There are many things in this world that are strong and powerful. But more specifically, there are certain animals that have an amazingly strong bite. Statistically, the Tasmanian devil has the strongest bite to size ratio.

Others on the list include the Alligator, the Grey wolf, and the Hyena. Number 8 on the list is the Brown Bear. It can puncture metal cans and crush bones with ease. Living in Alaska, these strong jawed bruins are frequently seen, and are prevalent on the Alaska Peninsula. Especially when there is a fresh moose kill involved, which is what we had at the end of a successful Moose hunting season. We were packing up, and  I had unknowingly left my Nalgene bottle at the lodge as we closed down for the winter.

Upon arrival at the lodge the following spring, we found that it was broken into by bears. They had torn apart and bitten into everything, including all of the food cans and propane bottles. Along with all those items was my trusty Nalgene bottle. It also got bitten. However, unlike the propane bottles that were burst and punctured, my bottle survived. Although it got five punctures from the bears jaws, only one hole managed to break through only slightly. I was amazed at how well it held up. I still use it today.

The Nalgene water bottle is a staple on all outdoor adventures and daily treks alike, and now I understand why. They pride themselves on functionality and durability, and I believe them whole heartedly.

Thanks Nalgene for making such great products.

ShareThis

This was the first day, of an overnight camping trip to the North end of Lake Clark, aptly named Little Lake Clark.  It connects to the main Lake Clark by ways of a channel, which can be dangerous, but navigable by those that know the way. Our first stop was Cave Falls, which we made quick work of scaling and then descending. The view there was breathtaking, but bad rock formations kept us from attempting the rappel at that location. So we descended the trail with minds on fishing to come and other waterfalls to explore. Once back in the boat, lunch was broke, and water placed behind us, we arrived at a few fishing holes. Grayling, Lake Trout, and Dolly Varden graced not only our poles many times that night, but also our plates. However an oddity occurred upon that trip. Whilst skinning on of the aforementioned lake trout, inspection of the stomach revealed fat and claws, which combined became a porcupine foot. It was a strange sight to say the least. It must have been a good meal for the trout.

That night stories were told around the campfire, and rest for the weary was accomplished. We started the morning with French Press, healthy pancakes, and bear sausage. That got us going. Due to mixed priorities and scrambling skills, our group split, but we still managed to scale on of the very promising locations for the long awaited water fall rappel. It took quite the scouting process and adventure traverse to gain the top of the Water falling sight. But once we made it there, we jumped right into putting together gear and donning harnesses for safety and necessity. We used 6 cams and nuts to attach the main line to the wall, and wrapping a tree, so there was no possibility for failure. Safety first is a good saying any time.

  So as the story began, I was the first to test things out, and I was very pleased to be out there, not just that, but being on rocks, out there, which is a whole new level of enjoyment when you involve the created with the creation. It went smoothly, and as soon as  I touched the ground, I was scrambling to get back up on the rock, not only to continue the exhilaration, but also to reset the system for the following rappels. The two that were with me, Anna and Ryan were new to this as well, and although some experience was behind them, the magnitude of the event was daunting.  They both caught on quick and I believe have a new perspective on the whole rappelling + waterfall adventures. No one got hurt and we made it down safely, so that always equals a grand success in my book. Chock that one up for future adventures. Who said Canyoneering is only possible in warmer locations.

ShareThis

1. The Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan is the only school in the world offering a Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing.

2. New York City has 722 miles of subway track.

3. In 1807 The Clermont made its maiden voyage from New York City to Albany making the vessel the first successful steamboat.

4. The “New York Post” established in 1803 by Alexander Hamilton is the oldest running newspaper in the United States.

5. The first capital of the United States was New York City. In 1789 George Washington took his oath as president on the balcony at Federal Hall.

6. The first presentation of 3D films before a paying audience took place at Manhattan’s Astor Theater on June 10, 1915.

7. Gennaro Lombardi opened the first United States pizzeria in 1895 in New York City.

8. On July 28, 1945 an Army Air Corps B-25 crashed into the Empire State Building at the 79th floor level.

9. The Big Apple is a term coined by musicians meaning to play the big time.

10. New York was the first state to require license plates on cars.

The reason for this discussion about the largest city populous in the United States is my brother and I had the privilege of visiting our sister Naomi a few weeks ago in New Jersey. She lives  just a stones throw from the Manhattan skyline. Ok, maybe a long stones throw, but it’s close by. The fall season was moving in, causing crisp evenings, but gorgeous sunny days with mild temps. It was a perfect walking and commuting weather. Abbie, another sister, (we have five) joined up with us for the weekend of our stay, allowing for a generous amount of family city experiences that tend to get less and less as our ages advance.

