3 Among the Wolves (33 page)

Willow stood at the edge of the clearing with the family, while Mackenzie followed a hundred feet behind our sleds. We climbed a low rise and descended the other side. Mackenzie stood tall and regal on the crest for several minutes, then slowly turned back to his family. It broke our hearts to watch him leave.

We skied single file, led by Bill. We were too choked up to talk. Charlie walked quietly at my side without looking back. I could feel his sadness, but he seemed to have accepted that we were going home.

An hour later, the wolves surprised us as they flitted through the trees to our left. Charlie stopped, sat on his haunches, and raised his muzzle in one last sorrowful howl to his friends, who answered with a long wailing chorus. Mackenzie had brought his entire family to say one last good-bye to Charlie.

With tears we bade our friends farewell again. Then Willow touched her shoulder gently to her mate's. Mackenzie, who had blossomed into a gentle if reluctant leader, turned and led his family away, with Willow close at his side. She seemed to know that Mackenzie longed for Charlie to stay, and comforted him with little brushes to his muzzle.

Our hearts heavy, we continued through the forest that now seemed terribly empty. But our hearts and minds were full of unforgettable memories and insights—many unexpected—that we had gained from our year with the wolves.

O
UR YEAR WITH THE WOLVES immeasurably deepened our knowledge and appreciation of these much maligned animals. While wolves are often portrayed as villains—as in fairy tales such as
Little Red Riding Hood
and
The Three Little Pigs
—our experiences told a different story. We witnessed many acts of compassion and kindness in the three wolf families we observed. They had ample opportunity to attack us as we traveled among and lived close to them, had that been their true nature, but they did not.

Following our year of observation, we continued to visit the summer wolves every other year. To ensure that their familiarity with humans would not reach a level that might endanger them, we never again directly approached the den. Instead we observed them from a ridge downwind to ensure that we would remain undetected, the same ridge from which we had first surveyed them on our reconnaissance journey. The rocks easily concealed us, enabling us to camp with our sleeping bags on the ground for several days at a time.

We watched Beta, as gentle as ever with each set of new pups, for four years, after which we assumed he had passed on. The pack continued to be led by Alpha through the summer of 2001, but by 2003 a five-year-old gray-black wolf had adopted the alpha role. Meanwhile, the aging Alpha had taken over the beta role and appeared to be a respected elder just as Beta had been.

Mother remained the leading female for five years, after which her place was taken by a regal female who seemed to have
joined the pack from another area. Mother seemed happy in her new role; we never observed any animosity as family social roles changed.

Yukon remained but Klondike disappeared, we assumed to find a mate and start her own family. Denali, although no longer the first to dash off to lead a hunt these days, is still hunting and spends long hours watching for prey from the ridge top. Omega now holds a midpack position and displays greater confidence. The two young, mischievous brothers grew into large and powerful, but still playful, adults.

Many pups have been born; some have stayed on and others have dispersed, bringing the total number of wolves in the family to sixteen. The wolves appear content to use the same den and surrounding rendezvous area year after year.

We also followed the delta wolves for the next three winters, traveling by snowmobile with John to visit them. We watched Stranger become the new alpha male, while Mackenzie seemed content in the role of beta; we believe he encouraged the change. Mackenzie's mate, Willow, appeared as devoted as ever, even though her position as alpha female was assumed by a new wolf. John surmised that the new alpha female had followed Stranger from his original pack to become his mate. Spruce, Birch, Richard, and Kendall remained with the pack and by 2002 the addition of new pups had raised the family's number to fifteen.

The delta wolves also faced a crisis that year. Oil and gas exploration on the delta had reached an intense level, bringing with it a dramatic increase in the number of heavy trucks that traveled the ice road. The invasion of the wolves' hunting range by humans caused the animals to become so distraught that John feared they would leave the area altogether.

All through January 2002, Stranger and Mackenzie rarely relaxed when the family returned to their winter rendezvous. John remained close by, camped in a spruce thicket all month without a break. His worst fears were realized in the first week of
February when, led by Stranger, the pack left for the rugged hills and valleys many miles southeast of Inuvik.

John followed on his snowmobile, sometimes keeping them in sight but mostly scouting their tracks in the snow. Throughout February, the wolves continually hunted and traveled throughout a wide range. By March, however, they seemed to have regained a sense of confidence and began hunting and returning at intervals to a sheltered valley, just as they had rendezvoused on the delta. That summer a delighted John discovered their den. He continues to observe the family from a distance, as he did on the delta.

