My Alaska Survival Trip With Bare Essentials Part 1 of 3

[dartmoorwolf]

amazing landscape

[phreshayr]

@dartmoorwolf thank you. Me and my wife do enjoy living here and having raised our family here as well.

[Bently100]

IS a 12 gage enough for a bear?

[phreshayr]

@Bently100 Yes I believe a 12 gauge loaded with slugs will kill a bear. They are NOT a good gun for hunting bear at typical hunting distances. Against bear they are only good up close as a self preservation gun. I have full confidence in mine since it is short and a pistol grip. Much less likely to hang up on brush when trying to get it quick into firing position. Do a search using these terms--"12 gauge bear fish and game" and you will see that the Ak F&G recommends a 12 gauge.

[Bently100]

@phreshayr Well that is really good to know. Thank you!

[survivalkiing]

I gotta say, you make it look easy. I'd love to do that but carry a little more like a canteen and a snack

[phreshayr]

@survivalkiing Thanks.  It's really not too difficult but does take a bit of time to get a warm camp setup. Thanks for watching.

[RandomGaming26]

amazing man 

[phreshayr]

@RandomGaming26 Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed the video series.

[xXJADEXx7]

love your videos man.

[phreshayr]

@xXJADEXx7 Good. Glad you like em. Thanks

[brenterwin99611]

I live in Kenai, I get up your way at leat 3 or 4 times a year... maybe we can get together and trade info, stories & learn a thing or two? If you are interested give me shout... brent_erwin99611@yahoo.com  "We do get to live the DREAM up here...

[brenterwin99611]

Where in alaska are you? Looks like the matanuska river below you?

[phreshayr]

@brenterwin99611 This is in the Southcentral area of Alaska.

[phreshayr]

@thenofxer I have never needed to defend myself against a bear........Yet. I may never need to defend myself. But if that time ever does occur, hopefully I will be prepared. If you haven't done so yet, I recommend you read Alaska Bear Tales by Larry Kaniut and other bear books he has written. Bears are far more intelligent than most people give them credit for. They are very much like people in that they have different personalities. To give a blanket statement that guns (continued)

[thenofxer]

@phreshayr Yes they are very intelligent. Which is exactly my ppoint. Bears will aviod people in my experience. I have had three bear encounters, all ending in me not being attacked. Im not saying its a bad idea to have a gun. However bear spray is more likly to save your life than a gun, as a gun is very likely to anger a bear. I personally like to pack light so that i can cover distance fast (its a big state so much to see) anyways your comment cut off where was this?

[phreshayr]

@thenofxer Yes there are studies that show that bear spray can be more effective than a fire arm. However my brother who was a big game guide assistant has stories to tell that contradicts those studies. I personally am aware of a lady that was attacked in the wrangle mountains in spite of effectively using bear spray. My Indian buddies in Southeast Alaska who grew up with the bears all choose to carry firearms. Some of which live in the highest concentration of brown bears in the world.

[thenofxer]

@phreshayr Yeah, I'm not trying to argue, after all i am 24 and relatively inexperienced in these matters. I was just reciting what i have heard along with a few of my experiences. I never got around to mentioning that your content seams superb and I am glad that you are out there giving the YouTube community Alaska's Best. Also If you ever need an apprentice on a trip to do some of the tough work,I am on the Kenai,and I would love to learn! keep up the awesome!!

[phreshayr]

@thenofxer I have had approximately a dozen bear encounters myself and have yet needed to defend myself. That does not mean that the time to defend myself will not ever come. I personally feel that a proper sized firearm in a properly prepared persons hands is more effective than pepper spray. But if it is to be either pepper spray or nothing then by all means carry pepper spray. This video series was shot Northeast Of Anchorage Alaska. Thanks for watching and Commenting.

[phreshayr]

@thenofxer To give a blanket statement that guns are not needed is like saying we as a society do not need law enforcement. Most bears will leave a human alone and not bother them. But there is occasionally a bear that just plain has an attitude problem and is unpredictable. What happens if a person accidentally gets in between mama and cubs. There is a very real chance that that person will not be alive 10 minutes later. Please protect yourself and loved ones when in bear country.