Since we had visited before, we were able to take less of a touristy approach to our daily activities. So rather than visting the Top of the Rock we were escorted to the upper floors of the New York Times Building by a cousins’, husband’s, college buddy. A different perspective of the city skyline. We spent a day in Central Park, but not peddling one of the many two wheeled vehicles, but rather rock climbing and free running on the large expanse of rocks and play grounds near Columbus Circle. We had many strange looks. We traversed the High Line Park, although it was a short jaunt, it was gorgeous. Anytime I could get a break from the busy city I was grateful. An afternoon spent with creative director of City Bible Church NY NJ Bryan Bettis was one of the highlights. It’s not so much what your get to see, but it’s the people you meet and grow relationships with. Visiting Ground Zero, and the World Trade Center Memorial was amazing. It was a moving experience, and brought to rememberance that tragic day ten years ago, but in a good way. We did of course do some touristy things, I mean you cannot go without bargaining for wares at China Town, which we did, gaining an odd satisfaction from being the “Name Your Own price” guy from commercials.

Not only did we have a splendid city experience, but we also were able to capture the vibrance and action with video and photos. Some of those things are included in this post. Others we will have to wait a bit longer for. We used the Canon 7D for most of the filming, but we also used the Go Pro Hero, for some of the travel and Time lapse stuff. All in all it was a successful trip, with results in epic camera shots captured, and a positive family travel experience endured. A great growth for all.

ShareThis

The film was done by Brain Farm Digital Cinema which a turn-key boutique production house specializing in producing the highest end HD digital cinema. The director, Curt Morgan, in an interview with Photo Cine News, says, “Brain Farm is a place where people put their heads together to make a difference in the world of film-making.” They also used the Cineflex V14 (A gyro stabilized camera), The Phantom HD Gold camera system (which captures 1080p HD footage at high-speed and it can capture frame rates up to 1,052 frames per second). They also used the Arri 235 35mm film camera, the Red Epic, Sony F3, Canon 7d, GoPro and Panasonic Varicam 3700. The film was sponsored and funded by Quicksilver and Red Bull Media House, which has been responsible for pushing the limits in Extreme Adventure.

This film changed the way I see snowboarding, and combined not only amazing talent on the slopes, but breathtaking locations and incredible Cinematography. I encourage you to watch the following trailer, and also check out the SD and HD versions of the film available for download on iTunes or from their website. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

ShareThis

The benefits of Idaho outweighed the losses however. I got to spend a lot more time with my family. Did things with friends, and was involved at church. I got to do various summer outdoor adventures that I had not been involved in for so many years. Over all, it was almost like it was before Alaska. But not. You can never get Alaska out of your blood once you have been here, and I was no exception. I missed it a lot, and yearned to be back in the wilderness, away from all the busyness of city life and work. I actually wanted the simple life at times, even though in Alaska that involved a lot more work for water, electricity, food, transportation etc. But after spending so many years with that ingrained in my blood, it was hard to be away from it.  So needless to say, when I was on my way back to Alaska, I was really excited. It took me a while though to get my mind off of Idaho, and switched to Alaska mode, but once we arrived in Anchorage with its crisp clean air, and long shopping lists, I was back in gear.

My stay in Anchorage was prolonged a bit longer due to the increasing amount of needed items, but it made for more time to get acquainted with some old and new friends, and also get some last city life things out of the way before heading to the bush. The real thrill officially arrived when I boarded that plane, and we took off heading for the mountains. It was a gorgeous day, not all that typical for Alaska, so I was extremely thankful for the blessing of good weather. The views were once again breathtaking. It felt like the first time, and like coming home, all mixed up into one great experience. We flew over the mountains filled with pure white snow, and enormous glaciers, that fed the numerous rivers and waterfalls so far below. The sun was nearly blinding us, but we did not care, it was the perfect day for entering the beauty of Lake Clark. After a quick stop in the village of Nondalton, we landed at Port Alsworth, and I stepped off the plane and soaked up the beauty and freshness all around and the familiar faces that I had missed so much.

I am now writing inside of our cabin, across the lake from Port Alsworth, in the fading light of long summer days, and realizing the correlation of my renewed experience in Alaska, and what should be taking place every day in my own life. Just as my vigor and amazement of my home in Alaska had almost faded into familiarity, I can see how I have allowed my love for God, and the amazing life he has blessed me with, begin to become commonplace, and no longer full of wonder and thankfulness. I have been given so much, and He has placed upon my shoulders such a big calling that I can never just take it for granted and go on living like its no big deal. Being saved from death, given eternal life with him, and a message that brings love and hope to broken hearts is such a privilege that I should never forget nor get used to. I need to go through every day, with a renewed passion and desire to serve God, love People, and be a light. Just as I am going to change my perspective on the natural things I have, I am going to start to see every new day as a fresh one, appreciating the small things, and love God as though it is the first time, and as though I am home, all mixed up into one. (Written this summer while in Alaska).

