I've been 3 times. Went with my parents in 87. Drove all the way up and back from TX. What a trip. Sightseeing and fishing.
Talked my wife into AK for our honeymoon in 95. Another great trip and a bit of great fishing as time allowed.
Have a good friend that I coached in 4H shooting when he was in high school. He guides fishing up there in the summer. He asked me one to many times last summer. They go hunting after fishing is over. Thought we'd see no moose. Should have bought the tag....
Then hunt was late season and we had to move once. Running out of time I had to drop my bow and grab a rifle. But it was a once in a lifetime experience. Spot the bull about 3.5 miles from camp. Find him back again by himself 8 hours later. Make an unbelievable shot twice with my friends 338. Had 2 big bears watch us hike the hour it took to get up to my caribou. Kinda scary but the Smith Airweight 44 mag made me feel a bit better..... Super scenery. I think my friends video clip about us being on top of the mountain with God says it all. I get all tore up every time I relive it. It made my dads days too. As he could not and never will be in health to do it.
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I do have the suggestion, do it while you can. Especially if its non guided. We packed my bull out in one trip(2 of us). 3.5 miles to the airstrip over tough terrain. Luckily it was mostly downhill or flat. But its the most I've ever carried that far in my life. And 39 was almost too old. I'm trying to stay on a stair stepper 30 minutes a day now in prep for a muley hunt. Gets tougher the older you get.
My wife goes with us on the next hunt. I kidded my buddy about getting a hunting guides job too. Just got the note he's starting in the fall. Moose is ok but I need a guide for Sheep, big bear, and goats.
Buying good equipment isn't cheap. But when you realize where you are, its mandatory. Buy it once, buy it right, and live. A better tent is on the list(any advice??) as is a Leica spotting scope. An Epirb locator and maybe a sattelite phone also. Plus all my wifes clothes.
Believe the folks that a sleeping bag that works when wet, clothes that work when wet, and the best raingear you can get are super important. Glad I had them. I was ok but could have had even better gear.
Hopefully Moose is on the list in a year or two... But Carolyns Caribou will be tops on the list.
BTW a good camera and video are almost more important than the rifle. I almost loaded up to chips in the digital camera. Worth every picture!
Jeff