Wolves and Bears, Oh, My!

Summer 2012 has taken a twist that I'm not used to.  This is the first year in about seven that I am not keeping my tutoring service going.  With the The Wood Artist in the oilfield for weeks at a time, I decided that I should do what I've been dreaming of for a few years.  I've always felt the call of the North, but it has intensified since my best friend and former college roommate moved to the Yukon Territories of Canada a few years ago.  We've dreamed of spending a few weeks together, crafting and selling at farmer's markets and letting our children get aquainted.  So, when the school year ended, we started preparations to visit the land of the Klondike.

 We also have friends who have property about half-way in the beautiful mountains of British Columbia.  Their children are my children's close friends, so it seemed natural that we coordinate our trip with them.  So, for the first two days of the trip, we drove with them.  We visited the waterpark at the Edmonton, Alberta, mall and the kids played hard.

 On the way, we saw the "World's Largest Truck".  It had been used as a mining vehicle, but had been retired when it became too expensive to replace parts.  Mr. Blueberry Eyes and his friend don't even reach 1/2 way up the tire!

Now their place is quite an experience to visit.  It gives you the feeling that the house was dropped by helicopter into the wilderness.  Because they don't live there all of the time, the basic conveniences are not readily available.  So, we had to use an outhouse.  This is the scene we saw one morning just beyond the outhouse.

Having a bear just beyond the potty was actually NOT the most memorable thing about our visit, though.  The first night, as we were getting supper for our large group, a pack of wolves began to howl.  They have several wolf dens very close to their house, so the auditory sensation was spectacular!  There were several voices, some deep, and so throaty you nearly felt the hair on your neck prickle.  Others were high, soaring.  Still others were yippy.  All arched the twilight skies and made you suck in your breath. 

We sat on the deck, eating ramen noodles, slapping mosquitoes and listening, hoping for one more note, one more snatch of the ethereal, brutally wild sound.  It happened twice that night, and then not again while we were there.

I wouldn't want to live there, really.  They've lost three dogs on their property due to this pack of ruthless, sporting killers.  (We kept the Mighty Hunting Hound under strict lock and key!)  But it was still a spectacular experience - one not to be missed.  The first leg of the journey was over and well-traveled. -Nanette