Seems like there is a lot of discussion about the best weapon to use for protection from bears. But what would you do with a mad moose? Frankly, while I have had a lot of close encounters with bears, I often am more fearful of running into an angry moose. Perhaps a 97 lb wife is the best thing to have along.

This ol' pilot is lucky to be alive:

http://www.adn.com/2012/01/22/2277726/w ... -with.html

Mr Murphy is a fine old gentlemen and a good back country pilot not so common in these days. Flew with him many times during my 17 yrs flying for the Iditarod in one form or another. He was always there in support of the race and helping volunteers to make sure the race went off as scheduled. His yellow Sedan and his knowledge of the trail were always an important factor in the success of the race. Never met a more polite, courteous and unassuming person in my life. Kind of person you always wanted to be but just didn't have it in ya. Glad he and his wife survived that old moose. He is still with us and that is our good fortune

Many years ago, a friend and I spent a summer traveling around Canada with a canoe and fishing rods (it was before I had kids, so I had both time and money).

One of the more memorable spots was Wells Gray Provincial Park and Lake Hobson (I think that was the name of the lake, it has been a while?). We had been on the lake for nearly a week and seen very few people but quite a few moose. We didn't pay the Moose much attention as we didn't see any of them up close and when they would see us, they didn't seem to pay much attention. Besides, the fishing was incredible and we were having too much fun to really focus on anything else.

One day Canada's equivalent to the forest ranger came by. While we were talking to him, about a mile down the lake, a Moose and her calf came up to the lake, walked in and started swimming across the lake. Since I was never around Moose before I was dumbstruck. I had no idea that those big ponderous beasts could swim. At the point where they went in the lake, it was probably close to 1/2 mile across, but they just jumped in and swam straight for the other side.

That brought the conversation around to moose and the ranger went to great lengths to warn us to stay clear of the moose. He maintained that they account for as many injuries and fatalities in Canada as bears. I sort of questioned the accuracy of that statement (never heard much about Moose attacks in the lower 48), but they are huge animals and it probably wouldn't be fun to have them after you! After that, we gave them a much wider birth!

Both of 'em are pretty tough.

My son, Shaun Lunt, and I met George and Dorothia at Rainy Pass Lodge, AK, in 2007. We talked with them for a while and Shaun later shared this story they told us in his 2007 blog:

"... The only other airplane at the lodge's airstrip belonged to George and Dorothia Murphy. George is well-known throughout Alaska as a bush pilot. Their Aeronca stood proud as witness to many hours of flying. Dorothia is 81 years old and has more spunk than you'd imagine. She was a passenger in a car accident last year, breaking her back. That didn't stop her from hiking a nearby mountain while at the lodge on this visit. About 3 years prior, she had decided it was time to kick the caffeine habit. The plan was to avoid caffeine. She had George fly her out and drop her off in a remote camp by herself, and told him not to pick her up for a few days. When George returned 3 days later, Dorothia was ready to load a caribou she had shot, dressed and packed back to the camp by herself."

Wow old Murph and wife made it on Fox national news