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00:03Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
00:30Now, with more journal entries and never-before-seen footage, we revisit Dick's Alaskan paradise.
00:39Join us now for Part 2, the continuing story of Alone in the Wilderness.
01:28The following story of Alone in the Wilderness.
01:29I had made it through my first year living alone in the wilderness.
01:34My little cabin had kept me warm and comfortable.
01:39With the arrival of spring, it felt good to get back to work again.
01:46I must restock the lumberyard, for I had cash building on my mind.
01:51Something I had thought about all winter long.
01:55I think it will be the answer to keeping those critters out of my food supply.
02:07Folks say that axmanship is a lost art, but I like to think I've found it again in these cool
02:14spruce woods.
02:16The pull of the packboard straps felt comfortable against my woolen shirt,
02:21and I could feel the warmth of the spring sun on my face.
02:26It was real bull work, but I never felt any better.
02:31I wondered if there was anyone in the world as free and happy as I was.
02:49I would spend the rest of the afternoon ripping boards from my well-seasoned logs.
02:55I would need seven or eight to provide me with a solid and level foundation for the cash building.
03:06With six boards ripped, it was time to take a break.
03:23In the last few days, the Hope Creek has eaten a big opening into the lake ice.
03:29I could see the pool of open water growing before my eyes.
03:35A pair of harlequin ducks swam out from shore as I passed by.
03:40And began talking to me.
03:44I worked a metal spoon deep into the current,
03:48jerked it toward me, and let it drift back.
03:52Not a strike after several casts.
03:55Then a snag.
03:57Then it moved.
03:59I knew I had a fish.
04:01A fifteen-inch grayling.
04:03Enough for my needs.
04:13A few sticks of wood on the coals, and I would be back in business again.
04:19The little stove that Brother Jake built is good company, and works well.
04:24The proof of a good stove is in the heating, and this one is amazing.
04:30Very little fire, but it keeps my water boiling in the kettle.
04:35For my supper tonight, it would be fried trout and a batch of biscuits, made from the sourdough starter that
04:42Mary Allsworth had given me last spring.
04:47It's hard to believe it's been one year ago today that Babe brought me here to Twin Lakes in the
04:52little tea craft.
04:54I remembered it was a beautiful day, and we had sat and talked on the gravel bar at the upper
05:00end of the lower lake.
05:02I had backpacked two loads that day to Spike's cabin.
05:06And I had even picked up a sunburn from the sun on the snow.
05:11It was the first day of what I believe has been the most interesting year of my life.
05:23While waiting for my biscuits to raise, I will catch up on my journals and a few overdue letters to
05:30send back home.
05:39Tomorrow just might be a good day to prepare for the cache building.
05:48I had many poles to cut and peel today, before the cache construction begins.
05:54I had cut many of them last November, on the far side of Hope Creek.
06:00They had been seasoning all this time.
06:04I had cut four other heavier logs about fifteen feet long.
06:08These would be my stilts, to hold the cache aloft.
06:12I finished the post holes and set in the big stilts.
06:16Like the fireplace and cabin, I can see the cache up on the poles already.
06:31The first course of logs was notched and nailed to my foundation planks.
06:36I cut notches for four stringers and hewed the stringers to fit.
06:49The logs fit snugly into their custom-made notches.
06:53Thirty in place.
06:55The cache is now twenty-nine inches high.
07:03Now, for some roof poles.
07:07Everything has a good snug fit down here on the ground.
07:11I hope it goes together with no trouble when I climb the ladder with all the pieces.
07:22It's May 18th.
07:24Strange to wake up before three in the morning and feel that daylight is being wasted.
07:30This is Red Runt's country, and I am the invader.
07:34And hardly a day passes that he does not remind me of this with his chatter.
07:41It's good to see bears on the mountain again.
07:45I spotted a big blonde bear, and then another chocolate color, and another.
07:51Until there were three, standing half as tall as their mother.
07:54Cubs, but not this year's.
08:04I studied them through the 60-power eyepiece,
08:07and finally talked myself out of climbing up there to see them at close range.
08:13I had a cache to build.
08:21I went to the woodshed and ripped out planks for the door frame,
08:25and some inch-and-a-half planks for the door.
08:32I then cut two sets of hinges out of a stump of wood.
08:47I was ready to take my little house apart
08:49and put it back together again on top of its nine-foot stilts.
08:55I used my meat pole ladder for a scaffold.
08:59Soon, number one log was resting atop the stilts.
09:05The logs fit perfectly.
09:08Forty-penny spikes went into the heavy ends,
09:11and sixteen pennies into the small ends.
09:28Next, the door.
09:31All that remained was to cut the logs in between,
09:34and I had an opening for the door.
09:43I finished off the roof with tar paper and a good layer of moss.
