It's here!!

[Richard Flanders]

You folks best get ready down there. I knew weeks ago when the geese were departing weeks early that we were in for an early winter and that was spot on. I got home from a flying "road trip" to Ambler, a small native village in NW Alaska near Kotzebue and 350miles from here two days ago and the ground was bare. Now it's snow covered with 18" of snow that fell in less than 48hrs, catching everyone with their pants down. What a mess! I dug the old Bronco out this afternoon to prevent it from getting buried when the roof slides and have been shoveling, sweeping, and plowing snow for two days. 18,000 without power in the area yesterday; down to about 5,000 today. I'm running my house on my little 2kw Honda to keep the freezers cold and have a light and computer and phone. We ate fresh fat caribou every day in Ambler and I brought home the best caribou I've ever had and am having it every day here....

[John E. Williams]

That is awesome, Richard! Thanks for the photos.

[David Dwyer]

Richard
We are already seeing "big ducks" out in the ricefields way down here in SC. I have seen Blacks, Mallards and Grays which do not usually start showing up until November. This is looking like a grat duck season in SC. I just purchased a DJI Phantom 3 to use for scouting for ducks. It has a range of 1.5 miles and a great autopilot and camera. Nice toy:)
David

[Gary Laudermilch]

Of all places, I would think Alaskans would be prepared to expect the unexpected.

May be time to take those skis leaning against the building and put them on your plane.

[Richard Flanders]

A lot of folks are out hunting and, like me, returned home to unexpected chaos. My truck is still full of duck hunting gear, my front deck was/is covered with stuff that shouldn't be snow covered, the boat is still sitting in the driveway and full of snow when it would normally be upside down in the woods before the snow fell, etc. It's supposed to get to near 40deg but it better hurry because it's 23deg and crispy and starry out right now. Doesn't look like a thaw to me. There's still 10,000 w/o power this morning.

[charlie cleveland]

hang in there richard...pictures great...suppose to be 47 here in the morning...charlie

[Daryl Corona]

Richard, you may keep your snow up there. Please. I know it's coming but It's a depressing thought.:crying:
I miss summer already.

[Dean Romig]

If you're lucky, Hurricane Joaquin will get up there and blow/wash all that snow away. Looks like it will screw up some folks weekend hunting here in the East.




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[Richard Flanders]

Now it's melting and is supposed to be close to 40 with mixed rain/snow. Just what we need.

[Dean Romig]

And when that slushy stuff freezes like concrete we get to feeling defeated by Ol' Man Winter... once again.





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[Richard Flanders]

Roger that, but we'll be sittin' by the woodstove feasting on yummy fresh caribou ribs when it happens...!

[Dean Romig]

That's the saw for that job.
I made the mistake decades ago of using my buddy's band saw to cut up a deer I shot in '78... What an unGodly mess it was to clean up.





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[Richard Flanders]

That must have been awful! The jig saw works well for the ribs with a long enough blade for the steak section on caribou sized animals on down, but a cordless sawzall works best for field dressing. Cleanup of the jig was very simple. Remove the foot and toss it into the wash water and use a toothbrush to clean the housing a bit. A few minutes work. The sawzall is a huge time and labor saver in the field and easily pays for itself on one moose. Everything from this is in the freezer. One pc went right onto the grill but they were pretty tough. I chose the wrong section. Some of these ribs will have to be cooked crock pot style. Tasty though!