On our way to Rock Lake this winter we happened upon this poor fellow resting by the road. He was in pretty bad shape, all ribs and hip bones. I hope he survived the winter. Just a few miles down the road we bumped into a large herd of elk. What a fine wintry morning!


Here is Greg later that morning on the edge of Rock Lake with a brace of birds behind him. Yes, one is a big triumphant sprigtail! I didn't take my opportunity to shoot another big pintail because looking throught the branches of the blind I thought he was out of range. Greg swore he swung through at twenty five yards. Oh well, you can't have them all.

It was on this hunt that I decided on a bit of a plan for 2009. I'd been talking with Greg about his summers guiding salmon fishing on the Nushagak in Alaska and was getting a serious itch. I finally determined that nothing, absolutely nothing, was standing between me and my childhood dreams of guiding in Alaska. So I went home that night, talked to Jess and the next day began a job search for packer/apprentice guide.