coleman tent, fixed blade knife


     While on a hunting and camping vacation in Alaska I was put in a situation that had it not been for my rugged Coleman tent, I would not be here to write this for you to read.


     I landed in Anchorage, AK at 7:00 a.m. and the temperature was 53 degrees. Not bad for July, and it was supposed to get up to 73 today, yeah. I was met by a guide that had set up this little excursion on the Yetna River. We drove to his hanger, boarded his Cessna float plane and headed out into the land of the midnight sun. We landed on a small stretch of calm river water and proceeded to beach the aircraft on a sand bar. We were waiting for the rest of the party to show up, so we lit a fire and started doing a little fishing. About an hour later a small boat floats around the bend and the occupants let out a hoop and a holler.


     As the plane took off, we sat on the sand bar watching him tilt his wings left to right, seeming to disappear into the bright sun. We beached the boat, making sure to tie it off securely just in case a storm comes through and the river rises. We carried our gear inland about 100 yards and set up camp. I set up my camping tent and ended up having to pound the tent pegs in with the handle of my fixed blade knife. The other hunters were making fun of my canvas Coleman tent and I let them. I knew if a storm did roll through I would definitely be safe and dry.


     A storm came through our area that night that I could only compare to a tropical storm out in the Gulf Of Mexico. Come morning I was warm and dry, with 5 guests that came in earlier that night. They were not laughing any more. And my Coleman tent saved the day.