Alaska Trip 2002

(Part Deux)

Author with Alaskan Steelhead

Many people will tell you that Alaska is a beautiful place.  They'll tell you about the tall snow capped mountains, and the rivers overflowing with salmon.  They'll tell you about majestic vistas everywhere you turn, and how "everything is bigger" up there.  But, few people will tell you about the dangers of this land. Sure, you probably know that there are bears, and some  of them can be rather large.  But few have lived to tell of an encounter with the rarely seen, elusive, fire-breathing Alaskan Moose.
  

    Although Rich may not readily volunteer the information, one member in our group was almost killed by one of these creatures this year. This is the tale of the  fabled Moose encounter.
 

     Our buddy, we'll call him Sean, was enjoying a crisp autumn day on Alaska's Anchor River.  He  had decided to walk to another pool, and was absent-mindedly hiking along the  trail, alone. Suddenly he felt a chill down his spine, and looking up saw the feared Alaskan Bull Moose standing less than 50 feet in front of him.  The Moose was at least 15 feet tall at the shoulders.  It's fangs shone brightly in the sun, and its eyes burned red hatred that only it's victims can know.  Fire and smoke shot from its nostrils as it stared down this new found enemy.  The Bull lowered his head for the fatal charge, stomping his massive hooves sending waves of thunder through the forest.

     Sean immediately sensed the danger, turned and fled back the way he came, flaying his arms and beating away bushes and anything else that stood in his way.  As Sean neared the rest of our group, quietly fishing and unaware of the pending danger, he  called out a warning in a strange high-pitched squeal.  "Moose!!  Guys, BIG Moose.....gotta go now!!"  As the rest of us watched in numb disbelief, Sean continued his hasty retreat down the path, with nary a backward glance.  The dangerous and frightening Bull seemed quite content to lazily  munch on the grass growing by our fishing hole and appeared  disinterested in pursuing anything but a good meal.  Our group spent a good portion of that day sharing our space with this often feared, but mostly misunderstood beast.
 

    Now, please don't try this at home.  As many will tell you, Moose can be a vicious, dangerous, ruthless creature.  They can eat a man with a single bite, and barbecue you at a hundred yards with one flame-throwing breath.  This event was unique and unusual, and all of us were privileged to be present.  So beware of the fabled Alaskan Moose.  And the next time you see Sean, tell him he can stop running now.

By Gerrit Roelof