Food and shelter are controllable. Weather and clients can be the wildcard. Some of what others may consider bad weather or severe often crosses the mind of a experienced guide as being “normal”.

I’ve had more than a few concerned questions about severe winds and us being safe...Kodiak gets breezy at 35+mph. I’ve camped on goat hunts in hurricane catagory 3 on several occasions on that island. I’ve thrown 5lb rocks up in the air on the alaska peninsula and had the wind blow them 5 or 6 feet. I grabbed a clients full water bottle once and threw it off a cliff much to his dismay...I got a odd chuckle in return when the wind blew it right back up the cliff to us.

Extremes in weather are intimidating if your unfamiliar with them. Severe winds, rain, flooding and snow can make the world feel like it’s crushing you. You’ve gotta have competent companions in those situations.

I am sure there are some that doubt your story on 70 mph winds Phil, but when I was in the Army in Alaska I chartered out for caribou on the Pen in late Nov (after TDay), back when you could shoot multiple bulls. We got a hell of a storm one night after enduring really frigid temps. A Chinook wind was blowing and the temp came above freezing, causing the snow to pack into the screen window (no outside flap, just inside). I spent the whole night pushing against the wind and ice ball as it blew our tent - I thought the wind was going to shred our tent. I spent the whole night praying. Several times our poles came out and we had to go out and put them back in. At times, I was so tired I would fall asleep, only to be awaken when my interlocked fingers held behind my head pushing against the tent, would be pushed by the wind, smacking me in the face. The next day when the winds died down I measured them with an anemometer - it often pegged out at 70 mph. Our cheap little tent was ruined - another reason a good guide is helpful - I have no doubt the Arctic Oven tents Cabot used would not have failed (we had major winds as well).

We didn't get any caribou on that trip but I will never forget it - or the steak dinner at Eddies when we finally got back to King Salmon.

We have an official roof mounted anemometer at our lodge and virtually every year we have winds over 100 mph. 127 is the highest we have seen and I have had Arctic Oven tents surrounded by alders with only the top couple of feet sticking out and once had a gust shear off all four poles !
I have landed my supercub at camp in 70 mph winds !

Years ago I was hunting in Zimbabwe and one afternoon there was maybe a 15-20 mph wind and the PH said there was no sense hunting as the animals would not move in those conditions!

quote:

I have landed my supercub at camp in 70 mph winds !

Aka reverse

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
We have an official roof mounted anemometer at our lodge and virtually every year we have winds over 100 mph. 127 is the highest we have seen!

Phil,

We live in Stuckagain on the East Hillside and usually have winds at or above 100 each year. The larger windows bow like a parachute during the gusts. You can see it in the reflective image in our sun room windows in this clip. The 120 reading was the neighbor’s wind gauge. Ours blew away.

Jim



https://youtu.be/wJQaXvMUOmo

Jim, some of our larger windows bow quite a bit and we board those up for the winter, but when the walls start to bow we don't get a lot of sleep !

As to weather questions/concerns - we experienced high winds, rain- as expected. We had the right clothes and were 100% prepared for it. My wife and I both were literally blown off our feet on one occasion. Tents held up fine ( Cabelas tents). We had plenty of food. No issues there.

I have hunted in worse weather on a couple of occasions and worked in far worse conditions on many occasions ( Russia, Kazakhstan, Papua New Guinea).

Alaska weather is what it is. You deal with it. The guide and outfitter mentioned that this weather was worse than normal. I get that, but I hear that on nearly every trip I have made anywhere. In Namibia, we had freezing temps and high winds ("Never seen this before!" was the comment). In South Africa, we had snow up high, in CAR we had 45C daytime temps and 30C night time, in Cameroon rainforest, we had one day of rain in 14 days - "I never seen this before" said the PH). I get weather, believe me.

My wife sat out one morning in the most severe weather. The guide and I were glassing every daylight hour of every day until the plane arrived on the last day. My wife glasses very diligently and extremely well.

We were both in shape and properly equipped. We were mentally prepared to grind it out.

I understand Phil's and Mark's comments based on their vast experience. In summary, weather was an issue and is part of any hunt but not a deterrent. The weather did hamper some flying, however we landed a charter in 55 knot winds to pick up some local folks. The wind was blowing pea sized gravel onto the windshield of the plane as we were sitting. The wind was directly in our face and we landed very quickly. The take off was very quick as well. The young pilot said it was no problem as long as you land into the wind.

This is my third trip to Alaska. I understand, to the extent I can, the weather.