Hi Dave.
2nd week of Aug. 2001
5 days - camped at Happy Valley usual weather cloudy light rain most of the time. Last day snow light to heavy especially the closer you get to Antigun Pass. Roads wet no problem. Light clothing but you always take heavier gear. The rain was nice because the black fly's don't eat in the rain. Intestinal fortitude or bug hood. Mosquitos-not many. Caribou. Quote from trooper-"Worst year he saw for Caribou". We saw some cows but my son & his friend stalked 2 good ones he zigged they zagged. I saw several hundred on both sides of the Sag River but they were miles away & our time was up. The 1/4 mile rule hindered an ok bull for a visitor. The bull laid down for 2 hrs at 350 yds from the road. They were yelling to get the caribou to git from 15 yds & finally when he got up he ran straight down the illegal line.
2003-My son's solo trip. 1st week of Aug. 2 day trip. 30-50-80 degrees- very foggy, dry to freezing rain. Blew a couple shots on a P&Y-didn't take his dad's range finders, the 1 time that he didn't borrow them for the hunting season. When the fog opened up on occasion there were quite a few caribou. Not many bugs.
2nd week 4days, my son went back with a friend. Cloudy very windy & feezing rain a few mosquito's Caribou close to roads. Several stalks made on good ones but no dice. On the last day he took an ok bull at 62 yds measured with the MY range finders. Usually he doesn't shoot over 40 & told me it was a stupid shot (desperation shot?) 2 or 3 years ago he took 1st place compound bow divison Alaska state shoot still no reason ..
Distance from my place (Kenai) to Deadhorse driving around & back 2222 miles-Gas 123 gallons. Anchorage $1.38-- Fairbanks $1.46----Coldfoot $2.30---Deadhorse $2.20.
Driving time. Kenai to Fairbanks 654m 12hrs or so. Fairbanks to Yukon Bridge3 1/2 hrs 136 miles. Good place to sleep. Mosquitos were mad as the windows were shut but they made up for it on the way to the head. Haul rd 425 M . Paved in spots, drive time depends on roads-picture taking-at least 1 roll at Atigun Pass.
GPS numbers. Yukon Bridge 65 52.78 149 42.76
Pump sta #2 MP 104.4-- 68 50.56 148 49.35 ---Happy Valley 69 08.94 148 50.24 Deadhorse 70 12.96 148 24.09 Long winded but hopefully correct. Dave