09:49I am really proud of that piece of work.
09:52For all practical purposes,
09:55my miniature cabin on stilts was complete.
10:04Today, I had better check the lake ice,
10:07for I've been expecting Babe in with supplies any day now,
10:11and I would hate to see him sink out of sight.
10:15He once said to me,
10:16when the ice is safe for landing,
10:18put the oil drum out on the ice.
10:21So I did.
10:22Ten weeks later, he came in and asked,
10:24why the oil drum on the ice.
10:27He has a good memory, but it isn't very long.
10:31The ice was still thirty-two inches thick,
10:34so I formed a huge OK,
10:37so Babe could easily see it from the air.
10:45Today, I would take a hike up country.
10:48My pack made up and lashed on the GI pack frame.
10:52Along with the bolex and heavy tripod,
10:55I packed five hundred feet of film,
10:57some smoked fish,
10:58and the big pistol.
11:00Around forty pounds, I would guess.
11:03I was away by seven thirty.
11:12Past Bell's Point,
11:13and up the lake,
11:15I spotted the rear half of a moose
11:17sticking out from a spruce.
11:20A big old cow.
11:22And she made no effort to leave,
11:25even though I was no more than a hundred yards.
11:31Hiding in the brush was a new calf,
11:34and I just had to try for pictures
11:36of that cute little guy.
11:42I kept trees in mind that I could get behind,
11:45just in case the mother got on me.
11:48Just how much would she put up with?
11:52Then the hackles from ears to shoulders
11:55stood on in.
11:57And here she came,
11:58ears back and nostrils flared.
12:02At fifteen feet,
12:03she whirled past me
12:04and trottered back to the calf,
12:07bawling as she went.
12:10That was enough to get my heart pumping.
12:30I figured it was a good time to be moving on.
12:34Lots of loose rock,
12:36so it was slow climbing.
12:40When I came to the edge of a big basin
12:42and peeked over the edge,
12:44three full-curled rams
12:46were staring back at me.
12:49They had me pegged.
12:54They were in their chosen isolation.
12:58Wild mountain dandies.
13:01Living high off the grass
13:02and far away from the women and kids
13:05and well out of reach from the wolves.
13:10They watched me as if they were surprised
13:12to see something else
13:13as high up on the mountain as they were.
13:17The whining sound of the bolex
13:19seemed to make them nervous.
13:21And they disappeared up
13:23and over the ridge with ease.
13:28What a view from up here.
13:30Rugged mountains as far as I could see.
13:33And many glaciers.
13:38I walked the ridge to keep warm
13:40and to look for more game.
13:42To see animals,
13:43you must move a little
13:45and look a lot.
13:47I came to a good view of Allen Mountain.
13:51So I stopped to glass it for a bear.
13:54Right away,
13:55I saw something not right.
13:58and with the binoculars,
13:59I saw it was a bear all right.
14:02Not far away were two little cubs,
14:05a good-looking sow grizzly with twins.
14:08The cubs romped and chased each other
14:11without a care in the world,
14:13while Mom constantly had her nose in the air,
14:16always on the lookout for danger.
14:20Nothing will make a grizzly
14:21leave the country faster
14:22than the scent of a man.
14:25Now, if only she would stick around all summer.
14:39I had wandered a long way
14:41from the cabin today.
14:43My pedometer read 22 miles.
14:46It was time to head home.
14:49I shouldered my pack
14:50and headed down.
14:58Today,
14:59I feel like a man
15:01inspired by a sermon
15:02that came to me firsthand,
15:05that came out of the sky
15:07and the many moods of the mountains.
15:13My left foot was getting sore.
15:15So I stopped and pulled off
15:17my boots and socks
15:20and buried my tired feet
15:21in the snow for a few minutes.
15:24Cold for just a little while
15:26will make your feet good
15:27for many more miles.
15:30The caribou seemed content today
15:32and show no fear of me.
15:35I wonder what he thinks about.
15:38Is his brain just a blank
15:40as he lies there blinking in the sun
15:41and chewing his cud?
15:44I wonder if he feels as I do
15:47that this small part of the world
15:49is enough to think about.
15:53I was home
15:54and would sleep good tonight.
15:56My gear put away
15:58and my starving birds fed.
16:00It had been a pretty good day.
16:06My ladder project
16:08had priority today
16:09and before I finished
16:11it started to snow.
16:14Surely just a shower.
16:17I used a perfect
16:18well-seasoned pole,
16:21ripped it down the center
16:22and put my ladder together
16:23with the flat sides in.
16:25The steps were short logs,
16:28flat side up and level.
16:30a ladder a man
16:32could walk up
16:32instead of climb.
16:44There was four inches
16:45on the ground
16:46when it finally stopped.
16:49Hopefully this was
16:50the last good snow of spring.
