We stayed in a comfortable 3 bedroom home that had been upgraded from one of the old base housing units by a couple that runs a guide and outfitting service on Adak in their spare time. They also provided an old beat-up Navy Jeep Cherokee that we used to get to the various trailheads.
Here's Mike coming down Kulak Street to meet us on the beach soon after we arrived.
"Downtown Adak" from a nearby hilltop.
And from street level.
The abandoned remains of the former westernmost McDonald's in the Western Hemisphere.
This facility was used to eavesdrop on Russian and Chinese naval communications...
On the 1st day, John, Mike, and I hiked out several miles past Betty Lake to an area known as Hiker Pass.
"Let's go find those 'bou, Mike!"
Once we reached the pass, we immediately came across a small herd, out of which I harvested a small female while John bagged 2 large ones. Bull season wasn't to open for a couple of days. I completely forgot to take any pictures of John's kills, and mine was a very bloody neck shot so I decided to spare the non-hunters among us that scene. We hiked out with about 120 lbs of meat that day.
On day 2, John and I decided to take our chances on another area called Husky Pass. Mike's knees were bothering him so he spent the day fly casting for salmon.
This is some steep country, boy.
John took this picture on our way back, hence why you can see the town in the distance. But it gives a good idea of the terrain.
Smile for the camera, John!
Around noon, we spotted a herd across the canyon and decided to put a stalk on 'em. Just after taking this photo, they started circling back towards us, even though the wind was at our backs...
Yours truly picking one out through the scope of my dad's 30-06. I picked a nice female about 150 yards out with her head down.
Suddenly, John spotted another cow wandering along a ledge to our left at about 40 yards. I placed the cross-hairs on her neck and....bingo. I dressed out about 60 lbs of meat from this one.
Winter kill...
On day 3, I decided to take a break from hunting and do some exploring while John and Mike went back out. Uncle Joe decided to take a 4-wheeler out and see what he could find. In his late 60's, his knees couldn't take him overland too well.
Expedition Bay on the other side of the island.
Finger Creek....
Joe and Mike on the way back to the Jeep...
...after John packed this out. His 3rd of the trip. Nice to be an Alaskan resident. They can bag 5 caribou on one tag.
No one hunted on day 4, as John had to leave that day. The rain and fog had decided to sock in the island so we stayed "home" tending to blisters, cleaning up the meat, and reading.
Days 5 and 6 brought more of the same rainy weather that we expected to encounter. However, we were unable to get Mike close enough to a decent bull. The swirling winds put us at a serious disadvantage and the caribou were always just out of range and/or sight. They decided to stay up high on the ridge lines in the fog and rain.
Mike slogging it out...
Here, Joe and Mike are loading up the ATV with the meat from a really nice bull he shot with his .280 Remington.
We were there for a week, and hunted for 4 of those days. Between 4 hunters, we brought home 6 caribou and just under 400 lbs of venison. I think we'll be going back next year!!
