Author: leaddog

Friday:
Leaddog opens another season of the esteemed FAMHC, solo. A traverse of the Yellow Trail is accomplished, with a flyby of the two 10 point watches. Into the Duck hole and out to the first clearing where finally the beginning of a rub is seen. There were several other small rubs seen throughout the day but not like this one. A slow walk out to camp to an awaiting Robba where it was conveyed that “It” is still here!

Saturday:
A saturation of the AOI is planned, hopefully to figure out what is going on. Nick takes the Yellow trail to the Upper Watch where he stays for some time, and then moves up to Spikes Rock. Robba takes Jamie to the Notch area and unleashes him there, and goes to the other clearing where sign is seen, but other “sign” is seen thus disrupting the normal cadence of the MegaMule. This observation is not discussed here in detail for security reasons….but it most likely has resulted in the MegaMule relocating himself to avoid future encounters with this other “sign” 😉
Leaddog and Zach travels to the Drinking Cup on Hooter Ridge, Zach staying at that level with Leaddog going to the Amphitheater and pushing the top towards the Field and the watchers below. From that elevation, Leaddog thought he heard the astronauts talking from the ISS flying by….Both meet in the Field, Zach drops to the 10 point watch, Leaddog figures he’d travel to the end of Liz next to Beaver Valley Outlet. Sign is seen, this is where he may be “at times”. Jamie reports through his wanderings that a rub is seen, which most likely is from the MegaMule.
Yes….”It” is still here indeed!

Sunday:
The three DIT’s hits the “southern Zone” to see if they can chase down a small buck, which was for naught, They did here something in the woods just out of sight, most likely the two “girls”
Robba and Leaddog stays at camp to perform the winter change out concerning the water system and other camp worthy chores. This is usually done by the Polecat – who is not at camp due to a medical issue.

A good crew appears to be in order next weekend, hopefully something will happen in our favor!

Another season has begun!
Saturday:
All (mostly) gathers once again to chase mules across the land! Two DIT’s are present, finally some young blood to spill! A hunt to the School Bus watch is planned, but the issue is which “SB” is the target? Polecat hits and sits a probable SB target….yep you heard it “sits”! Lindy goes long and sits in the area of Billy’s watch. Toucher sits low in the Cathedral Watch, with Probie being somewhere in between. Leaddog takes the two DIT’s, Nick and Jamie as drivers to Camp Knob. Jamie is low with Nick on Camp Knob while Leaddog goes through Camp Valley towards the infamous “800 foot cliff”. Having com issues only the two DIT’s can hear each other, and even further Nick decides to go Indian (no PC crap here) and leaves his GPS in the hands of Spike back at camp! Jamie finds Polecat, Leaddog finds the two and three mules are sent to Lindy on watch. On the egress the two DIT’s stumble into the Toucher, stealth-fully hidden on watch, after a quick salutation the two DIT’s learns the hard way out to camp. A trail is 65 feet from the Toucher which was not taken by the two, so a bearing towards the cable is taken and off they went, cross country. They saw some nice country on the way however!
All returns to Camp and a mule steak feast is devoured.

Sunday:
A run of the Bunny Hill is considered. Polecat once again on watch at the end, with Leaddog watching the “backdoor” by the cable. Toucher is now the drive boss, and with the three DIT’s in tow they go the their starting point. All perform well and hits the Notch and then continues on part two, Nick takes the Dark Side back to camp. Apparently a mule runs past Polecat, just out of site and nothing is observed by the other watchers/drivers. All returns to camp with nothing else seen.

Leaddog once again arrives in camp the day prior, Thursday night to get a head start on the next adventure. A strange green glow is seen and is captured in the Northern Sky!
FRIDAY:
A snow covered world is now present, hopefully proving that there are/is indeed mule(s) in the area. Leaddog does another run solo this time, of last weeks Duck Hole hunt; now with much more sign seen! A buck seems to be dogging does, and the Big Bad Bear is laying down more tracks than Spike returning to the endless buffet! A few scrapes are seen as well as more rubs…the crew is informed and a plan is set for Saturday.

SATURDAY:
A good crew of nine are now fighting for space in camp. Robba takes the DIT’s, (now referred to as “The Lads” and “The Hansen Brothers”) to Camp Creek to drive back towards the knolls, Robba has the bell! A secondary “expeditionary crew” is sent afar by vehicle to push back to everyone else, the classic F-Troop pincer move….climbers climb high, Leaddog and Lindy meet at the Barrel and heads towards the gang on the Liz side. More rubs of gargantuan size are seen…it IS here, somewhere. Leaddog sees where a mule came down off of Liz, stopped at his tracks from yesterday and promptly headed back in the direction it came from, UP the hill back on Liz. Just the very sight and smell of his footprints evokes fear! 😉 All converges to Spikes Rock where watchers are found, with the Lads performing their assignment to great satisfaction – they’re learning the woods well so far, lets see what occurs “over the hill” when the time comes!
The Lads are instructed to follow their instructor and spreads out on the trail back to camp and heads towards the property line which was once again done in fine fashion. Meanwhile, Toucher and Polecat plays up in the Notch over the “Little One” where they find a convention of mules! THAT’S where they were today! Toucher actually sees a body or two as they run in the opposite direction thereof, as usual. Leaddog, Digger and Lindy covers the Knolls on exit with nothing seen as well.