16:54The cloud cover broke
16:56and a big blue spot
16:57opened up in the sky
16:59and the sun feels good
17:01on my face.
17:02A good day
17:04to do some tin bending.
17:23I have surprised myself
17:25with what I could make
17:26with simple tools
17:27when a definite need arose.
17:31And my need today
17:32was a new pan
17:33to heat water
17:34on the stove with.
17:36My old wind is now
17:37starting to show
17:38a bit of rust.
17:41I have made
17:42all kinds of things
17:43from empty fuel cans.
17:45It seems that I always
17:47have a good stockpile
17:48of them in the woodshed.
17:50Bush pilots
17:51have discarded many
17:52over the years.
17:54And like they say,
17:56one man's trash
17:58is another man's treasure.
18:01I don't think a man
18:03knows what he actually
18:04can do
18:04until he's challenged.
18:07I do think a man
18:08has missed a very deep
18:09feeling of satisfaction
18:11if he has never
18:12created something
18:13or at least completed
18:15something with his own
18:16two hands.
18:18We have grown accustomed
18:19to work on pieces
18:21and parts of things
18:22instead of taking things
18:24to completion.
18:26The emphasis
18:27seems to be
18:28on teamwork.
18:29Now,
18:30I realize that
18:31man working together
18:32can perform miracles,
18:35such as sending a man
18:36to walk on the surface
18:37of the moon.
18:38And there is definitely
18:40a need in place
18:41for teamwork.
18:43I would be the last
18:44to argue that point.
18:46We need each other,
18:48but nevertheless
18:49in a jam.
18:51The best friend
18:52you have
18:53is yourself.
18:56It is always
18:57a pleasure
18:57to see what you can make
18:59instead of buying it
19:00all packaged up
19:01and ready-made.
19:03My problem now
19:04is
19:04where to store it all.
19:10Today,
19:10I would take
19:11an overnight tour
19:12down country.
19:14And with the ice
19:15still in good shape,
19:17I would sled
19:18my gear
19:18rather than
19:19carry it on my back.
19:22I followed
19:24close to shore
19:24so as not
19:25to disturb the caribou
19:26any more
19:27than I had to.
19:28Yet something else
19:30was making them
19:31uneasy.
19:34Opposite the den
19:35opening
19:35were grizzly bear
19:36tracks and droppings.
19:38All old,
19:40and I felt certain
19:41the bear was gone.
19:42With pistol in hand,
19:44I crawled inside
19:45for a closer inspection.
19:47Inside,
19:48I found the bear's
19:49hibernation plug,
19:51something I had only
19:52heard about
19:53from the old-timers.
19:54The large black plug
19:56was made up
19:57of dried grass,
19:58twigs,
19:59and hair.
20:00It was
20:00Mother Nature's way
20:01of blocking up
20:02the back door
20:03of the bear's
20:04digestive system
20:05during his long
20:06six-month sleep.
20:09I figured
20:10the bear
20:10must be close by,
20:12and it wasn't long
20:13before I spotted him
20:15in the brush below.
20:15He acted like a bear
20:18looking for caribou
20:19calves.
20:20When he dropped
20:21out of sight,
20:22I followed.
20:23Maybe this was
20:25a foolish thing
20:25to do.
20:27The evidence
20:28showed this bear
20:29had already killed
20:30and consumed
20:31at least one
20:32unlucky caribou
20:33this season.
20:37No better company
20:38in the wilderness
20:39than a campfire.
20:40Very comforting.
20:52It is surprising
20:54how comfortable
20:55a bedroll
20:55on the ground
20:56can be
20:56after you've
20:58come down
20:58off a mountain.
21:05I was on the
21:06home stretch now
21:07and had the
21:08cabin in sight.
21:09On the trail
21:10stood a brand-new
21:11bear-bit tree,
21:13hair rubbed
21:14into the bark
21:15and seven feet
21:15above.
21:17More destruction
21:18of wood
21:19than I have seen
21:20in a long time.
21:21This was no
21:22ordinary Alaskan
21:23brown bear.
21:25Was the message
21:26meant for another
21:27bear,
21:27or was it for me?
21:30I will have to
21:31watch out
21:31for that guy.
21:38It would be
21:39an early dinner.
21:40a fireweed salad
21:42and the last
21:44of my caribou meat
21:45fried in a
21:46well-salted skillet
21:47topped with onions.
21:50And of course,
21:51a batch of
21:52fresh-baked
21:53sourdough biscuits.
21:59I was proud
22:00of my cabin
22:01and cash.
22:02The actual
22:03cash layout
22:04was just a shade
22:05over $40.
22:07and that included
22:09the window
22:09that Babe
22:10had flown in.
22:11Although it was
22:12small
22:13at 11 by 14 feet,
22:15it was cozy
22:16and big enough
22:18for my needs.
