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NORTHERNERSGUIDES20TuesdaySeptember92014ThenewPULSEWOODBUFFALOCALLLINE780-743-7000isaninormationlinenowavailabletoallRegionalMunicipalityoWoodBualocitizens24-hoursadaysevendaysaweek365daysayear.CallthisnumberandamemberothemunicipalRESDispatchwillanswereverycall.Itheycantansweryourquestionimmediatelyyouwillgetapersonalresponsewithin48hours.Thisisasimplewaytokeepyourfngersonthepulseothecommunity.Foremergenciesalwayscall911.ForaccuratecurrentinormationroundtheclockaboutanythingconcerningtheMunicipalitycall780-743-7000.FROMBUSPASSESTOBUSSHELTERSLOSTSWEATERSKEYSTOWINTERROADSSNOWREMOVALANDSTRAYDOGSWITHFLEASFROMPOTHOLESTOFLOODINGTREEBRANCHESBRICKSTOPARKINGANDTRAFFICLIGHTSCALLUSFORTHEFIXAREALPERSON.WITHREALANSWERS.EVERYTIME.ALLTHETIME.HAVEAQUESTIONCALL780-743-7000HAVEANEMERGENCYCALL911WWW.WOODBUFFALO.AB.CABushpilotboxerlivesitupnorthandsouthAdventurestakepilotfromlakesandlodgestoLasVegasstripByMEAGANWOHLBERGResidentsofFortSmitharelikelytobefa-miliarwiththefriendlysmileoflocalbushpilotDanWettlauferknownforguidingy-outshingandhuntingtripstohismanylodgesaroundthesouthernNWTwherehehasspenthissummermonthssincehisdaddidtheying.Butfewermayknowabouthiswinterex-ploitswhichhavetakenhimdowntoLasVegasforthelastseveralyearslandinghiminthebrightlightsoftheboxingringonSinCitysstrip.The31year-oldpilothasbeenyingoatplanestoremotelakesacrossnorthernAl-bertaNunavutandtheNWTforyearswherehetransportsshermenandhuntersfromallovertheworldtotheirweekorweekendofpersonalparadise.ThoughheusedtorunhisightserviceRelianceAirwaysyear-roundin2008hestartedspendinghiswinterssomewherealittlewarmer.AhousingmarketcrashmeanthomesbecameaffordableinNevadaaplacehehadfrequentedforyearsattradeshowsandhedecidedtoexperimentwithsettlingdowninLasVegas.ThatswhenhemetFloydMayweathertheundefeatedworldmiddleweightboxingchampionwhoinvitedWettlaufertostarttrainingathisgym.IvealwaysbeenafansothatwaspartoftheattractionofVegastooisitstheghtcapitaloftheworld-boxingMMAevery-thinggoesondownthere.SoIstartedgoingtotheeventsandcheckingitoutandendedupndingmywaytosomeofthegyms.AfterbeinginvitedtostarttrainingwiththeprosMayweathersuggestedthatWet-tlaufertryfightingforreal.ReticentatfirstWettlaufertrainedforacoupleofyearsandstartedfightinglastyearhittingahighnotelastDecemberwhenhefoughtonthestripattheHardRockHotelinfrontofahugecrowd.Thatwasprettycool.Havingfriendswhoarechampionsandprofessionalsintheaudi-encecheeringandsupportingyouisunrealbecauseusuallyImcheeringforthemhesaid.Themusicplaysandyouwalkoutex-citedbutnervousatthesametimeandthinkThisisrealnow.Theguyinthatcornerwantstohurtyou.Greatexperience.WettlaufersthrillsarentonlyintheringinVegasthough.ThebushpilotispartoftheinspirationbehindarealityTVshowcur-rentlyintheworksbymediacompanyCre-ativeControl.CalledCanadianBushPilots247theshowwhichhasyettolandanet-workaimstoproletheplacesplanesandpeoplethatythemthroughouttheNorth.ThelmcrewtraveleduptoFortSmithtoshootsomeepisodesoverthelastcoupleofyearsfollowingWettlauferashetakeshisoatplanesintohardtoaccesslocationsacrosstheNorth.Theideawastoillustratethelifestylewehaveasmoderndaybushpilots.BushpilotintheNorthissynonymouswithopeningupandaccess.Stillalotoftheplaceswegototodayarey-inonly.Remotenessisstillthesame.Someareashavewinterroadsanddifferentaccessbutalotoftheplacesarestilly-in-stilljustoatplanesevenWettlaufersaid.Ithinkthewholeideaisheretherearealotofunforeseenthingsthatcanhappenwiththeremoteoperations-weatherbreak-downsjustgowiththeowkindofthings.AndIguesswithTVtheylikethat.Forreg-ularpeopledownsouthinurbanareasitshardtounderstandthekindofstuffwedodailyherejustlivingintheNorth.TheoutttingseasonhasalmostcometoacloseforWettlauferwhopacksitinearlynextmonth.AfterabitoffamilytimeitwillbebacktothebrightlightsandmoreghtsforthewinterandtheNorthernbushpilotcantwait.TheresonlyoneLasVegas.Itsquiteathrillridehesaid.PhotoMeaganWohlbergBushpilotDanWettlauferspendshissummersguidinghuntersandanglersony-outadventuresacrosstheNorthandhiswintersboxingintheringsofLasVegas.