And we’re off…
Posted by Karen on May 12th 2007
Written on the 2007 Alaska to Brazil expedition
Hi everyone,
As summer is late in arriving, so are the bears in coming out of hibernation and we have managed to strike it just right for when they are first waking up, 200 pounds underweight and annoyed at sleeping in for a month and a half! So complete with the official “do and don’t” list, all available sprays, bells and whistles – we are all sorted for camping in Alaska! They say as long as you don’t surprise them, don’t get in between a mother and her cubs, hang all food in a tree, sleep at least 100 yards away from where the food is or where it’s been cooked, don’t take any snacks, chewing gum, toothpaste, soap etc. to the tent overnight, don’t take or wear the clothes you’ve cooked in AT ALL to your tent with you - you’ll be fine! GREAT! We’ll keep you posted…!
Anyway, apart from little differences like being able to buy Wolf skin hats (complete with paws dangling down the side of ones face) and Lynx fur ear muffs, the Alaskans have been really friendly and welcoming and extremely interested in what we are doing, not to mention going out of their way to help us out and give good advice (apart from scaring the hell out of us with all their bear stories)!
We have a few ‘extra toys’ on this expedition, in the way of some Mountain bikes and a Zodiac Inflatable. The boats primary (solely more like it) use being for that of fishing. All the latest and greatest equipment has been purchased and the insults and taunts are already flying!
There is an official fishing competition between William, Zane and Pablo from here to Rio: The overall combined weight will get all alcoholic beverages of their choice paid for through out a whole day and night , and the single heaviest catch (and yes, it has to be an actual fish) will get all meals for the same day/night paid for in restaurants of their choice (and all this happens in Rio de Janeiro). We will add a note on each diary entry to give you a running total (ha…)! on how things are going.
So far (although there has been a lot of ‘talk’ about fishing and how to do it the best), the results are:
William: 0 and Zane: 0 Pablo: 0
Our first week has been filled with Glaciers cruises, National parks and a trip to Kodiak Island - where we have seen seals, otters, dolphins, whales, foxes, moose and bison. We are all getting used to truck life, learning to live in sub-arctic conditions out of only one backpack! The temperature has been an average of -5 and +10 so far, which is good practice for up North (where we are now headed) as it’s only going to get colder!
Until next time…
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