22:20Everything
22:20seems to
22:21find its place.
22:23However,
22:24if I continue
22:25to collect
22:25souvenirs
22:26on my travels,
22:27I will need
22:29more mantel space.
22:33The fireplace
22:34really adds
22:34character
22:35to my little
22:36cabin
22:37and is good
22:38company in the winter.
22:51A Twin Lakes
22:52holiday.
22:54Babe had made
22:55a mail drop
22:56while I was
22:56away down country.
22:59Many letters
23:00to read
23:00and some very
23:01good books
23:02from my good
23:02friend Roy Allen.
23:05And good news
23:06from Brother Jake.
23:07The J-3 Cub
23:09is ready to fly
23:11and he will be here
23:12for a visit
23:13in August.
23:19The rest
23:20of my day
23:21would be spent
23:21bringing my journals
23:23up to date.
23:29As I glanced
23:31up from my writing,
23:32a cow moose
23:33and her good-looking
23:34calf
23:34strolled past
23:35on the beach.
23:37I do believe
23:38it's the same
23:39cow that was
23:40so unfriendly
23:41a few weeks ago.
23:44Life is so
23:45uncomplicated
23:46here at Twin Lakes.
23:51It is now
23:52June 13th
23:53and the great
23:55ice chunks
23:55are moving past
23:56at the rate
23:57of 50 feet
23:57per minute.
24:00Last year
24:01the lake
24:01was not ice-free
24:02until the 26th
24:03of June.
24:05I wonder
24:06does the lake
24:07ice melt
24:08from the top
24:08down
24:09or the bottom
24:10up?
24:23now after six
24:25and a half
24:25months
24:26the mountains
24:27will be able
24:28to see themselves
24:28in the mirror
24:29again.
24:33I would celebrate
24:34the ice breakup
24:35today with a trip
24:36down lake.
24:37A pretty good breeze
24:39going down
24:40but that was
24:41okay.
24:42Anything below
24:43the white cap
24:44stage is good.
25:02The wind
25:03fared up a bit
25:04after beaching.
25:13I left the beach
25:14and climbed
25:15to the edge
25:15of the timber
25:16to get a better
25:17look at a fine
25:18caribou bull
25:19I had spotted
25:19from the canoe.
25:26He looked
25:27to be in prime
25:27shape.
25:29A trophy
25:30hunter would
25:30leave his wife
25:31for a head
25:31like that.
25:34I do hope
25:35that old boy
25:35makes it
25:36through the
25:36hunting season.
25:52It was a warm
25:54day
25:54and I can hear
25:55the many waterfalls
25:56in the distance.
25:59I do believe
26:00the lake level
26:00will rise
26:01today.
26:05It was very
26:06buggy down low
26:07but very few
26:08bugs up here.
26:10The good breeze
26:11gives me some
26:12relief
26:12from those
26:13pesky mosquitoes
26:14and white socks.
26:18It is a world
26:19of beauty
26:20at Twin Lakes.
26:37As I rounded
26:38a brush point
26:39there sat a fox
26:40at the edge
26:41of the brush.
26:43It was a mother
26:44standing guard
26:44over three pups.
26:47Like the bear
26:48cubs
26:48fox pups
26:49are very different
26:50from one another.
26:52Some like to
26:53get out
26:53and explore.
26:55Others prefer
26:55to stay
26:56close to the den.
26:59I sat
27:00and watched
27:01them play
27:01for more
27:01than an hour
27:03and exposed
27:04145 feet
27:05of film.
27:22It was time
27:23to be moving
27:23on.
27:25I was a long
27:26way from home.
27:36Emerson Creek
27:37was running
27:38a lot
27:38of water
27:38today.
27:40I couldn't
27:41help myself.
27:41I just had
27:42to stop
27:43and waste
27:43a few shots
27:44with the camera.
27:46So much
27:47beauty
27:47all around
27:48me.
28:02a near calm
28:03lake
28:03as I shoved
28:04off.
28:08It is always
28:09enjoyable
28:09to run
28:10the connecting
28:11stream
28:11between the
28:11lakes.
28:13How many
28:14times have
28:15I wished
28:15the scenery
28:16would go by
28:16that fast
28:17on a calm
28:18lake?
28:30A lone
28:31young moose
28:32appeared in the
28:32pond next to
28:33the stream
28:34on the left
28:35hand side
28:35of my canoe.
28:38I cruised
28:39down
28:40wondering
28:40just how
28:41close I could
28:42get.
28:43I thought
28:44it odd
28:44that this
28:45little guy
28:45was all
28:46alone.
28:47Where
28:48was his
28:48mother?
28:50Curiosity
28:51got the
28:51best of
28:52me.
28:53Still no
28:54sign of
28:54the calf's
28:55mother along
28:55the stream.
