The Cabin Logbook
These entries were originally transcribed into a worn leather bound guest log book that lives on the table in this 16X16 foot dry cabin my uncle built in the Alaskan Bush. I decided to make an electronic copy to share my moose hunting adventures with my grandmother, then thought - might as well start a blog.
Day 1
(written by Maria)
I’m in awe. Mathew (boyfriend,) Pat (uncle,) and myself (Maria) just arrived at the cabin. Although I’ve been to Alaska before - as a kid - I feel like this time is different. I’m old enough to realize just how incredible and unique the Alaskan bush is, as well as how remote we now are.
Being here is a dream come true. The 4-wheeler ride in was a blast; it rained the whole time, but that just added to the adventure. Mathew and I were each on separate quads, and Pat rode a six-wheeler. We packed in a heavy load consisting of lots of food and gear. The bogs were deep and we had to leap frog through them by taking turns winching each other out. The trails were muddy, creek and river crossings high, and side hills slippery. There were more than a few moments where I found myself reeling in the possibility of not making it to the other side in one piece - but I’d gun it, forcing me to focus on what was in front of me, my thoughts of worry dissipating. There is only one way in and one way out and there was no way I was chickening out.
Moose season for me starts on the 5th (non-resident.) So tomorrow we plan to scout. As for tonight, we’re drying our clothes by the wood stove, picking blueberries, and cooking up hash browns and smoky dogs.
Feeling blessed!
Maria
Day 2
(written by Maria)
Goooood Morning! We woke to pouring rain and low visibility so took our time getting up. Not much glassing to be done in these conditions, so instead we feasted on blueberry pancakes topped with maple syrup. The four wheeler trails were boggy and we found ourselves spending the majority of the morning walking the creek. We found moose tracks and a fresh 8-inch grizzly track as well. When we made it back to the four wheelers, there were fresh moose tracks over top our’s - seeing that filled me with hope and excitement!
In the afternoon, we ventured towards a different creek and I quickly spotted wolf tracks. Last night, just before bed, Mathew spotted a cow on the move in that area - we assumed something had her on the run. I hoped it was a big bull moose chasing her, but the tracks say otherwise. We spent the evening glassing and calling and now I sit, listening to the rain pour down.
We’re enjoying our time! Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Maria
Day 3
(written by Mathew)
Woke up early this morning, clouds were pretty low but it’s done raining. Coffee and blueberry pancakes this morning. 38 degrees; clouds and rain all night, so it didn’t freeze. Hiked 5 miles this morning up the * fork. Wolf track, lots of moose tracks, and winter kill caribou, kept the antlers. On our way back I sat down to glass and rest and Maria spotted a cow moose. 4 airplanes came over as the clouds are starting to break. 2 super cubs made their way back as well, probably shuttling gear/hunters. Chicken jambalaya mtn house for lunch. Pat napped, Maria and I read. I fell asleep for a few minutes before waking up to argos heading up the creek. The sun broke out and we went up top to the ridge. I immediately spotted a cow, hadn’t had the quads off for more than a minute. We ended up spotting another cow and possibly its;’ calf. Was hard to tell as it started to rain quite hard. We glassed in the rain for 20 minutes before making our way down. About halfway down the trail the rain lightened up so we slowly glassed our way down. Got back to the cabin stripped off the wet layers, headed to the creek with Maria to fill water jugs. The smokey rain water wasn’t great. Pat started dinner, we had cabbage salad, and ramen with Italian sausage. It was quite good. Brownie topped with peanut butter for dessert. Glassed off the deck for an hour before heading to bed. It was cooling off outside, 40 degrees before bed and the clouds were clearing. Hoping for a hard freeze tonight.
Day 4
(written by Mathew)
Maria and Pat were up early, it was a poor night of sleep for me. Too hot, bloody nose, couldn’t get comfortable. I woke up around 8, the coffee was still hot and just about to start pancakes. I cooked blueberry pancakes, and hash browns. The clouds were low again, but slowly started to break off and we headed up top. I spotted a moose after a few minutes, and 30 minute laters Pat called and it came back out. Was just a cow, but good to see something. We hiked around a little bit, and had lunch up too, I had kung pao chicken. Picked the biggest blueberries of the trip up high. After lunch Maria spotted another cow/calf pair, I think the same one we have seen each day. We came off the top as the rain set in again, and slowly made our way down. Maria and I went to the creek to fill water jugs while Pat started dinner. We made salmon, diced potatoes, and veggie/coleslaw mix. I had Oreos with peanut butter for dessert. We warmed big pot of water on the wood stove for a “shower”, maria went first and said it was great so I followed. Pat spotted the cow/calf pair again in the same vicinity we have been seeing them before. Pat pulled out the spotting scope and spotted 2 juvenile grizzly bears 5ish miles away.
