This year an all boy's camp trip. Home meals cooked and vac sealed. Mac & cheese, Moose Taco meat, spaghetti. Brought moose kielbasa & moose polish sausage, had potatoes, onions, carrots and corn. All kinds of goodness! We took off to check out some old track noted on the maps. We had a goal, a destination to achieve. Two full weeks to enjoy camping in the Alaska wilderness. Traveling to the trail head after sun down, we spotted porcupine and red fox on the road. The aurora danced boldly through the clouds. A crisp cool night! At first light, coffee and breakfast. Off we go. In the beginning everything is easy, it's where everyone goes, then further on, a few spots get sticky. Picking our way along, we followed a path set by others years before. Slow progression, forward progress. We spotted two bulls while slowly motoring. One a 40" class moose, the other, one of the largest forks I've ever seen! Forks are legal but, It's day ONE! These animals were scoped and admired. We pressed on. Hours navigating the swamps, I lost trail for a bit, and in front of me, I see white flags flashing. It's mid day, kinda hot and buggy. We are in the swamps, wet lands, No where to camp for miles. We stop to check it out. We have packed for a two week moose hunt. Got beans, bullets, and some beer. Kid snacks of every kind. Here in front of me, is a very legal bull! It's day ONE! Standing belly deep in a lake, feeding on underwater delicacies. We watched as he submerged a number of times. Guessed him 60" plus bull. This was a very, very, very difficult moment for the reasons mentioned. I captured him on camera and after awhile of observing this toad of a moose we motored on, toward our desired and chosen destination. A place we have never been.
