NDR - Alaska 2018 - NDR

[tod osier]

Just back from a summer trip to AK. We had a great trip and I wanted to share a few pics to inspire folks. Lot of fish pics to follow, but only one pic with a duck.

Pre trip preparations always take longer than expected. Mowing the lawn for the last time before we left.

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.

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...

 

[tod osier]

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.

 

[tod osier]

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

Yum.

Family portrait.

 

[tod osier]

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 over a fire.

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.

 

[tod osier]

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 did not 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 with another river.

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 located 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.

 

[Bill Abbate]

Awesome pictures. Amazing trip. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Phil Nowack]

Excellent Adventures!!!! Good for you....I need to do that!

 

[Vince Pagliaroli]

Now that is a Road Trip.[smile]

All those fish made me hungry...

 

[roy brewington]

Looks like that's one for the great memories book. Beautiful photos and I hope you had plenty of ice to keep all those fish stored!

 

[SJ Fairbank]

Wow! Just wow. [smile]

 

[greg setter]

Love those sockeyes, my favorite fish to eat. Great trip and great photo's. And nice fishing, you're son looks like a fine fly fisherman.

 

[Dani]

That looks like a heckuva trip. Gus is a lucky young man. That is a trip that I'd like to do someday.

Great pictures

 

[benp]

That's a awesome family trip there!
Definitely a family trip I hope to make one day, thanks for sharing the memories with us.

 

[ksherbine]

Awesome trip! We hit the Kenai about every other year. My buddies were there this year 2 weeks ago, said the same thing that the fishing was TOUGH! I'm heading up next summer. I recognize a lot of the shots, especially the sanctuary and confluence! Did you do any trout fishing there with beads? It's a BLAST!

 

[Tom Wall]

Looks like another great family trip. Thanks for sharing!

From your garden, is that roofing felt? It looks thicker. I used some cardboard this year and was not really happy with it. I have used the planters paper mulch and it was OK. I am thinking of just cutting standing rye and using that as a mulch. It hold the moisture but, doesn't help warm soil.

Tom

 

[Ed L.]

Thanks for sharing Todd. Great pics! I'd love to make that trip someday.

 

[tod osier]

Looks like another great family trip. Thanks for sharing!

From your garden, is that roofing felt? It looks thicker. I used some cardboard this year and was not really happy with it. I have used the planters paper mulch and it was OK. I am thinking of just cutting standing rye and using that as a mulch. It hold the moisture but, doesn't help warm soil.

Tom

Thanks, The garden stuff is: DeWitt P4 4'x250' Pro 5 Barrier 5oz Fabric. This is a trial run with it, it is supposed to be good stuff and we are going to incorporate it in the garden in normal years to cut down on mulching. It is supposed to last several years. We use cut grass as mulch, but it doesn't last the entire season.

 

[Mike Sheppard]

Looks like an incredible trip.
Thanks for taking the time to post the pictures.

I loved the Denali highway, I think we camped at that same spot about 10 years ago. We spent the entire day watching rainbows cross the valley.

 

[tod osier]

Looks like an incredible trip.
Thanks for taking the time to post the pictures.

I loved the Denali highway, I think we camped at that same spot about 10 years ago. We spent the entire day watching rainbows cross the valley.

I wouldn't be surprised if we stopped the same places, the first time I drove it, I logged the camping areas for a return. A special place.

Rainbows like this:

 

[Kris Winiarski]

Awesome!

Were folks talking about the lack of red salmon when you were up there? Was just reading this story the other day.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/dining/red-salmon-alaska.html