Day 5
I rolled out of bed this morning and spotted a cow on the hillside as I was drinking my coffee. Soon after, finding two people on foot heading down the trail. Later Pat crossed paths with them and learned they woke up to gun shots early this morning.
Alaska Day 5 Sept 7
Woke up and Maria immediately spotted a cow above boulder creek while having her coffee. It was 28 degrees with a layer of frost this morning! Hash browns, toast, and oatmeal for breakfast. We packed up and decided to up the north fork, and had 3 quads pop up behind us as soon as we got to the trail. We chatted and killed a “45-50incher” 40 yards off the trail. Bummer, as we think it was coming in to pats calling. It was only 600 yards from cabin I’d guess. We decided to head up to the top and try to spot something for an evening hunt. Seeing the same cows we’ve been seeing. Cooked lunch up top, I had buffalo style chicken Mac mtn house. Was pretty tasty, we came down to beat the rain. Made it to the cabin and the rain passed. I split some wood, to make kindling, Pat trimmed down bushes, and Maria took a nap. We headed down the north fork around 5. Stopped by to see the gut pile from the kill this morning. We drove about 1/2 mile up the trail before walking 1 1/2. We called our way down and back, didn’t hear or see a thing. Got back to the cabin around 8:30, ate some ramen with Italian sausage for dinner.
Day 6
(written by Mathew)
Got to watch the northern lights in the middle of the night last night, so cool. This morning we woke up and early. Cup of coffee and oatmeal, headed out the door. We called and made our way up the north fork, slow morning. Got back to the cabin and made lunch, watched some of a movie as well. Pulled pork, hash browns, and left over coleslaw for lunch. Pat burned some of a burn pile, Maria and I geared up. Took a hike up boulder creek for the first time this trip, checked out the “decoy camps” along the way. Although, we didn’t see much for animals, we saw a grizzly track, and the biggest moose track of the trip. Another Caribou kill. Got back to the cabin around 6:30. Andy and Doug made it up, we had a great dinner with pork chops, coleslaw, hasbrowns. We are eating like kings up here. After dinner we talked smart, and Maria glassed up one cow above boulder creek. Slow day, but some saw some new country and got some exercise. Off to bed, hoping to catch the northern lights again, Was a cool thing to see.
Day 7
(written by Mathew)
Rain and low clouds on the deck this morning, flipped our plans again. Rolled out of bed to hot coffee thanks to Pat. Glassed from the deck with coffee while Andy made breakfast. Bacon, eggs, and bagels, so I made a sandwich. Pat, Maria and I headed for a big walk up the creek. We got rained on and camped out under the blue decoy tarp for awhile. It was an uneventful morning. Made our way back to camp around 2, Pat cleared a trail to the creek and found a nice moose shed. I glassed from the deck, while Maria cleaned up and did some laundry. I went down to look for the other moose shed but couldn’t find it. Andy and Doug came down from the top, and said they didn’t see animal all day long. Moral is quite low. Maria and I went down to the creek for more water, we discussed what we think we should do if Pat heads out with Doug tomorrow. I emptied the water from the quad and glassed. Bingo! I glassed up 2 bulls. Andy, Maria, and I geared up and took off. We drove quads down the trail quite a ways. We hiked across the river, and straight up the mountain. Crossed the ridge in hopes to see these bulls. They were gone, we hiked along the top for awhile and tried to call. No response. Hiked back down the quads, we got soaked in river crossing. It was a great adventure, and fun to finally chase after some bulls. Made it back to the cabin and Pat had burgers, potatoes, bread and slaw made up - it may have been the best meal in camp so far. Some drinks, and smart talk after dinner. Off to bed, 30 degrees when I brushed my teeth. Feeling rejuvenated for days ahead. What a great turn in events.
Day 8 & Day 9
written by Maria
Alone in the bush.
Pat and his friends rolled out, leaving Mathew, me, and my growing desire to shoot a moose to ourselves. We spotted a bull and hurried through the beaver ponds and back up to the top; which may sound easy, but in reality it’s quite the adventure and gets the blood pumping. Just off the trail in the bottom, are loads of beaver dams. (I am sooo over beavers, fyi) They have backed up the river creating ponds that are quite deep. There’s no getting around them, so we go through. The water varies from calf to thigh deep, so our boots are filled with water and sloshing wet from the start. On the other side of the ponds is a steep hill that we must scramble up (while also trying our best to stay quiet by avoiding the crunchy fall foliage.) It’s a good workout and warms us back up after the water crossing.
