The Grizzly that nearly ate Ol' Hogsanta ! Final Part

The day before our scheduled pickup we were sitting around a campfire in the little clearing just in front of the cabin. Tired of catching big Rainbows if you can believe that, and planning our final evening hunt. The morning would be full of packing and hauling our gear and hide down to the floatplane landing.

As we were relaxing we heard the faint but unmistakable sound of pack frames jingling with tied on accessories making a rhythmic tune. Apparently a group of hikers had covered the nearly 20-mile distance from the Sterling Highway trailhead. And to go along with the jingling, what to our wondrous eyes did appear?

It was a group of "Outward Bound" college girls, with a University of Alaska female professor in the lead.

They were beat, trail weary and trail worn. We broke out a couple of six-packs of Coors cooling in the snow melt fed stream that runs right by the cabin (Pee Creek we named it! Ever camped by running water?), and put on a fresh pot of coffee and sat down around the campfire to exchange pleasantries.

The Professor inquired as to what we were doing in that area so early in the spring. We showed her the Rainbows we had cooling in the creek and mentioned that we were also bear hunting. She replied that it seemed like a lot of trouble and expense to hunt Black Bears, which are common, and even considered a pest in Alaska. We added that we had hoped to run into a Grizzly of two also.  She replied that we were wasting our time there because there were no Grizzlies in that area. She had it on the good authority of several biologists from the college. I wish I had video or at least pictures of what followed.

I adopted my best West Virginia hillbilly drawl and said, " well Mam', you seem right knowledgeable about bears and all, could I get you to step behind the cabin here and help us identify what kinda bear this is that we shot".

Get this picture! Here we go around the back of the cabin with the professor and a whole gaggle of young college girls who trust this lady with their very life. And behold there is a 9 foot Grizzly Bear hide nailed to the back of the cabin, "just getting a little sun" I quipped. Their eyes got so big that the light reflecting out of them, I swear, was brighter than the sun.

After much Oohing and Ahhing we settled back around the campfire. The professor was dumfounded and swore revenge on the biologists who put her and her charges life at risk. I asked why she was so concerned about bears. One shot in the air from your .44 will send most packing. She replied that since there were no Grizzlies in the area she did not want to carry the extra weight, and mumbled something about communing with nature on it's own level. They pitched their tents real close to the cabin that night, and the sound of the privy door opening and closing all night testified that Pee Creek was fulfilling its God given chore!

After a great breakfast of ham, eggs and pancakes whipped up by yours truly (we always take too much food in case the trout don't bite) they were ready to break camp and continue on their several day trip. I found the professor and handed her my .44 Redhawk, in its holster, and a spare pouch of ammo, and my name and phone number scribbled on an unused bear tag. I added that she could call me when she got back and I would come by and reclaim it. She was much relieved, and we got big hugs from her and all of her charges. Wilderness hospitality is a wonderful thing!

Well we had to stock the cabin pretty well with our excess food and supplies, but we got light enough to make it out in one trip. My partner has retired back to Texas, too old to hunt, but "ol' griz" hangs on his wall. I missed my date with the big sow the following spring because the breakup was late and Grizzly season was over before the lake cleared of ice. "ol' thumper" is on detached duty, back in Alaska. It is with a young friend who moved to Anchorage with his Alaskan wife. Which reminds me, I need to brew him up some of my special loads for "ol' thumper".

Post script - - - The Upper Russian Lake Cabin still stands and has been refurbished, you can rent it for a small sum and fly or hike in for a great getaway.

http://www.recreation.gov/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=71830

Amazing, but lengthy photo essay of the rebuilding of the URL Cabin.

It would have been easier to just build a new cabin but being a historic landmark I am glad they kept the existing log walls and just raised it before adding a new roof and porch.

http://photos.mombok.com/Alaska/Upper-Russian-Lake-Cabin/3204715_tCtSh#176693931_ytbzP