Bill and I keep the exact location of the summer and delta wolves' den sites and rendezvous areas a well-guarded secret to avoid the possibility of leading hunters to the animals. All photographs in my public lectures and certain photographs in this book have been edited with security in mind.

Our time with the wolves also gave us a deeper appreciation of our beloved Charlie. We could never have successfully lived with the wolves without his unusual ability to gain their respect. His natural interaction with the inhabitants of the wild country was extraordinary.

Every time we visited the wolves to check up on them, Charlie accompanied us. As we observed from the ridge, he tugged at his leash, urging us to allow him to join the pack, and he was puzzled by our insistence that he remain hidden behind the rocks. By the second day, he seemed to accept that he had to observe from a distance, and set up a constant watch. Even though he could not join the family, he appeared happy to be near them once more.

Early on our first day of observation of the delta wolves Charlie gave a short howl when the family returned to their usual resting site. Mackenzie immediately stared across the void to where trees concealed our tents. He sent out a long howl in apparent recognition
of Charlie and fanned his tail. Although we kept Charlie tethered at the side of the tent, out of sight of the wolves, he fanned his tail as Mackenzie voiced his recognition.

John, who was with us that day, observed the interaction and said quietly, “They'll be friends always.”

In the years following the publication of
Polar Dream
, the story of my solo trek to the magnetic North Pole with Charlie, our gentle dog touched the hearts of thousands of people. He appeared at schools and events and on television shows such as
Good Morning America
. He visited nursing homes, children's hospitals, and camps for children with special needs. And he was the guest of honor at many fund-raisers for animal shelters.

Even today, fan mail from all over the world addressed to Charlie still arrives in a steady stream. His magnetism attracted people from all walks of life. Strangers would kneel to hug him. He imparted an angelic love that made people want to touch him.

Charlie celebrated his twenty-third birthday in 2003. His excellent health and long life were no doubt enhanced by strong genes, daily exercise, home-cooked food, and the monthly visits he enjoyed to his chiropractor and acupuncturist. But finally, his age caught up with him. Three weeks after we last visited the summer wolves, Charlie passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Although we miss him deeply, and will never really get over losing him, we cope by keeping him in our thoughts every day. We cherish every memory and everything he taught us. His soft gaze watches us from a life-size painting. We assume Charlie and Beta are howling happily together in heaven.

Charlie now lies at peace in a special place in a beautiful grove on our farm, overlooking the mountains he loved. He will always walk at our sides in spirit. His uncanny intelligence, along with his unfailing devotion to Bill and me, will continue to guide our path until we all meet again.

OUR MANY THANKS to our friend Marlin Greene of 3 Hats Design who has freely given of his advice and help. A thank you to John, our Inuit friend, who trusted us and allowed us into his world of wolves. Thank you, Margaret, for your unfailing support and encouragement.

Also thanks to my agent Anne Depue, and to Gary Luke and Heidi Schuessler of Sasquatch Books—and copyeditor Sherri Schultz—for your timely editing and suggestions.

And a special thanks to all those scientists who have provided information over the years concerning wolves and have created a solid base for my own wolf studies.

HELEN THAYER was born and raised in New Zealand and graduated from Auckland University. She has been an international track and field athlete, and she won the U.S. women's national luge title in 1975 at age 36. When she was 50, she became the first woman to walk and ski to the magnetic North Pole; the account of that adventure became the book
Polar Dream
. She has received many awards and accolades for her adventures, including the Outstanding Achievement Award by the American Mountain Foundation (now the Rocky Mountain Field Institute). In 2002 Helen was named by the National Geographic Society/National Public Radio as one of the great explorers of the 20th century and was honored at a White Clinton for her expeditions and educational work. She is a regular speaker before organizations and corporate groups. She and her husband Bill live in the foothills of Washington's North Cascade Mountains.

House reception by President

Copyright ©2004 by Helen Thayer

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Published by Sasquatch Books

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Book design: Stewart A.Williams

Helen and Bill Thayer (all others)

Interior photographs: Helen and Bill Thayer

Map: Marge Mueller

 

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eISBN : 978-1-570-61808-6

 

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