[thehollysarena]

i am very jealous of your wildlife out there , not just the diversity of wild edibles and game , but the forests them selfs. i live in new zealand and we are very limited for small game and the game we have is at oposite ends of the country , the bush here is also very thick and very hard to walk through. There arnt alot of openings or space to pitch shelters that often , there is not alot of edibles that are known to be okay to eat , not even by the maori ( indigenous people of new zealand ).

[phreshayr]

@thehollysarena I DO feel blessed to live in this area. Alaska is Very harsh and unforgiving in the winter due to the Extreme weather and length of winter but it tries to make up for it during the summer with an abundance. After living in Alaska for over 40 years I'm still surprised at how fast the vegetation "springs" back to life. A moose is a lot of meat in one animal but in reality there is not very many of them especially compared to the human population. Same with caribou & bear.

[tearfulpie1019]

i want a survival knife and to be able to go up north again

[JoeandZachSurvival]

I am liking this series, you have such awsome views up there. Nice job.

[phreshayr]

@JoeandZachSurvival Thanks for watching.

[hunteddown848]

you defently have some of the best survival videos on youtube by far! keep the videos coming!

[phreshayr]

@hunteddown848 Thank you.  That's quite a compliment. It is my goal to effectively teach my viewers how to survive and be at home in the wilderness but I often get frustrated with my poor communication skills. Thanks for the encouragement.

[hunteddown848]

@phreshayr no problem, ive never been to alaska but i want to go there really bad, the wilderness up there looks incredible! and yes ive learned so much from your videos.

[phreshayr]

@supertramp71 Thanks for watching

[patje0109]

 I really enjoyed watching part 1 of your trip, just "found" your channel, quite impressive i must say...:-) You live in a really beautifull country , and I thank you for sharing this !!!! Now i'm going to watch part 2 CU Lonnie

[phreshayr]

@patje0109 Thank you. Alaska is a very beautiful place. Even though I live here and see it every day I still stop occasionally and say "wow THAT IS BEAUTIFUL".

[inquisitivewolf]

Absolutely fantastic trip with such beauty it really does give one pause. It appears you are living out the adventures I dreamed about as a child. Can't wait to see the rest of the series. Thanks Lonnie.

[phreshayr]

@inquisitivewolf You are welcome. I'm glad you like the vids. Like I've said somewhere else, it is my hope that through my videos others at least in part can enjoy the adventures and experinces with me

[TomsBackwoods]

Great hike!! Very nice shelter!!

[phreshayr]

@TomsBackwoods thanks.

[jimhuntermj21]

What a beautiful place. Thanks for taping this. I need to get up there someday!

[phreshayr]

@jimhuntermj21 Thank you and you are welcome. Alaska will never be more scenic and less crowded then it is right now. :-)

[maethorize]

This needs more views.

[phreshayr]

@maethorize I agree :-) have a good one

[phreshayr]

@Waldharmony Yes it worked out fine as you probably already know by now if you've watched the rest of this series. It was a little cold but not bad and I'm an admitted pansy when it comes to warm sleeping.

[joe2trees]

Just wondering..isnt it only the bull moose that has a dewlap ?

[phreshayr]

@joe2trees No, Both sexes have it. The one on the moose by my camp WAS rather large for a cow.  She had no antlers and no indication of any late blooming antlers yet to show if it was going to be a minimal antlered bull this fall. Her forehead was very smooth skinned other than an apparent scar on one side. There also was no Penis to be seen. So almost HAD to be a cow.

[steintanz]

... watched it again and a question came to my mind: Have you ever tried stuffing the grass inside the A-frame and then digging yourself into the grass, like in a haystack?

[phreshayr]

@steintanz Good idea and exactly the one I arrived at as you probably have already seen in vid #3. It was much warmer this way.  I needed yet still more grass than I had but it worked out okay.

[MrMycoo]

Amazing! 

[phreshayr]

@MrMycoo Thanks

[brgzz]

Nice one bro!

[phreshayr]

@brgzz Thank you. Glad ya liked it.

