Unna àksu from Karesuando Kniven

 Unna àksu is Sami for Small axe. When I first saw this axe on Jonas Vildmark's blog I was impressed with his take on it and saw there could be a use for such a small axe, beyond the obvious cool factor!

Karesuando Kniven has been making knives, from what I could gather, for about forty years. They are located about 155 miles north of the arctic circle, Sweden's northernmost 'Church Village'. I've handled a few of their knives and found them user friendly and beautiful.

As I am often drawn to the unusual, this small axe was no exception. It took some time for me to run one to ground as it seems they were in short supply, at least in the states. I knew I wanted to try one the first time I saw the axe.

The first time I saw the axe and I was immediately taken by the beauty of the piece and the materials used in its creation. I love birch, add bone and antler and I am in, put it in such a user friendly size and I am all over it!

Specs 

Manufacturer: Karesuandokniven AB, Sweden

Model: Unna áksu 

Steel: Stainless tool steel hardened to HRC 54

Length of axe's head: 4.1 inches

Thickness of axe's head: 3/4"

Edge length: 2 3/4"

Handle material: Moose bone, Reindeer antlers and curly birch

Total length: 8.85" mm

Weight (without sheath): a little over 11 ounces

Sheath: thick black cowhide

I was finally able to secure one and when it arrived in its gift box I wasn't disappointed. Craftsmanship was on par with other Scandinavian type knives and axes I've had the chance to lay hands on. Hair popping sharp out of the box. There did appear to me the slightest of twists from the edge to the poll, while I don't think it was on purpose it may have been. I've seen axes built for right and left hand use before, the twist is so light I couldn't get it to show very well in the images but it is there.

I couldn't get over just how little this small axe weighed. Advertised at 317 grams, slightly over 11 ounces, I'm not sure it's that heavy! I spent a few hours with it in the woodshed, some chopping, some kindling making, some shavings and feather stick fun ensued.

It also makes a fine companion to my River Bottom Blades 'Guide'.

I foresee use in this little axe's future, so far I've got nothing but good things to say about it. More to come as I get to use it this fall and winter!

Sometimes It Just Goes Your Way - Black Bear-

Sometimes luck isn't with a hunter. Couldn't draw a tag, weather goes bad, wind goes wrong, and a plethora of other things that just seem to stack up sometimes.

And sometimes it just goes your way!

For several years I've been applying a bear tag in Minnesota. I live smack in the middle of the state's lottery only area and I've been covered up in black bears for years and years now. Finally hit a tag this year!

I've posted pictures of bears caught on my trail cameras for several years now. Back in the summer I captured some decent images and decided that if I drew a tag I'd hunt the area where I'd seen most of the bear activity, including the images below.

There was a sow and a couple two year old plus adolescents with her that worked that hill side pretty regularly.

There was also a moderately sized boar that moved into their area. He ran the youngsters off but I don't believe he killed them. They were not cubs anymore, I believe it was time for them to disperse from mom anyway.

He wasted no time getting cozy with the sow.

This was the first time I'd ever captured black bears mating, not something witnessed everyday!

Having captured those and several hundred other images of bear activity on that hillside I made the decision to hunt it.

Flash forward to 9/12. With work travel looming next week and running out of time I hit the woods late in the afternoon. I took up a spot where I could glass that hillside that the bears had been active on. With my back to a tree and my rifle propped against my Kifaru pack I settled in and watched.

It is tough to discern but in the center of the image above I could actually see about 150 yards and so there I sat, waiting, watching. Bear season had opened on September 1st and I'd hunted at every opportunity after I returned from Alaska. While I'd seen bears nothing seemed to be going my way. Blown by wind, weather flushing me out, bears hanging up or just in general being so spooked that they were not moving until well after dark.

Until now. As dusk was growing and about 15 minutes of shooting light left a bear emerged from the distant thicket. It was tough to see, the many trees broke up the outline and made it difficult to make out how big the bear was. I watched for about 10 minutes and came to the conclusion that the bear was alone and was big enough for me.

I shouldered the rifle, the Tikka T3 resting on the ridge of my pack. The bear was as far as I could see, at least 150 yards from my spot. A mosquito buzzed my ear but I wasn't going to be distracted. The bear turned and I settled the reticle of the Vortex Viper just behind the shoulder and exhaled. The detonation was a complete surprise, I love the trigger on this Tikka! The bear leaped high and fell, unmoving, the shot was true and the bear died instantly.

While no monster that suited me just fine. Perfect eating size and not overwhelming to pack out. I'm happy with my bear and happy to have taken one off my own ground. 2015 is shaping up to be a good one!

North Slope Brooks Range Caribou Part VI

After packing up and loading up at an insane pace Dustin and Throc took off in the first plane, a second bush pilot was en route to pick the remainder of our gear, meat, and myself up. This flight out was exceptional, the pilot was very interactive and pointed out a lot of caribou as well as flew a meandering path back which took us over a sow and two cubs feeding on a caribou they had obviously killed. The rack was intact and he was absolutely a monster bull. They scattered as we flew over at low altitude and then immediately charged right back to kill to continue feeding. I tried to get pictures of this but wasn't able to.

I thoroughly enjoyed this flight, more so than any other I have had. Once finally on the last lake I linked back up with Dustin and Throc and we loaded all our gear on the truck and headed to camp for the night. It was late and cold and I didn't take any pictures that night.

The next morning after coffee we headed out just after 9am, skies were heavy but we made good time on the haul road.

The road south was rugged and seemed to be in worse shape than our trip up. On several occasions it was kind of touchy as the truck wanted to slip out. Once passed Atigun Pass the road improves dramatically, that section down to Coldfoot is paved and downright awesome to drive. At some points we had some sun and others we had torrential down pours.

