Moose Check Station

Last week Kaden and I got to go out to the Check Station with Keith while he was working it. His job there is to check hunters going into and out of the unit of the Refuge. If the hunter got a moose Keith would measure it and record it to have on record. The check station is about 4 hours on a boat away from Galena. It was nice to finally get out and see some of the refuge.

Ruby on the way up river

The View from Camp. The Fall colors were amazing!!
(Oh and Kaden took this picture)

Kaden at the Check Station

We have arrived

Keith measuring a moose

Kaden and I enjoyed camping and hanging out with Daddy. While there were no hunters at the station we got to go fishing, berry picking and Grouse hunting.

Keith teaching Kaden how to fish. He was so proud.
He has waited 3 three years to do that.

Kaden having a blast fishing

Mr. Wayne helping Kaden catch a pike
Daddy with Kaden and his 1st pike!
Pike #2
I caught 3 Pike the last one broke my hook off and got away with my favorite Lure.

Kaden with his bug net

Keith with his grouse that he shot. He cooked it and man was it good!!

We got to see some Amazing Northern Lights every Night. Keith stayed up till all hours of the night getting some awesome shots.

Stars over the river this picture was taken in 8 minutes
It amazes me how fast the world is turning and we not even notice it!

More Star trails

Northern Lights over our camp

Kaden and I enjoying the fire while watching the Northern Lights

Our Tent

Keith and Wayne watching the lights dance

Check out the Big dipper in this one!
(Thanks Tracey for pointing it out!)

The camp was set up very well and we definately didn't have to rough it like I have had to in Africa. We had a nice wall tent with a wood stove inside to keep it warm and we have a nice stove and work area to cook food. The food we cooked was great and with great volunteers like Wayne we would never starve. He was a AWESOME cook!!! Thanks Wayne!

Wood stove in the corner and stove beside that

Our Kitchen... as I said we didn't really rough it hard

Cooking Peach Cobbler

The last night we were there the weather got a little cooler so we played inside with cards and Dominoes. Kaden had fun finding numbers and matching.

While I have been camping all my life while living in Africa there are a few things that I have learned while camping in Alaska that are totally different then camping in Africa. Here are some lessons I learned while camping in the wilds of Alaska.

1)(Previously learned while camping in Fairbanks) In Africa when nature calls, (which when you are 7 months pregnant it calls A LOT!) you get out of your tent go behind it and go to the bathroom. Well in Alaska during the summer there is a problem with that... IT is DAYLIGHT ALL NIGHT and you have to walk all the way to the outhouse.

2) When Camping in September at Moose Station you don't want to drink any thing after 5:00pm so you don't have to visit the outhouse at 2:00am. IT IS COLD AND DARK at 2:00am!!

3)In Africa while visiting the outhouse you may have to deal with Leopards in trees or Lions or Hippos in Camp, You run real fast so you can close the door of the out house and be safe. In Alaska you have to worry about Bears who can knock the outhouse down and a hubby that didn't stay awake to protect you while you were in the outhouse. =) No bears came knocking while we were there but after the first night of thinking that they could I held it alllllll night long because I was a chicken!

4) In Africa you don't pitch your tent right by the river because the hippos will join you in Camp at night. In Alaska, ( I really don't think this the main reason but it is a good one) you camp close to the river to keep the bugs down. The Gnats and Mosquitoes are terrible the farther you get away from the water.

5) You can go a Long time with out a shower and washing your hair when the water is frozen in the mornings. Yeah I think I will wait till I get home with a hot shower! But next year I am going to invest in a solar shower.

6) Mom's Peach Cobbler made in a Dutch oven in Alaska tastes just as great as it does in Zambia.

7) Having a Arctic Tent and a Arctic Sleeping bag are a must!!! Ask Keith he got really cold!

8)Northern Lights out int he middle of nowhere is impossible to explain or even show with pictures. They just dance across the sky and are indescribable!

9) Take No food or Drinks into the tent where you sleep. Bears do sometimes come into camp... They love Zest Soap.... Remind me never by that kind of soap!

10) Oh to go along with #9 always sleep with your shotgun, another reason I followed #3 real good... Bears are Dangerous!

11) Bug spray doesn't work on Bugs in Alaska!! Seriously the mosquitoes are repelled by the Deep Wood bug spray but Gnats are not even "bugged" by it. So by a Bug Jacket!

12) This is a rule I learned when first moving to Alaska but was reminded of it this last week.... WEAR WOOL SOCKS!!

It was a awesome trip and I can't wait till next year when I won't be 7 months pregnant trying to crawl out of a Arctic tent. It is such a relaxing time with no noise except for the sound of boats arriving at camp.

Grey jay

Grey jay on a Moose skull

Our family on the river

Me and my big boy...and little one sticking out there

On the way home our little camper

Keith driving the boat home

Oh the last thing Keith and I both learned this trip was for the week that we were out at camp with no showers we thought we were pretty clean till the moment we got off the boat and then we looked at each other and said man I feel yucky and need a bath. =)