That I share my 50 winters here in the Interior of Alaska Trapping experiences. Due to health issues and a conflict I quit trapping a couple of years ago. I have some photos of my time over the years I want to share with the community of Trappers. My family have seen them all and heard of all the stories but before I leave this place I want to share with my friends. There are some here in Alaska that have shared times with me.Over time as I scan the photos into my computer I will share pictures and stories that may interest some.



Me!





Main cabin on the North Fork of the Chena River. Now owned by Sue Aikens of Life Below Zero. Was mine for several years and at the beginning of my trapline.



Line Cabin on North Fork near head waters.



Salcha River Cabin, Beaver line cabin.

I know my time to hang it up will come one day too, I dread the day. Sorry for the health issues and conflict. You have my respect for living life to the fullest all those years. Looking forward to the pictures and stories. God Bless.

Nice pictures.

Looking forward to both your stories and your photos.

Take care.

Awesome Larry. Look forward to seeing more pictures and hearing your stories. You were part of a great era of wilderness trappers. Hope your wife is feeling better.

I've been out with Larry a couple times. Where is the line cabin? Still there? Never saw it. Does Jodi use it? Nice country. Better when the Caribou aren't there,eh?

Excellent, thank you Snap!! Will be checking in a lot more often. If possible, give us dates, years, as you post pics. Those of us that have been here our whole life would like to remember those times as present them. Thanks again!

The first time I saw Sue on TV, I thought it WAS you..... and you had grown your hair out......!

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us, sure look forward to seeing and hearing more. Sorry to hear things ended the way they did for you but it looks like you had one (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) of a run of it!

Looking forward to this, Larry. I still have the snowshoes you sent me when you found out I was using Cabela's Guide Shoes! Ha ha.

Thanks everyone for the interest. I have no regrets because it has been good, a few bumps but life is good here in the Great Land.

Dave my wife is fine after getting the Bamalanivimab treatment, same stuff Trump got. It kicked the pneumonia that had started. I am still on quarantine until 1/26/2021 and well. I don't get it we didn't make up and live close as usual.

Pete I should have left you over at 101 mile that really cold day we were marking the Quest trail. But seriously thanks for the help.

Mike I didn't show you eveything...LOL

Barry I am glad they are getting us. More than I can give them.

Keep them coming!

Who I am.
I was born in 1942. My father had moved from the farm to California in 1940 to work in the aviation industry during the 2nd. world war. During the 50's there was a radio show, Sargent Preston of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I would listen to it at night and was intrigued about the frozen north. 1960 I got married and by 1964 had 2 children and had joined the Carpenters Union Apprentice Program.
1964 Anchorage suffered a huge earthquake. During the apprentice class we learned that there was a need for Carpenters in Alaska to rebuild the damaged infrastructure. I considered going but needed to complete the program. In 1968 my wife cousins showed up at our house, they were teachers in Anchorage and heading to Mexico City to attend the University working on his degree. When they left my wife said, "ALASKA IS WHERE YOU BELONG"........."WHAT ME?" I have a business I just can't leave, "YOU WILL FIND A WAY" was her reply, GOD BLESS HER!
I had built a bait and tackle business to supplements slow times as a carpenter. I was leaving with a load of frozen bait and tackle going up the hill in Malibu and looked out over the ocean and could see San Nicholas Island 90 miles away and I CAN DO IT was my thought. The first customer was 15 minutes down the road and I gave him my notice that I was leaving for Alaska as soon as I could sell out. The remainder of the day was the same message.
My buddy was getting a divorce so we ended up in Anchorage in May. 4;30 in the afternoon and the traffic was bad and the town was dirty, not what I expected. We checked into the Union Hall and were told to get out of town, NO WORK,STRIKE. I ended up framing houses for a non union company. $7.00 per hour, 60 hours a week, no overtime pay, paid once a month. One of the carpenter on the job loaned me his camp trailer so after 6 weeks my family arrived and we made home is a 12 ft. camp trailer at the camper park by the drive in theater.
Its September and the termination dust was moving down the Chugach. Not enough money for an apartment since we bought a HUGE 14 ft. camp trailer. I had the trailer for sale and was getting concerned because school was starting and needed to get the kids in school. One evening a knock at the camper door and an old bearded man was interested and about the time I was going to offer him a discount he handed me a check for the amount I was asking and said his phone number is on check and when you get settled can you deliver the camper to my house. We rented an apartment 2 blocks away from him and for the time we lived in Spenard the trailer never moved.
Went to work with a contractor that had projects on all the military bases. He sent me to Fairbanks and we packed up and have been in Fairbanks every since.

Nice that you made it to Alaska.

Nice pictures. Looking forward to more

Already hooked on this thread. Can’t wait to hear more!

Keep them coming, Larry.

Fairbanks was a different place in the early 70's. It was so dead because the pipeline was on hold we could go to JC Pennys and we would be the only customers in the store on a Friday night, time to visit. I still consider our family as new comers though. I know many that were here long before we came and a lot of second and third generation Alaskans. More here than a lot of Alaska, THERE IS A REASON!

I worked with a black painter and one day after work he invited me to his house for some home brew beer, (I don't drink) but was happy to be invited to visit. I mentioned I was going to look into setting up a trapline. He told me he knew a guy that trapped on the flats and said be careful don't run someones line it's not good. Reading about conflicts over the years It wasn't hard to decide to find my own trapline and respect others, EARLY GOOD LESSON. Being able to supplement my income trapping was right up my alley.

First line was up the Steese highway where Weltown is today. I snow shoed a several mile loop. It was next to the Davison Ditch water way. One day I was chugging along next to this little creek and its banks were about 7 or 8 feet high and on the snow at the bottom of the creek were good size grizzly tracks, fairly fresh, This was in December and I am heavily armed with a 22 pistol. The next day I asked a friend if he wanted to partner up. He was the right guy. He was a Fitter and worked with a guy that was a long time trapper and everyday at lunch the subject was trapping so I had a good teacher by proxy. We ended up with 1 cat and 18 marten and a whole;e bunch of fun. He was checking another set off the trail and I came up to our set on a big tree and the trap was gone. The cat looked around the tree at me and I called out to my partner that we had a cat. He had not seen the cat and said he would take the snowhoe and hold it down while you put the snare on it. The cat came around the tree with all 3 paws open and he put the snowshoe in front of him and let out a wow. He said that he thought it was going to be the size of a house cat, LOL. If you ever decide to ski a snowshoe trapline your in or fun. My partner couldn't make a sharp turn going down hill and wrapped himself around a dead 3 inch diameter pole and as he was looking at me like the coyote in the road runner cartoon the pole slowly went to the ground and him in tow face first, I still laugh about it.



Steese Highway was open to 42 mile every winter. Here we are heading on a round trip to 66 mile for lunch at the lodge I think it was 1973. Lodge was closed. Little kid is Snap JR. 56 YO now.




Chena Hot Springs Road was not plowed some times due to the budget. Here we are unloading for my next trapline, 1975

Enjoying the story and the pic's!

Well It's about time Larry. Great pics... Better start sharing this before you forget all the these memories. You know ya ain't getting any younger. Thanks for all you've do with the ATA and on T-man.