Just back from a summer trip to AK… We had a great trip and I wanted to share a few pics to inspire folks. The new suspension and tires on the camper all worked as hoped for. I need to post up the install pics (work pushed up against our leaving date more than I would have liked) and also some comments on what I've learned. I'm going to pull the bronze bushings out and see what they look like after 12K miles of abuse.
Pre trip preparations always take longer than expected. Mowing the lawn for the last time before we left…
Mowing after being gone for 2 months...
Before leaving I always lay out an array of mouse and vermin traps…
For the garden we put in a couple long rows of popcorn and a row of tomatoes and peppers to be ready when we get back in 2 months… You have to look close to see the peppers and tomatoes. All did pretty well considering…
On getting back... We have enough to make it worth while for sure...
One of the most amazing parts of the trip is the drive - the crops, the prairies, the forests, the mountains, and the wildlife… Last time we did the trip Jen and Gus flew and I drove, but we all drove together this time.
First camp in SK, a nice shot of the rig…
In ND and SK we saw a lot of these tires headed North, I’m guessing to the oil sands. We saw probably 25 rigs like this on the way up and back.
The neatest part of the drive is the ALCAN, especially as you start to get close to AK…
We stopped to watch this fire near Pink Mountain, BC. It had just popped up near the road. On the way back we checked the area and it looked like it was contained fairly quickly after it started.
The scenery from the windshield is just amazing. The trip is worth it for just the drive. We had a lot of clouds and rain, but these windshield shots give you an idea.
Muncho Lake in BC. Hard not to wet a line here during a lunch stop…
Scenic fill-up near Kluane Lake, YT.
Outside Whitehorse, YT.
We saw a lot of Black Bears along the way...
Moose and calf swimming...
One of the major goals of the trip for Gus was to catch a King Salmon. We were rushing to get there to intercept the run, but as it turns out the temps were cooler and the run was late.
On this river system the water is often pretty turbid and roe is the go-to bait. I had ordered up some premium frozen cured roe, but we were lucky to be gifted a couple fresh skeins that we cured and used. Gus reading the directions on the cure as I cut the skeins…
Our raft loaded and ready to float…
The upper part of the river is pretty good Grayling fishing…
Gus had a great time with his Tenkara setup…
Gus with dinner he caught…
First of the trip, but not the last…
Jen on the oars…
View of the river…
Gravel bar camp. Sleeping tent (yellow) and cook/hanging out tent. It is really nice to have a big floorless tent when it rains every day…
Gus fishing a deep hole in the river for Kings…
Amazing what lives in the water, I was glad when it was in the net…
Gus with his prize….
Ultra premium river side fish fry…
I was able to get in on the action too…
Spin-N-Glo with roe fished in the deepest holes was the ticket…
This Moose left her calf on the far side of the river to feed…
After the river float, we picked up an old friend that flew in and we drove and camped the Denali highway. The Denali Highway is just amazing as far as scenery, this was our view from camp…
We hiked back to a lake to fish for Grayling.
Bag at the end of the day. I was not high hook that day
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Yum…
Family portrait…
We headed to the Kenai Peninsula to fish some smaller streams waiting for the Sockeye run on the Kenai to start.
View from camp…
Gus fishing for Pink Salmon…
His first limit of Pinks…
Mother and child…
Why do I look so crabby with a fish on???
Dime bright Pink Salmon…
Pinks on the grill…
Pretty Chum…
HUMPY!!!!
Kid reading when he should be fishing…
Gus and I doubled up…
Gus with a dime bright little Coho…
Coho fish tacos…
Carnival fishing on a popular river…
We saw a lot of cow Moose with twin calves, which is supposed to indicate the population is increasing…
Finally, as far as fishing, we planned a week on the Kenai River fishing for Sockeye Salmon. The fishing was a grind, but we got our fish. Every day we were hoping for “the big push” of fish, but we didn’t see it. There were reductions downstream because of the run numbers when we were there and reductions on the river where we were after we left, so we were lucky.
Gus and I fishing the confluence…
Nice pile of fish…
Gus fishing…
We saw plenty of bears over the course of the week…
Gus with a limit…
Family shot…
Someone found it hil-arious that the fish cleaning station was in the midst of a Korean fishing reality show.
Korean reality show fishermen doing something exciting…
Yum, what we were looking for…
Salmon caviar in prep…
Finished caviar…
Sockeye chowder…
Good eats…
Sunset in Dawson Creek, BC on the way home.
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