of light in her and why is it so cold in here?!\u201d
\nDick fires back, \u201cWell what do you expect, it\u2019s a cabin in the woods!\u201d
\n\u201cI know, I just made a comment that there\u2019s not a lot of light in here, and it\u2019s much colder in here than it is out side.\u201d
\n\u201cOk, ok, let it rest!\u201d he said in a grumpy tone.
\n Dick – I thought, \u201cOh! crap, It\u2019s going to be miserable, with all Betty Jo\u2019s complaining, This hunt should have been set up with the boys instead of with Betty Jo\u201d. The boys, were Rob and Tom. I met them when the Navy transferred us to Kodiak. They were junior high school age then, I used to take them out deer hunting, climbing the mountains around Kodiak, off the road system. They both loved the wilderness. They were grown now, Tom a maintenance man at the Prudhoe Bay oilfield, and Rob a big game guide. After arriving at Kodiak Betty said that she wanted to go with me, on hunting trips or outings. To go camping she had to have amenities, like shampoo, make up stuff, mirror, even the butane curling iron, etc. She said she didn\u2019t need to have all that stuff and she was willing to rough it. Of course that was years ago, my mind still held her to it though. Of course with the boys we complain or bitch in a heartbeat, never thinking much of it. When Betty complained, for me it was not like that, I felt that I had to take care of it, and I couldn\u2019t, it was just frustrating.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s his problem? he was all chipper when we landed. <\/p>\n
We leave the door open so we can see inside the cabin, and hopefully some of the outside warm air will come in..
\nI blurt out, , \u201cNo table and chairs! Where do we set and eat!?\u201d
\n\u201cdo you have to pick very thing apart, we should have stayed home!
\nAs I silently have a look around, I see your typical Fish and Game cabin, a basic box, twelve by sixteen feet, made of wood planks, with a plywood floor.
\n the only table in the cabin is made up of two four foot long, by two feet deep shelves fastened in the corner of the room. Above the left end of the shelf is a very small dirty window.
\n\u201cLooks like they would have put in a larger window.\u201d
\n\u201cThe windows have to be smaller than the bears.\u201d Dick said in a frustrated voice.
\nOh, I didn\u2019t think about that, that is a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are two sets of wooden bunk beds, three high\u2014no maitresse\u2014ouch! thank goodness we have nice thick pads.
\n\u201cHow on earth can six people fit in this small space? There are several large nails along the walls for hanging stuff, typical Alaskan hardware.
\nDick said, \u201cLets wait until they leave to get the rest of our stuff.\u201d
\n\u201cSure\u201d
\n\u201cLook at that old rusty stove, do you think it works!?\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, I\u2019ll take care of the stove!\u201d
\n\u201dOK\u201d
\n\u201cKnock, Knock, Hallo\u201d one of the hunters is standing in the door holding a small heater. \u201cI didn\u2019t see a heater among your gear.\u201d He said.
\n \u201cOh, we will just use wood in the heater,\u201d replied Dick. <\/p>\n
“Well, the only wood I’ve seen is the cabin itself. \u201cThat old oil heater is totally unusable. It’s rusted up, it was never a wood-burning stove. (Dick takes a step back and sticks his hands in his pockets, and his jaw is set, lips tight.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m concerned that he is going to tell the guy to get out of the cabin. This guy doesn\u2019t slow down.) \u201cIt gets really cold in this cabin at night and with the cold front moving in you won’t make it without some heat. I can\u2019t leave you out here without this heater. There’s not a lot of fuel left in it, but hopefully, it will last if you only burn it a couple of hours each day. How long will you be here?\u201d
\nDick said in a stern voice, \u201cSeven days.\u201d
\nThe fellow\u2019s eyes widened and his voice softened as he lifted the heater toward Dick, and with a plea, \u201cHere, I beg you to take it.\u201d Dick pulled his hand out of his pocket and as he reached for the heater he asks, \u201ccan I have your address so that we can return it. <\/p>\n
The hunter hands Dick his business card with a look of relief, and said, I wouldn\u2019t burn it more than an hour each day, I wish you the best and have a good hunt!\u201d
\nDick said, \u201cI appreciate your offer and we\u2019ll be sure to get it back to you.\u201d
\n I stand in the doorway and watch him run back to the plane and climb aboard. Dick joins me at the door and we both watch as plane disappear out of sight.
\nWithout a word, Dick picks up the heater and is looking at the fuel level. He definitely looks worried and without a word, he sets it back down on the floor, and said, in a matter of fact voice, \u201cLet go get the rest of our gear.
\n In my most enthusiastic voice I begin to chatter away.