Coldfoot is really the only food and fuel spot on the Haul Road. It is basically the half way point as well and they serve damn fine food. I was too hungry to take pictures of the mean double burger with bacon but believe me, it was one of the finest burgers I've ever had.

After Coldfoot we continued our drive south. About a half hour before we hit the Arctic Circle I jammed the breaks when I saw this guy.

Our goal was to camp about half way or so back to Fairbanks and decided to do so within 12 miles of the actual Arctic Circle. We'd finally gotten back into heavy timber and made the stop for the night.

 

Camp was simple and I didn't spend a lot of time taking pictures. We hung out around the fire and burned everything dead we could find.

 

We spent a lot of time talking about pretty much everything from Bushcraft to hunting, to society at large and a large range of other topics. It was probably the highlight night of the entire trip, the camaraderie and shared perspectives further cemented the friendships.

As the night came on I was struck with the idea to cook some caribou on a flat rock that was at the edge of our fire. Agreeing with the idea we flipped the rock to face the super hot coals and set about cutting some caribou steaks.

As soon as we placed them on the rock the sound of sizzling meat and an incredible aroma blasted our senses. They cooked incredibly fast, perhaps 1.5 minutes per side was all it took.

  

We all agreed it was some of the best if not the best camp steak we'd ever had, it was truly superb and stretches my ability to effectively describe just how good they were. Truly a highlight of the trip. So much so Dustin got creative in the description of 'Cooking Caribou on a effing rock!'

The night waned, we added logs and enjoyed the very thing we came here to find. I'm proud to have made this trip and prouder still to have hunted and spent time with Dustin and Throc. Lifelong friendships, a taste of the true wilderness was had, grand adventure all around and memories to last a lifetime were certainly made. 

My trip to Alaska did not disappoint and merely whetted an appetite to return!

North Slope Brooks Range Caribou Part V

Two tags punched and all the caribou meat back in camp, hanging in breathable bags in the willows, there was a sense of ease and accomplishment. The hunts were relived as the evening stretched on and eventually we all turned in.

Our fifth day on the tundra dawned with fog in the mountains but generally good conditions. Having tagged out we made the decision to call for pick up at the air taxis earliest opportunity. Our plan was to get back to the air taxi's base and camp there, getting an early start on the Haul road return trip and camp on the way back to Fairbanks. We wanted trees and wood and a campfire! None of which is readily available on the tundra. Our taxi service said they'd get us out that day, to bust camp but leave the tents up.

Based on that conversation we thought we'd be getting out of the field, we packed up and waited. We called several other times but the weather where the outfitter was had apparently deteriorated and the last communication we received was to call back at about 9 the next morning. 

So we got camp back in order and spent some time loafing and piddling with what wood we could find which was really nothing more than ancient crate lumber from years ago. Dustin was using a Gossman WSK that was a part of a passaround. Beast of a knife.

I re-pitched my Kifaru Megatarp further down the hill and did not put the 1.5 net tent back up. Bugs had been minimal to nothing due to the colder temperatures so I didn't need it. The amount of space in this shelter is truly amazing, coupled with the easy set up and simplicity of two trekking poles it has become a favorite backcountry shelter when you want more than a simple flat tarp set up provides.

Even with the Bear Paw 1.5 Net Tent set up inside the mega tarp there is still gobs of space, both living area as well as storage area. My 1.5 has both the front and rear walls done up in silnylon with 10" of it along the sides up from the bottom. Even when the wind turned and blew directly into the Megatarp I barely felt it while I had the 1.5 zipped up in front. Here's a pic of the set up when the wind had changed and blew directly in.

Image below provides an idea of how much space is available with the 1.5 installed inside the Mega, there's another 20sf of space that you cannot see that is at the rear, enclosed area. I'm going to have another 1.5 built with doors in either end that will allow me easy access to that enclosed space at the rear of the Mega.

Without a doubt it is one of the best if not the best shelter combinations that I've ever used.

With our belief that there would be no pick up we decided to have some caribou cutlets for dinner. I used my ulu and sliced us off four thin pieces of some of the finest looking meat I'd ever seen.

Using some of the old crate lumber we set up a wind break and a cooking station for two pocket rockets, one for the meat and the other for a pot of mash potatoes.

Dustin (From the History Channel's 'Alone' show on the left.

I was amazed at how quickly the meat was cooking in my Alpine Fry-Bake pan. I originally purchased this pan back in late December or early January and have had several chances to use it. From baking bread to cooking meat to frying fish it has performed very well. I've even gone to cooking my Mountain House meals in this pan because I use my own proportions instead of the individual packs. I pour in the amount I need, then the hot water, place the pan with the lid on it over my flat top kettle and cover with a camp bag or other article of clothing. This keeps the heat in and the MH meals cook just fine. In this case the caribou meat cooked evenly and perfectly in the pan with just a small amount of oil.

Coming into the home stretch we doled out the meat and potatoes.

Having spent the time to prepare this incredible looking and smelling meal, we were about to have our first bite when noise drew my attention to the far end of the lake, a flicker of white gliding in, it took me several seconds to understand what I was seeing. My mind a fog of food anticipation, my critical thinking crippled by the smell of the cooked caribou. Then recognition. I said "You've got to be f*&$ing kidding me!" as the float plane glided into the lake. We sat there somewhat dumb struck for a few moments. The door on the float plane open and the voice of our bushpilot could be heard all the way in camp, "Hurry up!" was what got to my ears. Suddenly with all three of us cursing beneath our breath and maybe a few above, we ate quickly as we exploded into motion to break down our gear. We were so enthralled with the meal and looking forward to taking our time it was a shame to have to eat it on the fly, but we did, and it was damn good!

To be continued...