ShareThis

ShareThis

New York Adventure from Micah Ness on Vimeo.

ShareThis

If you would like to experience Alaska at its best with Wilderness Pro, check out the website.

ShareThis

I was really hoping to run into some sheep, but being that I had not harvested any big game animals in Alaska for myself, I was happy to go home with anything. So with my pack laden with a full camp, complete with tent and several days worth of food, I departed that afternoon determined for success. I had traveled first by boat and then took off hiking. It was a two mile hike before I even reached the base of the mountain, but even before that I had spotted some game. A big lone black bear was tearing across the mountain top to the North of my position. I was tempted at first, but the going looked much more difficult in that direction, and the bear was moving around too much. So I decided to continue on my route, with a goal in mind to get to and camp for the night.

Following the ravine, I saved a-lot of bushwhacking, but climbing and scrambling over rocks and stream trail made up for that. The top was accomplished as well as an increased heart rate. The going got easier, but unfortunately I had developed hot spots on my feet due to wet socks from stream crossings and boggy territory. So upon reaching a good vantage point of some promising country, I sat down and relaxed for a bit, glassing the surrounding area. Almost immediately my heart jumped as black became visible in my binoculars, but then disappointment ensued as I spotted one, then two, little black spots nearby. It was a sow black bear with two cubs. Although they were not pursue-able, it was still encouraging to see many animals. The last time I had been up hunting this area, I had only seen a sow and cub, so already in the first few hours I was setting new records.

I was munching on a granola bar, AKA dinner, when I heard rocks falling. With the shape of the ravines and the echo, it seemed as though it was coming from right around the corner, but further inspection revealed several white spots dotting a far slope. Dall sheep, nine of them, but all ewes and lambs, no rams in the bunch. So apparently this area I was exploring was a nursery. Not what I was hoping for, but still just loving the sight of those beautiful white masters of the peaks. The weather was quite warm, and I was able to remove layers, but I was extremely grateful for my full upper body bug net. It was not very stylish or as good to see through, but it did the trick to keep back the horrible biting flies called White Socks. You just have to get used to them constantly buzzing all around your head, which can drive one crazy.

The evening was beginning, so I descended from my perch into the small valley, in search of another vantage point that had some sort of level dirt in which to catch some Z’s for the night. I accomplished the feat, but as soon as I sat down to have a look around, something blond came into focus in the binoculars. It was a grizzly bear. I was not expecting to see a grizzly up that high, since the salmon were dieing aplenty in the rivers below, and offered ample food for the bruins that time of year, but that one preferred to scrounge for berries instead. I had a brief debate in my head on whether or not to pursue the bear. It would be a subsistence hunt, and would require me to harvest all the meat, and the reputation for grizzly bear meat was not good. The hot spots on my feet were also on the borderline of becoming blisters. The excuses went on and on and nearly won out, but finally, a decision was agreed upon.

I hoisted my pack, tightened the straps, and began to close the 1/2 mile distance that separated me from the bear. He seemed to be just feeding in a small berry patch and I figured he would stay there long enough for me to make the stalk. The wind seemed to be in my favor, but it changed around a bit during the stalk. Thankfully I had no alders or bushes to wade through, but it was wrought with shale and a steep incline. At the top, there was a small gully that I hiked through, and then up the other side, angling towards where the bear was last seen, with the ridge of the slope keeping me out of sight. The wind had changed for the better, and as I moved closer, it was right in my face. Getting to within 400 yards, I dropped my heavy pack and continued slowly with not but my rifle, walking stick and range finder. I edged my way around the slope step by step, trying to keep my footfalls soft, not knowing how far he could have moved. I eased my way around and looked into the ravine that he was feeding in, but there was nothing.

I began to wonder where he could have gone, either down the hill, or up, so I walked a few more steps closer, craning my neck to see further. But then I happened to gaze right above me, and there he was, and close too, just feeding away from me up the slope. I quickly dropped down just out of sight, and got my rangefinder out. easing back up, the finder read forty yards. I could not believe it, I was so close to such a powerful and beautiful predator. I knew that it was not a big bear, but at that point I was not worried about that, I was intent on a successful harvest, which was what I had set out to do. So I set up my walking stick as an uphill rest for my rifle. I had already loaded a bullet into the chamber, so I took aim, with the bear filling the scope, and waited for him to turn broadside and offer a good clean shot. I did not have to wait long though, and he fed into position. The shot rang true, and the bear did nothing but drop and begin to roll down the slope. I put another shell into the ball of fur, just to be sure. I was so stunned and excited I could not even speak.