\n\u201cYou know, that was thoughtful of him to leave us his heater, that\u2019s why they were staring at our stuff and he did say that the cabin gets cold in the evening well\u2026 it\u2019s not evening and it\u2019s already cold in cabin. Looks like Fish and Game would have told us to bring a heater, don\u2019t they know the heater in this cabin doesn\u2019t work? Did they say anything to you about the heater?\u201d
\nIn a stern voice he said, \u201cNo!\u201d lets just get the rest of our gear, I need to get the boat ready before dark.
\n\u201cAre you ok?\u201d I ask in my wee voice.
\n\u2018Yes! I just want to get the boat inflated and hook up the motor before dark!\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s his problem? .
\nHe will be more relaxed when everything is in place, and I wont complain anymore.
\nDarkness comes on quickly and early this time of year in Alaska. It\u2019s 1:00pm, let see, sunset is 4:30:pm, but when the sun dips behind that mountain, the pilot said sunset will be around three o\u2019clock. So, we rush out to gather the remainder of our gear.<\/p>\n
Dick lugs our nine-foot Zodiac boat and the five-horse motor about twenty yards down the lakeshore to a place just a in front of the cabin. It will take him a couple of hours to manually inflate the tubes and attach the motor. While he is seeing to that chore, I will gather up our guns, clothing, most of our food, which is freeze dried, candy bars, trial mix, energy stuff and coffee pot. I\u2019ll leave the ice chest and the large grub box for him to carry in after he puts the boat together. <\/p>\n
Oh my goodness! Where do I put this stuff? Lets see\u2026the blue graniteware coffee pot will go in the corner. It has been used over many campfires. I wish I had the grub box so I can put everything in its place, and it sure would help to have the lantern. It\u2019s too dark to do much of anything in here, but I don\u2019t dare disturb Dick while he\u2019s putting the boat together. I can\u2019t figure out what made him turn all crabby, must have been what the pilot said about the lake freezing.
\n Lets see, I can put the two small butane cook burners, the mess kit of three nesting pots and the 8-inch skillet, they can fit on the shelf under the window. Our two tin plates, and the silver ware will go next to the stove. Oh yes, the thermos, and cups, will fit next to the coffee pot. The coffee pot! has the candles and matches in it. Oh Great! Now\u2026. where do I set them, so that I don\u2019t burn the place down? That\u2019s a scary thought, we don\u2019t even have a tree to sleep under. There is only one place, the shelf where everything else goes. Ok! that helps, and I can hold my fingers over the flame.
\n The ice chest and grub box will set on the floor underneath the shelves, good! Now I know exactly where everything will fit. Oh, I wish I had some Windex for that dirty window and that so called table use some Clorox. Oh well, we are in the woods, and I must remember No complaining. I want this trip to be special for Dick.<\/p>\n
Ok.. beds next. I unhook the bungee cord from around our sleeping pads, no! no! don\u2019t tell me! These are not our best pads! I can\u2019t believe that we have to sleep on these thin things for a week. The beds are made of sturdy hardwood and they have no mattresses. Oh well, too late to change them, at least our down filled mummy sleeping bag will be nice and thick. I need to shake them out good. Why do they feel so light, but down is lightweight, better check out the tags. Both are marked SUMMER! My goodness!.. Good to 30 degrees. Oh well, I think, we should be fine. After all, summer nights in Alaska can be pretty chilly, too. <\/p>\n
There, I\u2019ll use the lower bunk to lay out our clothes. We each brought three changes. Oh no! Where are our raincoats? We have to have our raincoats! It rains all the time on Kodiak Island. I am looking all over. This place is too small to lose anything. Thank goodness! There, next to the door is the red duffel bag, yes! Down wear is no good in the rain.<\/p>\n
One kind of gets dirty when hunting. If the weather is warm we bathe in the lake. If too cool, we bring in water from the lake, heat it, and take a sponge bath. But I doubt that there will be any sponge baths on this trip. While doing my chores, I let the time slip away.<\/p>\n
My hands are feeling cold, and there is not much light coming from the candle in the far corner. I better put on my down jacket and find my mittens in the pocket. There, already my hands feel warmer. I should check on Dick.
\n Just as I stick my head out the door he yells for me to bring the flashlight. \u201cWhere is the flashlight?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s in my backpack!\u201d
\nHis tone didn\u2019t sound like I am so happy to be out in the wild woods, away from the city, being close to Nature. It is so dark in here I need a flashlight to find the flashlight. I am feeling around on the bunk that has all our stuff. Oh, there it is.
\nOff I go running to the boat. It\u2019s almost totally dark and so cold. <\/p>\n
Dick is working without his gloves, trying to fasten the motor to the boat bracket.
\n \u201cAren\u2019t your hands freezing?\u201d
\n He snaps back,\u201c I can\u2019t do this with gloves on!\u201d
\n\u201cHe is definitely, not a happy camper at this moment\u2014best to leave him alone.