Once to the top, Mathew & I snuck in to just 400 yds away from a bull in the timber - the one we spotted from down below. However, we were unable to tell if he was legal or not so chose not to take a shot. (* a legal bull for a non-resident in this unit had to be wider than 50” or have 3+ brow tines.)
As dark was creeping in on us, it made us realize the comfort and strength that came in numbers. With it just being us two, we began to head back to the cabin while we still had some daylight. However, it disappeared quickly leaving us shining our headlamps on the beaver ponds in an effort to find the shallowest point to cross. Frustrated, and with thoughts of the fresh grizzly tracks we saw nearby on our minds, we gave up the search and made our way across a much deeper spot that was well up to my hips. Amidst this, there was a loud noise causing us to jump and frantically shine our lights around. A bear? A moose? Seconds later, we realized it was merely a beaver slapping its’ tail.
Damn beavers. But gosh, we laughed.
The next day was hot. I spotted another bull, not far from the last few we’d seen. I kept eyes on him until he bedded down in the shade. After concluding he would be staying there awhile, we packed our backpacks — and even pack frames — and took off. With lots of confidence, we told ourselves ‘third times the charm,’ as we hiked back up the top again. By now, I knew what to expect. Bogs, water crossing, huffing and puffing through the steep parts, then very slow, quiet, thoughtful movements as we began to crest the top. We stayed hidden in the thick quakies, moving slow with our eyes peeled and ears waiting for any sound of movement other than our own. Then just like that, we heard him spring from his bed - which was very close by - and crash through the trees away from us.
We blew him out. We were defeated.
Day 10
Beautiful sunrise on the North Fork today. Cup of “high octane coffee” courtesy of Pat, and I had some oatmeal. We take the quads down the trail. At the end of Pats and the main trail we crossed a cow track. Thought it may be a bull, but too small I think. We walked up and down the trail a bit calling, no signs of life. 2 gun shots rang out, assuming boulder creek where the decoy camp was setup by the people with a cabin up there, BUMMER! Our time is soon we thought as we arrived at the cabin. Maria made herself blueberry pancakes, Pat and I had peanut butter honey toast. I finished my book, Pat started a burn pile, Maria fell asleep. Cup of coffee on the deck while I glassed every spot you can see you some from the deck. 2 grizzly’s were spotted, 4 miles away and about a mile away. Pretty cool to see those big bruisers cruise around. We headed up top to glass when Maria woke. We had a tasty mtn house lunch, kung pao pork. We were able to see one bull long ways away, too far to go after in the case we did shoot it, the pack out would be nearly impossible. We all came off the top
and had a quick snack. Maria and I took off for the bottom trail, the north fork. It was a slow night until we got back to the quad. There was a cow moose 15 yards from us, that was cool! We arrived back at the cabin late, where Pat had made salmon, rice, and veggie mix for dinner. Off to bed we went, it was cool cloudy day, but cleared up and was really cold.
Day 11
written by Mathew
Woke up to another beautiful sunrise, 28 degrees, light frost. Maria and I laced up our schnees pacs, headed down the trail to call in the bottom. We checked the trial
Camera as there was a track right on the north fork trail. 5:18AM a moose came by. Little ways away, so telling what the animal was is tough, bull or cow. We tracked it a little ways, and decided to head back and over watch/ call in boulder creek. We sat for about an hour, and tried to get something wound up, but no dice. Back at the cabin, Pat was cleaning up around the cabin and informed of us rain for 36 hours starting tonight, and he was heading out. We joined in the thought of killing a moose with just Maria and I in camp, and Andy not at his cabin for backup seemed like a daunting task. We spent a few hours packing up, cleaning up, as the next time Pat will be in the cabin is freeze up. We loaded up and the trail, we planned to meet Andy at his cabin. Along the trail we noticed a big bull track. Maria immediately stopped me and said “is leaving the right choice”. I had sickening feeling we made the wrong choice, but we decided we had fun and moved on. We stopped at Bill’s camp and he had just gotten in, they were packing and planning to leave just a few minutes behind us. We said our goodbyes to him, and went down the trail. Pat stopped, signaling to Maria to grab her gun, I could see a cow only. Took off up to Pat closer, and could see the paddle on a bull. Grabbed Maria’s Binos off her chest, looked at Pat and we had decided it was a legal bull. A legal bull, standing 170 yards off the trail, on our way out. I couldn’t believe it. I told Maria to take a deep breath, it calmed be down as well. Told her to aim just between the 2 split trees. BANG. She smoked it, we ran down the trail a little ways, and she free handed 2 more into it. A big bull was down, everyone was shocked with excitement.
