This couple is walking from the Glenn Hwy near Gunsight Mountain through the Talkeetna Mts. down the Big Sue and North to the Denali Hwy. They are receiving one resupply along their route which I delivered today. It consisted of food, fuel, and two pack rafts. They will use the pack rafts to cross the Big Susitna river. This is an adventurous little trek, and I was happy to see that they are doing this the old-fashioned way with no satellite phone, epirb, aviation radio, or spot. They have already walked a significant distance, but they were all smiles and it did not appear that they had yet broken a sweat. All-in-all they will walk well over 100 miles during their 15 day excursion. It was her birthday today so I delivered a couple of huge freshly baked cookies from Sheep Mt. Lodge, and I was bummed that I could not find a candle to stick in it.
Usually I would have spent 30 minutes on the ground hearing stories, giving weather reports, and learning about their route, but tonight the weather was marginal at best so I did not lolly-gag. I hit the ground running, and told them I was going to be airborne in 5 minutes because I was concerned about spending the night with them in their two-man tent … it would have been cozy. We had arranged for a 6 PM rendezvous, but I went with my gut and arrived about 1.5 hours early because I could tell that the weather was coming down as the evening air cooled. I was super glad I jumped the gun because 10 minutes after landing back at my house, I could not see the end of the runway due to thick fog that had rolled in. Sometimes you’ve just got to go with your gut even if it’s inconvenient. Right now as I look out my window visibility is 150 yards in thick dense fog, and it is pouring down rain. It would have been a long wet night on the river bar, I’m thankful to be home.