28:57I wondered
28:58if I had
28:59an orphan.
29:01The first
29:02calm cove
29:03I came to
29:04I beached
29:04the canoe
29:05and packed
29:06the bolex
29:07and tripod
29:08to high ground
29:09above the
29:09pond.
29:11As I
29:11reloaded
29:12the camera
29:13a young
29:13bull
29:14waded in.
29:14but still
29:16no sign
29:17of the
29:17cow.
29:24Then up
29:25the stream
29:25bank
29:25came the
29:26little guy
29:27limping
29:27along.
29:30The calf's
29:31right front
29:32leg
29:32had a big
29:33patch of
29:34white
29:34below the
29:35knees.
29:36Quills.
29:38There must
29:39have been
29:39a hundred
29:39of them.
29:48The culprit
29:49was not
29:50far away.
29:51How could
29:52something so
29:53cute cause
29:54so much
29:54pain?
29:56The calf
29:57had picked
29:57the wrong
29:58one to
29:58mess with.
30:05with the
30:06help of
30:06my
30:07walking
30:07stick
30:07I
30:08encouraged
30:09the
30:09porcupine
30:10to move
30:10on
30:10just in
30:12case the
30:12little
30:12calf
30:13had not
30:14learned
30:14his
30:14lesson.
30:16If only
30:17the calf
30:18had left
30:18that
30:18porcupine
30:19alone
30:21now it
30:21will have
30:22one very
30:22sore
30:23leg
30:23to go
30:23with its
30:24problem
30:24of making
30:25a living
30:25without
30:26milk
30:26and a
30:27wise
30:27mother
30:28to teach
30:28it the
30:29do's
30:29and don'ts
30:30of the
30:30very cruel
30:31world
30:31that
30:32nature
30:32is.
30:38I
30:38will have
30:39to come
30:39back
30:39and check
30:40on the
30:40calf.
30:41I
30:42very much
30:43doubt
30:43that it
30:44will survive
30:45until
30:45winter.
30:49There
30:50was a
30:50good breeze
30:50blowing up
30:51the lake
30:51and soon
30:53I was
30:53among the
30:54whitecaps
30:54and really
30:55sailing.
30:57It
30:57would be
30:57a
30:58fast
30:58trip
30:58home.
31:00An
31:00hour
31:01and
31:01ten
31:01minutes
31:01found
31:02me
31:02at
31:02my
31:02beach.
31:20It
31:20was good
31:21to see
31:21my
31:21cabin
31:22again.
31:27With my
31:27gear
31:28packed in
31:28and a
31:29fire
31:29going,
31:30I
31:31packed
31:31and
31:31labeled
31:31a good
31:32batch
31:32of
31:32exposed
31:33film
31:33for
31:33brother
31:34Jake.
31:35I
31:36expect
31:36babes
31:37should be
31:37flying in
31:38any day
31:38now.
31:40I was
31:41weary,
31:42but not too
31:43weary to go
31:44down to
31:44Hope Creek
31:45to see if I
31:46could catch a
31:46fish to go
31:47along with
31:47my beans.
32:07After a few
32:08casts,
32:09one grabbed
32:09the lure.
32:11I worked
32:12him in
32:12slowly and
32:13carefully.
32:14I didn't want
32:15to lose this
32:16one.
32:17this business
32:18of fishing
32:18can turn
32:19serious
32:19pretty quick
32:20when a
32:21man is
32:21hungry.
32:31I've
32:31learned
32:32something
32:32from the
32:33big game
32:33animals.
32:35Their
32:35food is
32:36pretty much
32:36the same
32:37day to
32:37day,
32:38and I
32:39don't vary
32:40my fare
32:40too much
32:41either.
32:42Food
32:43is fuel,
32:44and the
32:45best fuel
32:45I've
32:45found
32:46is oatmeal,
32:47beans,
32:47and fresh
32:48fish,
32:48and a
32:49caribou
32:50or porcupine
32:51stew once
32:52in a while.
32:54I just
32:54season simple
32:55food with
32:56hunger,
32:57and I
32:58have never
32:58felt better
32:59in my
32:59life.
33:00I
33:13have never
33:14felt better
33:14in my life.
33:15There's
33:16nothing
33:16better than
33:17a fresh
33:17caught
33:17grayling
33:18fried in
33:19bacon
33:19grease.
33:38The rest
33:39of my
33:39evening
33:40would be
33:40spent
33:41catching up
33:41on my
33:42journals.
33:48It was
33:48eight o'clock
33:49when I
33:49turned out
33:50the
33:50lantern.
33:51I just
33:52knew I
33:52would sleep
33:53good
33:53tonight.
33:55That
33:55four inches
33:56of foam
33:56rubber
33:56under me
33:57never
33:58felt so
33:59good.
