This Season Ends

Hugh took off yesterday for Selkirk, Manitoba, to take our Beaver, CG-GMB, in for winter maintenance. This morning, the snow began to fall so his timing was fine.
When he returns, we will have a Thanksgiving supper to end the season.

(another photo from Joanne Ivaniski)

The Secrets of McInnes Lake

Along the shores of McInnes, there are strange sights if a person is watchful. Craig and Tim came upon an unexplained crude shelter with a strange cache of items. They carefully explored the site but left it intact. Someone (or some being) may need this emergency shelter when the snow flies.

Oh yes,
"The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see

Was that day on the shores of Power Bay...."

In a previous blog entry (click here) a group of surveyors reported a huge black monster surfacing on the lake.
These new discoveries show use of tools and even the ability to communicate through the written word, although the message found was in a code.

The Monster of McInnes, yet unnamed, surfaces again!
Viking Outposts is Seeking
Information, Pictures and Sighting

Don Schmidt leads another successful Hunt

Don has been hunting with us for many years. He guides his own group and has his own style. He is becoming an accomplished caller, learning more each year. This year he called in a bull. They got goosebumps listening as it got closer and closer, crashing through the bush. However it seems that Don gave one more call when he should have remained quiet and the bull stopped in its tracks and slipped away. Don's lesson for this year was, "know when to shut up!"

They enjoyed good company, exciting hunting experiences, some great lake trout fishing and just napping in the bush at the best time of year.

Don's hunting partners, father and son team Jim and Scott Hrovat, did get their moose. They passed up a cow and calf and waited until they spotted this nice looking bull. By aging the teeth, I estimated it to be around 5 years of age.

A good hunt: good weather, good company, exciting hunt, a nice moose

From Red Lake to Chile

Red Lake is a gold mining town. My son works a mile underground. Our town has been watching and praying for a successful mine rescue in Chile despite the tremendous odds. The miners here do understand those odds. Drilling crews and experts from Canada were down in Chile lending a hand.
Here is an interview (click here) with a friend of mine who was caught in a rock burst in our Red Lake mine. He lay under tons of rock and holding the hand of his partner as his pertner died. After nine hours, Paul was rescued and thanks the work of the rescue team for his life today.

The miners here do understand the odds

Congratulations to the Rescue teams

Battle in the Bush

Arthur was sitting in his deer stand this afternoon when he heard the most amazing moose battle. It as dead still and quiet when he heard a cow call, then a bull answered and then another bull spoke up. In a swamp about 200 yards from Arthur's stand, the battle began. He heard grunting and weezing, antlers clashing and water splashing. It went on for at least 45 minutes.
In Arthur's words,

"It was so crazy.

It sent chills up my spine!"

Reclaiming the Boats at Optic

Hugh, Harriet and Mike Martin headed off to Optic back in September to reclaim the boats.
Yup 2 boats still tied to the dock..... well sort of !

One boat is missing..... Oh there it is .... good.

October Flying

My girlfriend, Joanne, caught GMB on take-off yesterday. Nice picture Joanne.
It is October. Most of the leaves are gone. The hunters are in the bush. The weather is gorgeous; still and a bit cool......perfect flying weather. It doesn't seem like we should be closing camps when it is so gorgeous up here. I always wonder why people don't consider this time of year for some walleye fishing and time out in the bush. It is my favourite time of year.

Great Weather for flying !

Moose Hunting on McInnes Lake

John came on his first moose hunt with Howard Davenport. They hunted from Power Bay on McInnes Lake. As usual, these hunters came to hunt with us through a long line of long time guests. Daryl Sittig is the connection here and he was fishing with Viking before I married Hugh and that was a while ago."Just wanted to say thank you for providing me with a great place to stay and hunt. This was my first moose hunt and I couldn't be happier with the results!"

John Hammen

John Hazel at Rheaume

Moose hunting is a big part of our operation. We are the biggest moose hunting outfitter in our part of the country, mostly because our hunters return year after year. Also we grew up in this part of the country with hunting as part of our life. We are not in a hurry to end our season and head for warmer climates.
Fall up is here is a beautiful time of year. We learn to be patient with the weather, waiting for fogs to lift and winds to calm down.
The pictures below come from John Hazel from La Porte, IN. He hunted at Rheaume Lake, september 20 to 27 this fall.

Hi Enid,
Finally after three Viking Hunts I connected.Thanks to everyone for everything you do making lifetime memories!
John Hazel IV

October in Red Lake

The boys are busy flying moose hunters into the bush. This morning, the dock is slippery with frost. The engine tent is on the Beaver, the heater is plugged in and they are waiting for the fog to lift.

A Couple Days of Trout Fishing to end the Decade

How could the season come to an end,

if Hugh didn't get a day or two of trout fishing in?

It is required.