What I Learned On The Haul Road 2024

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Terrain????

Imagine endless rolling hills covered with a layer of 1’ foot of foam, piled with a layer of half inflated basketballs, footballs, tennis balls and volleyballs, covered with a 1” foam so you can’t see anything but bumps, then soak it all in water.

You might try walking on top, but that doesn’t last long. You try to walk in the gaps, but you don’t know if there is an hidden ball or whether it is 2” or 12” deep.

I wore Kenetreks the first time on Kodiak.

I wore muck boots the second on the North Slope. I brought my Kenetreks as backup. I had hurt my ankle foot a couple months before going. Ultimately, I wore muck boots 100% and walked miles in them. I will wear muck boots again.

It’s weird, but having my foot move inside the muck boot a little was less stressful and easier than stiff Kenetreks. Here in AZ, I am used to Kenetreks protecting my ankles while walking in rocky terrain. It works, as I did fine my first year, but I think I was faster in muck boots.

Maybe Kentreks are better with a full heavy load, but it would be a toss up to me.

Definitely use trekking poles. I bent my aluminum one.

I took a boat 2023 for caribou, and the herds weren’t migrating. Sucked not to experience the migration. My buddy and I shot spikes—mine still had milk on its lips, but it is seriously the best meat ever.

Sorry, I was thinking of the Haul Rd terrain, the tundra I believe is called, or maybe from everyones description maybe its swamp. Thanks for replying and providing some additional info.

 

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I tried using a sled my first time up there to pull meat and it ended up being much more difficult than just putting it on my back. The sled kept getting caught on the tussocks and brush. The type of sled I had allowed water in when I hit the parts of standing water. The uphill portions were terrible. So much better to just put it on your back, but even that is rough. This was from 5 miles out though. If you are just bow hunting from the road a sled might not be a bad option. If you are lucky enough to get a layer of snow while you are there the sled would probably be great.

Thank you for replying. I appreciate the information you provided. Not sure yet if I am going to use a bow or rifle. I do like to get away from the crowd when I am hunting, so maybe drive up and get someone with a boat to take us on the river for a ways out and then pick up back up. In that case I would take a .308 rifle.
Again, thanks much.

 

[wyosam]

Thank you for replying. I appreciate the information you provided. Not sure yet if I am going to use a bow or rifle. I do like to get away from the crowd when I am hunting, so maybe drive up and get someone with a boat to take us on the river for a ways out and then pick up back up. In that case I would take a .308 rifle.
Again, thanks much.

That will at least get to where it’s just other people with boat transport at least.


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