34:02I
34:02slept
34:03as if
34:03I had
34:03died
34:04last
34:04night.
34:06The
34:06cabin
34:07was still
34:07warm,
34:07and the
34:08coals
34:08in the
34:08stove
34:09were still
34:09glowing.
34:11for
34:11breakfast
34:12it
34:12would
34:12be
34:12a
34:12good
34:12stack
34:13of
34:13hot
34:13cakes
34:14topped
34:14with
34:15last
34:15year's
34:15preserves.
34:18One
34:18of these
34:19days I
34:19must take
34:20a hike
34:20up to
34:20the
34:21Calgill
34:21bench
34:21to see
34:22how the
34:23blueberry
34:23crop
34:23is
34:24faring
34:24up.
34:26They
34:26should
34:26be
34:27ripening
34:27up
34:27about
34:28now.
34:37With
34:37the
34:38dishes
34:38washed
34:38and
34:39my
34:39welfare
34:39birds
34:40fed,
34:41I
34:42had
34:42a
34:42notion
34:42to
34:43paddle
34:43down
34:43to
34:43the
34:43lower
34:44end
34:44again.
34:47The
34:48flat
34:48water
34:49looked
34:49inviting,
34:50so I
34:51packed
34:51the
34:52necessary
34:52gear
34:52to
34:53the
34:53beach.
34:54A
34:55beautiful,
34:56quiet
34:56morning
34:56for the
34:57trip.
35:10to
35:34to海
35:38have
35:39to
35:39to
35:39to
35:39him
35:39The only sound on the lake was my paddle, and a few distant waterfalls.
36:13I was making good time.
36:16One hour later, I had made it to the lower end of the lake, and was coasting down the connecting
36:21stream, when I surprised a very large mother brown bear.
36:27The stream bank blocked my full view of her on the marshy flat, but surely she must have a cub
36:34or two hidden in the brush.
36:38It was clear to me that she was irritated, so I kept the canoe well centered in the stream, just
36:46in case she came back to have a talk with me.
37:13The mosquitoes were affectionate today, when I beached the canoe.
37:19On up to my climb out point, and from there it was perfect hiking country.
37:31The waterfalls had really come to life since the warm weather had arrived, and Emerson Falls was as pretty as
37:39I have ever seen it.
38:04The airways have been on the lake.
38:12If there was gold in this creek
38:14the nuggets would be found
38:16in the deep clear pools
38:19I think that the real question is not
38:21whether is there gold in the creek
38:24but just how do I go about
38:26shutting the water off
38:37The red salmon were active
38:39in the creek today
38:41a sure sign that fall was on its way
38:47How far had they come
38:49since leaving salt water near Dillingham?
38:53According to the map
38:55probably more than 250 miles
39:00On the opposite side of the creek
39:02was a sow and her good-looking cub
39:05I walked gently
39:06and watched her closely
39:09I had told myself
39:11don't surprise her
39:12and she will probably
39:14take her cub and go
39:17I have heard the people
39:18who claim to know say
39:20she isn't likely to harm you
39:22unless her cubs are in danger
39:24or thinks they are in danger
39:27I think what she thinks
39:29is the determining factor
39:31what I think
39:32doesn't count
39:35I already had one bear
39:36that was upset with me today
39:38and I didn't need another
39:45On this very calm day
39:47instead of towing the canoe
39:49the half mile upstream
39:50to the upper lake
39:51I would carry it
40:00With the canoe well balanced
40:02on my shoulders
40:03and no wind
40:05the chore seemed easy enough
40:12I think the old girl
40:14was pleased
40:14to see me move on
40:36I do believe
40:37that carrying the canoe
40:39is the best way up
40:40the connecting stream
40:42providing of course
40:43the wind isn't blowing
40:49not a riffle on the lake
40:51it will be a pleasant
40:53paddle home
41:00hot cakes for breakfast
41:02and the sky was clearing
41:04today would be
41:05a blueberry picking day
41:12across Hope Creek Bridge
41:14and then I would
41:15head up the trail
41:16to the cowgill berry patch
41:19hopefully the bears
41:20had not beat me to it
41:22I would need a good supply
41:24to see me through the winter
41:27in just a few weeks
41:28the bull moose and caribou
41:30will be rubbing that soft velvet
41:32free from their antlers
41:41I found a real good patch
41:43and the berries
41:44were large and sweet
41:47I was anxious
41:48to try out
41:48my new berry picking machine
41:50that I had made
41:54in no time at all
41:55I had picked a gallon
41:57and hardly raised
41:58from my knees
41:59with a good supply
42:01on hand
42:02I would have to send
42:03some to marry
42:04next time babe flies in
42:14a young and very curious
42:16bull caribou
42:17was good company
42:19while I picked
42:21I think he was impressed
42:22with that new picking machine
42:48I had filled almost three cans
42:50when I heard a small plane
42:53I didn't want to get
42:54too excited yet
