(above photo) My brother Dale (L) and me (R) in Alaska on the Nowitna River.     

My definition of success

     In 2003 my brother Dale and I were fortunate enough to take the trip of a lifetime. We flew into Fairbanks, were then flown 219 miles west by floatplane. We were then dropped off on the Nowitna River with a 12' raft, camping gear and enough "add water and heat food" for about a dozen days. In the next 12 days we covered 63 miles of remote Alaskan river surrounded by rugged country in full autumn colors. We caught and cooked dolly varden and northern pike. Watched the northern lights while cooking by a campfire in temps that dipped to 5 degrees. I had a tag for bull moose but a late fall with warmer than average daytime temps (30 to 40 degrees) delayed the rut and the big bulls were not responding to calls. The shore of the river was a heavy blanket of leaves that had yet to fall so spot and stalk was all but impossible. Dale and I could have cared less. The entire trip was awesome and we came back with memories to last a lifetime. We flew by Mount McKinley and the Alaskan Range in the float plane. Saw grizzly bear and moose (not the big boys)  MY POINT  Don't measure success in the outdoors by burned gunpowder or a screaming fishing reel. (most hunting & fishing shows are highly edited garbage which put emphasis on catching or killing a "trophy" as a measure of success) NEVER think time spent hunting fishing or enjoying natures wonders is wasted time. I think SUCCESS is ATTEMPTING to reach a goal. FAILURE is never making the ATTEMPT.          

DMike & Debby - The Tetons, Jackson Hole Wyoming 2008

Mom & Dad

They taught me how to fish and hunt.

    ( above from left ) Well known and respected guide George Beckwith and Dad with his Pamlico Sound Drum. Many thanks to George for this trip.  ( center ) Dad and mom (the Eskimo dressed lady ) with dads Wyoming antelope. ( far right ) Mom and Dad  with a big black drum caught by yours truly out of the "Savage Strike" striper boat in the Chesapeake Bay.