|
I left Fairbanks and started up the haul road (Dalton Highway) to Prudhoe Bay and
Dead horse. Not long after getting on the Haul road I got stopped for a
construction zone and spent the 30 min I was stopped talking to the site foreman. He
asked where I was headed and when I told him he asked if I had a gun. I told him what I
had he said good choice with the 12 gauge but to save the last one in the
357 for my self because all it would do is make a bear mad. He then showed
me his bear gun which he kept in the door pocket of the pickup. it was a
short 10ga pump that had been around for along time but was all business.
He advised that I load both and keep them very handy and to NEVER, NEVER
go in to the brush with out one. I asked about getting stopped by a cop and he said
"cop what cop",
there wasn't one until Dead horse and if I did get stopped they wouldn't raise an
eyebrow.
Once I got going again I stopped briefly at the Yukon river crossing
and again at finger rock and kept going until I got to Coldfoot. I pulled
in and thought what the heck I don't need the gas but lets top off for
2.89 a gallon, I parked
at the pump and walked in to give them my card. As I was walking up the
steps this young guy on the deck having a beer said "out of gas" I
said no but I was going to top off just to be safe. He said no they are
out of gas, My reaction was WHAT! your kidding he said nope and they had been out of gas for
almost 4 days and the day before borrowed some from the DOT but he
hadn't made it up to the pump before
they ran out again. It was late so I decided to join Dave from Missoula,
MT for a beer and
dinner. Great Food, good beer and nice conversation. what a way to
end the day As we sat eating we suddenly heard howling in the distance, we
both got real quiet and listened. Could it be? Wolves? Nope, it was the
sled dogs a few miles away. By the way right before I went to bed the gas tanker showed
up and Dave got gas after 2 days of waiting and headed down to Denali to
see his brother who is a ranger there. |