SUNDAY:
High winds and snow blowing sideways inhibits once again a decent hunt.

This is the chosen time when the crew, or parts thereof partake in the extended hunt beginning on Thursday to roam the Happy Hunting Grounds unencumbered.

Leaddog arrives in camp Wednesday to prepare for the adventure. Note that this post may be updated to include any omissions and correct any errors due to the time lapse in posting said post! It happens…..

THURSDAY:
Digger arrives and after a hearty breakfast of steak and eggs both ventures to recon the lands for mules. Both head west, one on the “Yellow Feather Route” the other to the to Spikes Trail. Both continue on hitting the Duck Hole on the Liz side, some sign is seen, but no evidence from the 36 pt buck yet…….both work their way back towards camp with nothing observed.

FRIDAY:
A push of the “Western Bunny Hill” is performed, now with additional help from Probie and Jamie the Bear Hunter. All converge to the elusive overgrown Notch, where Jamie and Leaddog are waiting anxiously for anything to occur, appear or happen in any manner or form. A doe walks right up to Jamie without its bear costume on, and Leaddog waits in the ruins of the Jabba Hut where the wind says there a mule just out of his site. Being downwind, Leaddog has blocked the mule from continuing to the Notch as evidenced by its smell wafting through the Notch. Probie hits the Notch and connects with Leaddog who finds Jamie and his driver holding hands! All ventures back to camp….somebody saw something that excites the crew!

SATURDAY:
Jamie leaves camp to perform his husbandry duties, but now Nick and Zack are present as well as the rest of the Rangers. A hit of the Bunny Hill behind camp is planned, watchers are placed up high, Zach is sent to Leaddog’s watch which was actually found! Toucher goes his normal route in the clouds with Leaddog, Nick and Robba performing the drive to the Notch. A bear is pushed by Digger early on and Nick finds Zach, Leadddog finds Toucher and part two is now underway and all heads in the general direction of camp. Lindy takes the Dark Side route, the now well smoked Polecat crawls back on the trail….and meanwhile on the other side apparently a coyote of large proportions is encountered by Robba, Junior, Nick and Zack, but was allowed to leave the area of operations….this time! All converges back to camp as usual.

SUNDAY:
Alaskan weather prohibits any decent attempts to hunt, so all vacates the Happy Hunting Grounds.

Note as previously mentioned this post will be updated as necessary!

Friday:

Leaddog shows up to commence another year of the FAMHC, but typhoon winds hinders any field activities. 35mph plus sustained winds say don’t leave the camp! Polecat arrives, and the two sit and grin at each other.

Saturday:

With a good crew now assembled, a hunt from the west towards camp is planned. Drivers are driven to their points, watchers are placed including now the Polecat. Much sign is seen at he starting point, a scrape to black earth is observed. Three drivers, Leaddog, Toucher and Lindy start and pushes absolutely nothing that they know of to the awaiting watchers. Leaddog finds the Polecat in the correct spot, as noticed by the new clearing that could support a Chinook Helo landing. Toucher and Lindy finds Steven and a second hunt is planned closer to Camp, with the usual results.

Sunday:

A hunt of the whole Bunny Hill is planned, watches manned yet again with the Polecat in the Notch….”Is this the Notch?!”…..Steven not too far down below. Leaddog, Toucher and Robba hits their routes and off they go! Minutes into the drive four does run right into Polecat, who finally gets to see what an Adirondack deer looks like again in the hair! Leaddog sees a mule dash out of sight into the drive towards the Notch, Toucher sees yet another up top….Robba then sees running (flying) tracks heading down the ridge, with leaves still on fire showing the way it ran. All meet for part two, and the next hunt begins, but now with a twist! Robba claims a buck with tiny horns is seen which walked practically up to him and bedded down 50 feet away staring at him. Apparently the two are trying to teach each other their language as Robba and the mule have a most interesting conversation for over half an hour! (whats deer words for “aaaaaaple?’)

Steven comes around the end of the mountain to the two and interrupts the lovefest….

Everybody sees a deer or four! BTW, the two bucks were not the same, and neither were worthy of placement on the walls.

Next week….The Great Alaskan Adventure is planned, four days of stumbling around the Happy Hunting Grounds! Stay tuned!