\n\u201cWould you like for me to hold the light?\u201d
\n\u201cYES!\u201d
\nWith the help of some light he is able to connect the motor in a flash. \u201cThere finally! Working in the dark is a bitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
“You should put on your gloves before going after the ice chest and grub box,” I suggest. <\/p>\n
\u201cI will,\u201d he says in a nicer tone. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo do you need me for anything else?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I\u2019ll be finished shortly.
\n Thanks for bringing the flashlight, sorry for being grumpy, but it\u2019s just frustrating, I was hoping to be finished before dark. I\u2019ll walk you back to the cabin, I\u2019ll need the flash light to gather the rest of our stuff.\u201d
\n\u201cDo you want me to go with you?\u201d
\n\u201cNo, you go inside, it\u2019s too cold out here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even though I am back inside the cabin and now wearing, wool nickers, a wool turtleneck sweater, space socks, thick wool knee socks, one pair of space gloves under wool mittens (which are better for holding heat in), wool stocking cap, a down vest, and a down jacket, I am still cold. My boots are high top insulated mountain boots, and I can feel my toes getting ready to break off. <\/p>\n
Having lived in Alaska for seventeen years , I know that the wilderness, despite its beauty, can be so unforgiving. People go out every year into the wilds, unprepared, and die from exposure. I can\u2019t believe that the temperature has dropped so drastically in just a few hours.<\/p>\n
Things aren’t working out quite as I imagined. Why did I think this was such a good idea? Dick’s in a pissy mood, and I am freezing. How can it be so cold in here? The pilot said he would be back if the lake doesn\u2019t freeze up, and he didn\u2019t sound overly confident that it wouldn\u2019t freeze. I am so angry at Dick! How could he put our lives in such danger? He should have checked to be sure we had the proper heater, fuel and now the pads and sleeping bags. <\/p>\n
I am feeling the need to get my thinking straight, to stop the panicky feelings welling up inside of me. OK. OK. OK. OK! We are being picked up in seven days: Are we counting from today or seven days starting tomorrow?<\/p>\n
Oh, God where are you! what was I thinking? I don\u2019t dare cry for my tears would have just turned to ice. But I can\u2019t hold it in any longer. <\/p>\n
Dick walks though the door with the ice chest, takes one look at me, and heads for that borrowed heater and fires it off. Next he zips open my sleeping bag and spreads it out on the lower bunks, \u201cCome set, he orders, he wraps it around me. Then he sets the heater next to my knees and pulls my hands over the top of the heater. He\u2019s giving me soft pats on my back. \u201cThere you will soon be warm.\u201d
\nHe looks at the small thermometer attached to his jacket zipper, removes it and hang it from the top bunk above the heater.
\nDick ask,
\n\u201cWould you like some hot soup?\u201d
\n Through my chattering teeth I say, \u201cNo thank you, I don\u2019t feel hungry.
\nI would like a cup of hot tea, can you heat some water, the water bottle is on the floor next to the door.\u201d
\nDick sat on the bunk next to me, with both of his hands wrapped around his hot cup of tea. We were both in our own thoughts. I forgot how quiet the wilderness can be. Finally, He spoke,
\n\u201cThe tea was a good idea,
\nare you warming up?\u201d
\n\u201cSomewhat, my feet are so cold. I wish that I could hold this hot cup with my feet. I want to warm a pair of longhorns and extra socks to seep in. I will definitely need them in the morning before the sun comes up.\u201d
\nI quickly undressed, and sipped into my warm long johns, and back into my wool nickers, and sweater, vest and coat.
\n\u201cCan you hand me my down booties, there on the buck bed with our extra cloths.\u201d
\nDick was holding my booties and socks over the heater.
\n \u201cAre you ready for bed? He ask in a soft voice.
\n Now I\u2019m sorry that I had all those bad thoughts of him.<\/p>\n
\u201c It\u2019s been a stressful day and
\nwe need our rest for the early morning hunt.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat time do we need to be up in the morning, and where will we hunt?\u201d
\n\u201cOh, we\u2019ll get up around five and I would like for us to be in the boat by 6 o\u2019clock. We\u2019ll take the boat about a mile down and a half-mile across the lake to the east foothills, where we\u2019ll hopefully find a big buck for you to shoot.\u201d
\n\u201c What about you?\u201d
\n \u201cI\u2019ll get one too, those guys said the deer are plentiful over here.\u201d<\/p>\n
We need to be across the lake before daybreak, before the deer are up and roaming around, just like we always do.\u201d
\n\u201cSo, are you ready for bed? Here\u2019s your socks and booties, all toasty warm.\u201d
\n\u201cthey feel heavenly, thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
My teeth have finally stopped chattering.
\nDick turns off the heater. We burned it for thirty-minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood night.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Careless planning Dick and I grabbed our backpacks and headed to the cabin to give the pilot space to load the hunters gear. As we\u2019re walking away, I tug on Dick\u2019s jacket sleeve, \u201cdid you see those two hunters giving … Continue reading