Monday :

Woke up to rain and fog. Got dressed and hoped that the weather would lift. Johnnie suggested a camp day knowing full well that this type of weather does not simply 'burn off.' It looked like another write-off hanging around the fire.

We had breakfast and sat underneath the tarp chatting. I kept a close lookout on the peaks. I could care less about rain but the fog killed the visibility and you can't hunt goats if you can't see 'em. By 2 PM it was a washout and we decided that tomorrow - our last hunting day - would be a hump whether it be rain, fog, sleet, snow, or tornado. Nothing could keep me off that mountain tomorrow morning.

While sitting around camp we were glued to Johnnie's Marine Radio - a handheld unit not much larger than a cell phone. From that radio we could make phone calls, distress calls to the British Columbia Coast Guard (if necessary) or listen to the scanner. While we were in camp a fishing vessel had issued a mayday then disappeared in the fog and rough seas. The saga was a nail biter with the BC Coast Guard employing the assistance of fishing vessels in the area to look for the small craft. Unfortunately the news was grim and they recovered one of the two bodies in the sea. We never found out if the second was recovered.

A harsh reminder that Southeast Alaska and Coastal British Columbia can be an unforgiving place.