42:56but could it be
42:57brother Jake
42:59I had almost given up
43:01on seeing him fly in
43:03but when the little plane turned
43:05I could see that it was
43:06a yellow J3 cub
43:09this was the nicest thing
43:11that has happened
43:11at Twin Lakes
43:12for a long time
43:24I told him that I had given up
43:26and expected that he had
43:28junked the remains
43:29and hitchhiked back to California
43:32it was in the late summer
43:38that Dick's brother Raymond
43:40better known as Jake
43:41would fly his rebuilt
43:43J3 Piper Cub airplane
43:45solo
43:46well over 2,000 miles
43:47from California to Alaska
43:49and then into the remote wilderness
43:52of Twin Lakes country
43:54Raymond would then spend
43:56the next month
43:56with Dick at his cabin
43:57and experience wilderness living
43:59first hand
44:01along with as much
44:03fresh food supplies
44:04as the little plane could carry
44:05Raymond would surprise Dick
44:07with a 16mm wind-up
44:09Bolex camera
44:10later on
44:12it would prove to be
44:13Dick's most important
44:14and valued possession
44:16the camera would allow Dick
44:18to continue to document
44:19his lifestyle and travels
44:21in this one-man wilderness
44:28the little two-seat airplane
44:29the Arctic Tern
44:31would provide a new
44:32and exciting way
44:34for the brothers
44:34to explore the far reaches
44:36of this remote wilderness
44:37a region that otherwise
44:39would be difficult
44:40if not impossible
44:41to travel by foot
45:09when weather permitted
45:11the Prenicke brothers
45:12would fly off
45:13into the unknown
45:14taking turns
45:15at the controls
45:17the vast wilderness
45:18that surrounded Twin Lakes
45:20offered countless rivers
45:21and valleys to explore
45:23and the Prenicke brothers
45:25wanted to see it all
45:28what used to take
45:29Dick days
45:29to hike on foot
45:30could now be covered
45:31in minutes
45:32they were now
45:33enjoying something
45:34that they had only
45:35dreamed of as boys
45:36growing up
45:37in the flat country
45:38of Iowa
45:39they were living
45:40that dream
45:41and exploring
45:42the Alaskan wilderness
45:43in their own plain
45:44and together
45:49on occasion
45:50when the lack of daylight
45:51or unflyable weather
45:53prevented their return
45:54to the comfort
45:55of Dick's cabin
45:56Ray and Dick
45:57would welcome
45:58an excuse
45:58to make camp
45:59and sleep out
46:00under the stars
46:01on the shores
46:02of a remote lake
46:03in the middle of nowhere
46:05they would always
46:06manage to catch
46:07something
46:07cook it
46:08and simply
46:08enjoy each other's company
46:28Ray would soon
46:30say goodbye to Dick
46:31and fly back home
46:32to California
46:33yet the brothers
46:34would remain close
46:35through countless letters
46:38this bond
46:39would continue
46:39over the next
46:40thirty years
46:46on this fine
46:47October morning
46:48Jake was on his way
46:50back to California
46:51and I was alone
46:53in the wilderness again
46:56I took my gold pan
46:58and shovel
46:58and headed up the creek
47:01high up on the gorge
47:02where bedrock
47:03is very near the surface
47:06the gold
47:07should be here
47:11right away
47:12I found a good flake
47:13lying in plain sight
47:16very seldom
47:17is it this easy
47:19gold is not
47:20hard to recognize
47:22the first time
47:23that you see it
47:23you will know
47:25that it is gold
47:29the rest of the morning
47:30I washed lots of gravel
47:32and cleaned moss
47:35I have found
47:36the moss
47:37that grows
47:37on the bottom
47:38of the rocks
47:38in the stream
47:39is a good collector
47:40of fine gold
47:44the water
47:45was very cold
47:46and that leaky boot
47:48didn't help things
47:57with gold
47:58now up to
47:59thirty five dollars
48:00an ounce
48:00I could add
48:02a few things
48:02to the grocery list
48:05I do hope
48:06brother Jake
48:06enjoyed my cooking
48:09said he couldn't
48:10decide whether
48:11my spicy
48:11porcupine stew
48:13tasted like
48:13Iowa rabbit
48:14or squirrel
48:18with a good kettle
48:19of beans
48:19bubbling on the stove
48:21I would spend
48:22the rest of this
48:23very warm day
48:24carving out
48:25a big wooden spoon
48:26for Mary
48:26in exchange
48:27for all those
48:28cookies she sends me
48:31I dug out
48:32a good looking stump
48:33and went to work
48:36the camp robbers
48:37kept me company
48:44nature provides
48:45so many things
48:46if one has the eye
48:48to notice them
48:51it is always a pleasure
48:52to see what you can make
48:54instead of buying it
48:55ready made
48:57for this
48:57no
48:58us
48:58let's hear
48:58it
48:59it
49:03it
50:14A good one for dipping batter
50:17A bit more sanding
