The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly are the Pioneer Outfitters Extreme Pro Team Guides.

Pioneer Outfitters Extreme Pro Team Guides are Professional Guides in the truest sense of the words. They are the ones that no matter how bad things get, (and there are days they can get pretty bad... and then they can get really bad) can keep you going, keep you safe and later, when you are finally at the end of everything, your patience, your endurance, you just put on your last pair of dry socks and stuck them into a puddle of water- in your boots ~kind of "at the end", can build a big fire, feed you till you burst and make you laugh at everything you just went through.

The Pro Team are the Guides that live in Chisana year round, cut the fire wood, haul the water, take care of the range horses, clean, fix, oil, patch, mend, trap, and wait for the next guest to take them where the guest's dreams may lead them.  No matter what the temperature is, what the weather is up to, time of year it may be, they are the ones that can handle it all. All the interior mountains of Alaska may have to throw at us, the Extreme Pro Team Guides are prepared and capable.

There is a downside to the Extreme Pro Team Guides... this would be "The Ugly" part of the name they were given so long ago that there are numerous stories where it came from. The downside, "The Ugly" is the bragging rights. All Professional Guides have it, and use it, but the Extreme Pro Team Guides revel in it, enjoy it, write about it, talk about it, share it.... and most of the time, it's all on film, so they share it, world wide. "If you live through it, you have bragging rights" I grew up into a Professional Guide hearing this mantra, believe me, it is a fact. Now, I can tell you, we have never lost a guest or even severely damaged one.

There is so much more going on here in Chisana than people know. This is where we'll show you just exactly what is going on and who's up to what and where. 

"My name is Terry Overly. I’m an Alaskan Master Guide and have been personally and fully active in the Big Game guiding industry for many years now.

My history goes back many decades. As a young man, I had the honor to have known and flown with some of Alaska’s best of the monarchs – Bill Ellis, Bud Hickethier, Ron Hays, Ken Holdem and Ray McNutt, just to name a few.

Many times I have sat around the campfire with these men, telling stories of hunting big rams on the peaks and sky-lined ridges, or hunting brown bear or grizzlies; 70” plus bull moose; book caribou; polar bears out of Kotzebue; and of course, beautiful women everywhere… a trophy is a trophy.

We had many a good meal and sipped fine ale gathered around some of these fires, with a beautiful woman sitting on our knee – fanning us and feeding us grapes. Well now, that sounds almost too good to be true… but you know what? It really happened that way sometimes!

Most of the time you couldn’t get more than three or four of almost any of these men together at any one time or place without worrying about a fight breaking out. But, that’s the way Alaska was back then. The land was our land and it was free. The Country was wild and open for all. We were proud to be who we were.

Oh God, Thank you for letting us see and experience then… then; and for not letting us know then how screwed up now was going to be!!

Okay now Boys, you have to understand that right now IS the “Good Old Days” for you. This is as good as it’s going to get. It’s up to you to perpetuate our heritage… Big Game Guides. Outfitters. Hunting and fishing and freedom.

There will be more campfires to sit around; more fine ale to sip; more stories of rams, moose, grizzlies, browns, caribou and flying; an occasional fight; and if you’re really lucky, you might even get some pretty girl to sit on your knee.

But, this is what we have now and we must work within the ever-changing system and bureaucracy. We WILL meet all the challenges!!"

WEATHER PERMITTING
Way up in Alaska wherever you are,
If you’re headed out close or you’re headed out far
And you’re going by plane you can add (and it’s fitting)
I’ll be there Good Buddies,
Weather permitting.

It could really care less what you’re planning or doing;
An operation, oration, a wedding or wooing.
When you go to the airport, you may need your knitting,
For you’ll only be flying,
Weather permitting.

I’ve fretted and stewed, I’ve stomped on the floor,
I’ve shouted and screamed and I’ve started to roar,
But you’ll always face this, it’s
Weather permitting.

So don’t get disheartened in the far golden north
If you suffer delay as you sally forth.
Just learn to relax without fretting or quitting.
You can depend on one thing, it’s
Weather permitting.

When the rich folks come with their clothing so fine,
With their high fashion wardrobes and fine French wine,
They’ll stop for awhile then continue their flitting,
Go on with their jet setting,
Weather permitting.

The Next Generation

Whether you’re working or playing around
Flying through the mountains or over the sound
In what kind of season your travels are hitting,
I will guarantee this, it’s
Weather permitting.

It gets in your blood wherever you go.
So I said to my Sweetie how I love you so!
She said I adore you, come close where I am sitting
And I’ll do what you want,
Weather permitting.

When the grim reaper comes,
I can see it all clear.
I’m alone in my shroud, happy heaven is near.
I’m coming Saint Peter, this old world I’m quitting,
I’ll be along soon,
Weather permitting.

Doing what you really don't think you can...

Pioneer Outfitters has been providing horse pack-trip, sight-seeing, photography, winter excursions and hunting excellence since 1924. As a professional woman in a field that is still mainly enjoyed by men, I am sitting here today writing you this letter. The women I’ve met since becoming an Alaska Guide have shared so much with me, taught me and enriched my life. I’d like for more women to come with us and see all there is in this unspoiled wilderness. Wildlife photography, glacier walks, winter excursions, horseback riding (no experience necessary) and hunting…with experienced guides helping you every step of the way.

You have to do it, it is what you do.

The first sign there is null going on...
your guides smiling this much,
first thing in the morning!

                                                                                
Raising a family here in Chisana, surrounded by "real life living legends" as my son put it when he was little, is a little tricky. No day care, no pre-school, just as rough and tough as they come mountain men. The guys, if you were to see passing on the street, you may  feel the slight need to keep your eyes adverted, make yourself just a little smaller to avoid notice, these are the scarey dudes teaching my babies to talk (oh my!), humoring them by letting them tag along, keeping an eye on them while I'm doing whatever it is that needs me.  This beautiful land. These beautiful, strong, honorable, professional men are part of our family. My kiddos have never known any different. Flying in Papa's Super Cub to check camps and clients while I am out in camp myself. Knowing and understanding knives, guns, animals, hunting, trapping, butchering, hauling water, cutting firewood and all the things that make up our lives. The people that come into our lives, our guests, from all walks of life, different ideas, thoughts, professions, history, they have all touched our lives, and the children's lives. We are truely blessed.

There has been an outstanding increase of girls and women in hunting since the early 1990’s. If you teach a man to hunt, he goes hunting. If you teach a woman to hunt, the entire family goes hunting. Likewise for getting the family out into the wilderness, to enjoy and share what this beautiful land has to offer us all. Women and young people are, as in everything, a critical part in the future of hunting and fishing and we here at Pioneer Outfitters are committed to teaching and encouraging this tradition.

With Pioneer Outfitters at your side every step of the way, your safety and pleasure are our first priority, always. Whether you leave Chisana with a new confidence or a revitalized one, when you share it with the girls and women in your life the experience multiplies, as does the pleasure.

I hope I can continue to be part of these experiences, and share them with you. I would love to help you plan your trip to Chisana, for a Summer Pack Trip, Hunting Trip or Winter Excursion. Please feel free to call or email, we will do our best to answer any questions you may have.

-Amber-Lee Dibble