We had planned to leave the camp at 6.00am, but, early in the afternoon, we received an unexpected radio message. It said they'd be there to collect us within 20mins, so we should start to pack up the camp at once. We were prepared for this, so all our clothes and equipment are already neatly packed and waiting. I've just started taking my bags out of the tent when we get another radio message: they'll be here in 10mins. Because of the hurry, I force myself to give John a hand to take down the tents. We finish quickly. When the first message came through, we were lying on our camp beds, but 15mins. later, here we are, ready, and waiting, for the planes.
The first lands without any mishap, but the second - flown by Bob Adams himself - makes a very strange, hair-raising maneuver: it lands in the valley, and then continues taxiing up the side of the hill. I film it with my camera, and hope I've got it all accurately. We throw in the bags, and, after a short run, we are airborne.
Alaskan hunting laws forbid any searching by air for game before a hunt, including circling over the area. So it is not possible for a pilot to spot a bear and then radio the guide to lead his client there. However, there's nothing to stop us keeping our eyes peeled as we travel from one camp to another. This is what we are doing now, though in vain, unfortunately, as we cannot see a single living creature. We fly over an abandoned camp, and Bob tells us that the cabins there haven't been used in decades. We've only been flying for 10 - 15mins. but the wind is throwing the little dragon-fly about so violently that I'm starting to feel sick. To my great relief I see that we
Chapter VI.: Return to Alaska
Page 24
are coming in to land, but once again, where…? It's another very narrow ridge, but I'm beginning to get used to the fact that there is nowhere that these guys can't land a plane.
Well, this is our new camp. Before leaving, Bob tells us that there are grizzlies, black bears and giant moose in the vicinity, so there is a fair chance of bagging all three species. He also assures me that, should I be unsuccessful, he still has a couple of other campsites up his sleeve; he won't let me leave without a grizzly.
I hope he's right.
Second Bearhunting Spike Camp