Some Pictures From Summer of 2009
Caught on a 5 weight fly rod
Albert Loaded for Bear
On June 23rd – I received an email stating that Albert was in the Hospital in Melaka Malaysia. Several phone calls by Linda revealed Albert had been attacked and was in pretty bad shape.
I was on the next plane to Maylasia – Alaska would have to wait.
All the events that occured will be detailed on other pages in this site as I have time to translate my notes.
Everyone is home and recovering.
Trip is delayed until Late August – due to injuries to Albert -
This river is called the “Chosen River” and is in the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge.
The Kanektok flows through the beautiful Ahklun Mountains during it’s upper half. We will start our journey by float planing to the headwaters where we land in Pegati Lake. It has strong runs of all the Pacific Salmon, especially Kings & Silvers sea run Char and Rainbow. The second half the river flows onto the coastal plane through willow, alder and cottonwood forests.
The Kanektok flows as a clear water river with prolific bird life, hawks and eagles abound. When we end our trip we will be 2 miles
from the Bering Sea. Salmon are full of zip and fight hard when they’re right out of the ocean. The river pours into the Ocean
at Quinhagak, Alaska our take out point. We will have Bush flights from Bethel and be picked up in Quinhagak.
Albert and I will be using an Outfitter to supply us with all of our equipment. We will be posting a journal of what we had to accomplish to make the trip happen.
Here is a photo of the Kanektok from my July 2008 trip(note the brown bear down river).
8 comments
Here it is, 30 days to go. I have completed most of the pre-trip planning and actually started to pack some of the camp gear. I can’t wait to relax – just sit next to the river and soak up the beauty – that is Alaska.
This is my first “self guided” trip to the wilderness in Alaska, I have taken control of the trip and that is my goal to be in as much control as possible. This is the only way I could attempt to correct things – that I discovered which I did not like on previous guided trips. Things like being on the river with folks you don’t get along with or not staying in one place and relaxing.
That is why I added time into my trip – I could be stuck in Seattle – Anchorage – Bethel for 3 days on a weather delay and still we would have a relaxing time on the river.
Mailed the folks at PaPa Bear Adventures a supplemental payment for some additional items I had missed. The best advise I have received is to plan, plan and then plan.
More details later – hope what I learn and experience will assist others who want to have the same experience.
OK – June 2, that make it 24 days to departure.
I am having some stress over transportation of my shotgun and pistol via the airlines. I found some really good stuff out there, even funny regards this issue: Check out this link:
Deviant Ollam – Packing & The Friendly Skies from Deviant Ollam on Vimeo.
Ok, I have got to get off this gun thing so I made a choice on a case and locks.
If the airline does not like the setup, then I will leave home without a weapon. This is the case I got and the locks that I will be using.
14 days of prep left to go.
Just been throught a couple of days of anxiety over packing, I have to get over it and focus on the trip.
This weekend I will finish most of the packing of three large bags of supplies for the river. Est a $250 – $350 extra baggage charge at the airport when I depart.
Tom you know I am going to miss you at the gym while you are gone. Not sure how we will survive without you there. Hope your foot is feeling better by the time you leave. I told you I would check out your page, your pics from last year are pretty amazing.
Meghan
Thanks for the nice note Meghan — cya you at the gym.
Tom, Interested in our comments. Just heard about this river and would like to do a self guided trip myself. Wish you the best. Eric.
Good luck Eric. This will be my second float on this river. I am more than glad to share my experiences with you – however, never taken anything I say as good advise, be sure to verify what I say independently.
Have you ever floated an Alaska river ?