[beast12101]

bravo great series

[phreshayr]

@beast12101 Thanks

[cslr11]

great video and what a great place . can't wait to watch the outher parts . I really like you shelter. It look like a good desing and easy to build

[phreshayr]

@cslr11 Thank you. The shelter did work quite well. One thing I would like to mention though is that it can take quite a long time to prepare a sufficient shelter. I had about a third mile round trip to bring most of that grass and there was about 15 trips involved. It wore me out. In a TRUE survival situation. shelter location is critical. I chose the location based on asthetics knowing that I would be going back to it in the future and wanted a scenic overlook area.

[saradreaming]

Beautiful country and some majestic animals. I'm looking forward to the rest of the adventure. : )

[phreshayr]

@saradreaming Thank you. Glad you are enjoying it.

[steintanz]

Very cool project! Thats some awesome scenery there ...

[phreshayr]

@steintanz Thank you. I feel pretty blessed to live in an area like this. This is only about 1 1/2 miles from my house.

[snappa222]

exciting stuff going on there Lonnie-that's living man ! Bruce

[phreshayr]

@snappa222 Thanks Bruce

[branm008]

Jealous of that scenery. Looks like a good outing brother.

[phreshayr]

@branm008 Thanks.

[bushcraftbartons]

Very nice Lonnie...

[phreshayr]

@bushcraftbartons Thanks Mike

[MrTotez]

Absolutely beautiful, I wish I could move up to Alaska but there is no way the Canooks would let me through their country with the types of firearms I own to get up there. Not to mention it'd be a bit of a hike from Pennsylvania!

[hapelliotte]

@MrTotez lolz!!! the Canooks :) I know man, you're right, I live here. Just mail everything direct from your state to Alaska, insured, of course. :)

[phreshayr]

@MrTotez It might be a bit of a problem. As a USA citizen I had more problems coming into Alaska than I did into Canada.  Canada was like "the land of the brave" "The land of the Free". Alaska was like the land of the paranoid and Big Brother mentality even though I have a clean record and was an Alaska resident for many years. This was like 15 years ago.

[phreshayr]

@HeikeGanjiro I see you removed your comment. Sorry it took me so long to reply but I was busy camping and publishing the rest of this video series. I did not understand your comment anyway. Hope all is well my friend.

[armouredcockroach]

Just Brilliant if anyone asks you what you Do tell them your an independant film maker i've been ratling around the house desperate to get out on a trip the nearest im getting for a while is checking my equipment in the garage I wish I was there be safe my friend Blessings Michael S

[phreshayr]

@armouredcockroach Thanks Michael. I enjoyed your flint and steel vid.  Good job.

[Wintertrekker]

Thanks for sharing the trek Lonnie! Spectacularly beautiful country! Sounded like wood frogs in the pond (first in spring to start calling). Its great when out solo and being quiet, how many animal species will start to just relax around you, like the cow moose, and come check you out (uh…except for the bears – they can stay away!). Looking forward to Parts 2&3, and seeing how the shelter worked out.

[phreshayr]

@Wintertrekker Yes they were frogs. I have an (what is to me) almost unbelievable story of a beaver who gave me a gift one time when I was camping nearby. It was an incredible moment. Yes that moose by my camp seemed to except me and didn't seem to mind me being around. Thanks for the comment

[hapelliotte]

Great video and very practical :) Looking forward to 2 and 3.

Bears concern me when I'm out, I have had numerous encounters, but never had to shoot one (thankfully). I just make lotsa noise, but that doesnt garantee anything. Tell me, does that pistol grip shotgun hurt your hand? My friend has one and sold it and went to a short barrel full stock because the pistol grip hurt his hand too much though he practiced a lot and used slugs.

Thanks for another interesting upload.

[phreshayr]

@hapelliotte Yes bears also concern me as well. Not enough to keep me away but definitely enough to demand my utmost respect and to be prepared for an unpleasant encounter. I truthfully have not shot the gun that many times. Maybe 30 rounds through it since new in about 1986. But no it doesn't hurt. I use slugs also. I do have a full stock for it if I'm going to hunt small game with it. Usually I just use a 22 cal for small game and keep the 12 gauge for bear protection though.

[hapelliotte]

@phreshayr thanks my friend, its very short and handy.

[phreshayr]

@hapelliotte It makes a dandy Brush gun that I have full confidence in.