No ptarmigan this today

[Richard Flanders]

Saddled up and flew down to my favorite ptarmigan spot in the Alaska Range today. I figured I'd get down there before the snow got too wet and heavy. I succeeded in that but the snow was deep and still a lot of work to snowshoe in and there was very little bird sign from the air so I didn't get far from the plane and struck out on birds. Next time maybe.... it was still a glorious day down there.

Pics:
1. heading up the upper Wood River to my favorite spot
2. This was as far as I got in the deep soft snow
3. Heading back down the River
4. Flying over a band of caribou. You can see all their tracks and a line of caribou off the front of the wing