50:19And it would be ready for a coat of shellac
50:23I do hope that Mary likes it
50:33Learn to use an axe and respect it
50:36And you can't help but love it
50:39But abuse one
50:40And it will wear your hands raw
50:43And open your foot like an overcooked sausage
50:49I enjoy working for my heat
50:51It seems to make my food taste better
50:58It's the end of October now
51:00And the good weather is still holding
51:03But all signs tell me
51:05That winter is not far away
51:12The bears are working overtime now
51:15Bulking up on berries
51:16Preparing themselves for that long winter sleep
51:22In just a few short weeks
51:24This bear will disappear into the mountain
51:27And I will not see him again for six months
51:31I will miss his company
51:36The fall season at Twin Lakes
51:38Is the pretty one
51:39But always too short
51:42The blueberry leaves fall
51:44At the touch now
51:48I could not help but waste some film
51:50On these two fine looking caribou bulls
51:53Before heading back to the cabin
51:56I am happy to see that they have survived
51:59Another hunting season
52:05A stiff breeze and some big waves
52:08It's as rough as I have seen it
52:12I think a change is coming
52:21Now at 7.30 it has stopped snowing
52:25A fresh coat of shellac
52:26And the webs looked ready for miles of trail
52:32I could see the big bear from my cabin door
52:36It appeared to me that he was searching for a den site
52:40The question is
52:41Would he use the same den as last year?
52:44Or would he dig a new one?
52:52Dead calm and six degrees
52:56As cold and still as it is
52:59The water has now become too thick
53:01To stir with a paddle
53:06The canoe looks out of place
53:07On the beach with so much snow
53:10It will do me no good now
53:14So I towed it up to the point
53:15And wrestled it into Spike's cabin
53:18A tight squeeze
53:19A tight squeeze
53:20But at least it was covered
53:24An ideal day to work at my wood supply
53:28Making wood is never a waste of time in cold weather
53:33The dead tree was a good one
53:35Not completely dry
53:37Which is better for holding fire
53:48The little pumpkin seed sled
53:50That I found floating in the lake last spring
53:53Has proved to be a very valuable find
53:56And was making this job a real pleasure
54:05Six good sled loads
54:07When I got it all to the woodshed
54:10And it began to snow again
54:15There's nothing like watching
54:17A real wilderness storm
54:18From the window of a snug little cabin
54:22With all this snow
54:25I can't help but wonder
54:26About the sheep on the mountain
54:29It must take a lot of digging
54:31For very little feed
54:52Really a beautiful sight this morning
54:55It must have snowed all night
54:57As there was twelve inches of new snow
54:59To shovel from my paths
55:04Today I must go down lake
55:06To check for tracks
55:08I tried to make a sneak
55:09On a good bunch of caribou
55:11For some close up pictures
55:14A sudden shift in the wind
55:15And it was the beginning of the end
55:19A spooky old cow
55:20Must have cried wolf
55:30I was nearly to Glacier Creek
55:32When I spotted sheep tracks in the snow
55:35Two young rams kept their eye on me
55:37As I made my way up the canyon
55:41The going was easy enough
55:43Without the webs
55:44The snow got deeper
55:47But not so much a problem
55:48With the coarse rock under the snow
55:50To give me traction
55:56Further up the creek
55:57I saw ravens flying
56:00A bad sign
56:02I hadn't climbed far
56:04When I saw the spot of red
56:05Up on the slope
56:08One animal had died
56:09So another could live
56:13The tracks told me
56:15That the wolverine
56:16Had been first at the scene
56:18The glutton had eaten his fill
56:20And would certainly return
56:22For another meal
56:25I could see just how it happened
56:27A snow slide had caught
56:29The unsuspecting ram
56:30And carried him over the edge
56:32And onto the rocks below
56:36I have often thought to myself
56:38About getting caught in a snow slide
56:41Or falling from a rock face
56:44If that happened
56:46I would probably perish on the mountain
56:48In much the same way
56:49That the old ram did
56:51I would be long gone
56:53Before anyone found me
56:55My only wish would be
56:57That folks wouldn't spend
56:58A lot of time searching
57:00When the time comes
57:02For a man to look his maker
57:03In the eye
57:04Where a better place
57:05Could the meeting be held
57:08Than in the wilderness
57:47Or as he could see
57:50Because he would hurricanes
57:50To order a copy of this program, please call this toll-free number or visit our website at www.aloneinthewilderness
58:00.com.
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