The bear stopped a few yards down, and I rushed to the scene to evaluate the result. I was so happy, but I was still speechless. So all I did was smile and take it all in. It didn’t take long to retrieve my pack, take pictures and set up my camp on a small semi flat spot. Since it was nearly dark when I shot, I decided to wait till the next day to proceed with hard work portion of the hunt. I did not sleep well on my little side mountain spot, but I was successful, on the first day, and that got me through. The next day I arose before the sun, to beat the heat and the bugs, and got it all done and in my pack in only a few hours, just as the first bugs showed up. The hike down did not take long either, and I had a beautiful sunny day to keep my spirits up through the incredibly tough job of packing out a bear hide and meat and all the gear, but every step was worth it.

Sitting in the boat, with my sore feet soaking in the cold lake water,  I thought back to the whole experience, as short as it was, and how I had finally broken the lack of big game harvest for myself. It was a good feeling, and thankfully the meat was equally as good, making it a double whammy. I think it was because of the small size of the bear and him not eating rotten salmon that kept the meat pretty solid and hearty. So if you are questioning keeping mountain grizzly meat, I say take it and enjoy the other part of the harvest that does not end up on the wall. Also this bear was taken with a 300 WSM, which to some may be too small of a caliber for grizzly, but I say, its not the size of the bullet hole, but the accuracy of the shot. All in all it was great experience, which did not need a successful harvest to make it so, but it definitely was a nice bonus.

ShareThis

Our destination was cave falls, which was 27 miles away as the crow flies, but since we were in a boat, it would end up being about an hour drive. Being within the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, there were no roads that connected us to the outside world, so it gave us almost unlimited accessibility to the endless lake front that beckoned for us to explore. The Cave falls are unique in the way that they are literally that, both a huge cavern of a cave and a waterfall that cascades down, over a hundred feet. It is nothing short of awe inspiring, and something that is hard to miss even when flying in, but to actually get up to it, to feel the powerful wind that is created mixed with mist, gives you so much more of a well rounded experience. The falls however are not on the same lake, but rather are on a smaller portion of Lake Clark, called Little Lake Clark, separated by a small channel which must be navigated with utmost care as not to get stuck in the endless sand flats that border the channel.

Since we were able to get going at a decent time in the morning, and thankful to the endless summer sun, we had plenty of time to stop for a short bit at the Kijik River, to replenish our food supply with fresh Grayling. They were so abundant that it did not take long for us to catch our fill for the overnight trip which was ahead of us. Back on the water again, we switched to following the right short line, heading North East up the Lake. We passed several streams, rivers, and valleys along the way, all of which were yearning for our attention, and would have quite a bit to offer, however, we had a mission to accomplish, so we pressed on, with  our bow loaded down with camping and climbing equipment. We were not only going on a sight seeing trip, but a hands on adventure. The further along we went, the more rugged the mountains began to get, which was a good sign.

Rounding the bend, we arrived at the change of water color, where the drainage of the river had dumped so much sand and silt that it had become a huge sandbar when the water level was low enough. We had to maneuver the channel, making slow progress due to the varying water depth and speed of flow that would push us back out of the channel if we didn’t keep our heads on straight. Thankfully we had a great team that kept every thing going smooth. Once out of the murky soot, we then got out into Little Lake Clark, and then we began to experience a whole new ecosystem. Deep aqua blue colors in the water, waterfalls cascading down huge rock faces. It all resembled the Fjords in Norway. Although the area was spectacular in itself, our destination was still waiting for us.

As we rounded the point, we could see it. A massive gaping hole in mountain side, with an enormous river of water that was suspended in mid air for quite some time, before crashing and falling upon the the enormous boulders that were piled up at the bottom. It was a gorgeous sight, even from a mile away. We were not content however to merely gaze from a distance, so we pointed the boat towards the overhanging greenery that outlined one of the creeks feeding the deep blue water. Pulling up to the shore edge, we jumped off, secured the boat well, with packs slung and hearts pumping, we set off for Cave Falls. The hike was uneventful, and it was not a difficult climb, but we had to watch out for the sharp and evil looking “Devils Club”, ( a broad leafed plant) which bordered our trail. to the base of the falls. The stream that we followed was boulder strewn, and created for a tranquil background noise to the already surreal environment that was surrounding our movement. Long before we reach the falls however, we could hear it. Nearing the edge of where the bushes ended and the green and mist began, our hearts skipped a few beats. But then we arose onto the small plateau and continued our gaze up, We found ourselves face to face with an incredible monster of a moving water. Over a hundred feet high, when the water hits the base of the pool, it becomes a wind tunnel, that shoots mist all over the area, causing it to be very green, and pleasant to spend time in.

The thunder that was being emitted from the waterfall seemed to be amplified by the huge cave behind. The feeling of serenity changed back to excitement. But it did not stop there. Then we began to ascend the left side of the water fall into the cavern behind as the mist began to surround us.

To be continued. Look for the rest of this adventure in Part 2 of To Walk Behind Waterfalls.

ShareThis