Alaska

[jhaquett]

Hey,

I visited Alaska for the first time a few weeks ago and thought I would share some pictures.

We hit Denali our first day, it was very cold, dark and rainy. This guy was hanging out right off the road and loved checking me out.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/DenaliPark4.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/DenaliPark5.jpg

We made our way all the way to Fairbanks and back down the Richardson Highway. The Richardson Highway was absolutely stunning, but we only got to see it by moonlight (only had 5 days to see as much as possible and Homer was on our list).

This is the cook inlet, while very mucky.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/CookInletOffofSewardHwy2.jpg

Along Seward Highway

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/JohnsonPassFromSewardHighway2.jpg

The Kenai Peninsula turned out to be my favorite area by far, it was really beautiful.

Down farther, Kenai Lake

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/KenaiLakeOnSterlingHwy2.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/KenaiLakeJustAbovetheRiver.jpg

A view of the many volcanoes in the Lake Clark area on a drive in search of Caribou (no luck)

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/LakeClarkNationalParkMountainRangeo.jpg

Hidden Lake off of Skilak Lake Road, on a drive in search of grizzly (no luck)

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/HiddenLakeFromSkilakLakeRoad1.jpg

We ended up making it all the way down to Homer, and saw a whole lot of these guys

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/HomeSpitEagle3.jpg

Exit Glacier (you have to hike through what is sometimes thigh deep, glacial run off). A cold that I have never experienced before, and I had flip flops on like an idiot.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/DrinkingFromExitGlacier.jpg

We headed back up to the Kenai River area for a fishing trip, but first stopped in to watch the Russian River's Pink Salmon run in full swing, even the birds were getting lucky

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/RussianRiverPinkSalmonFeed.jpg

The Kenai River

bears looking for a meal

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/KenaiRiverBlackBears1.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/KenaiRiverBlackBears2.jpg

Finally, what this board is all about...

This is my dad fishing Blood Beach for Sockeye

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/FishingtheKenaiatBloodBeach.jpg

And me with my first Dolly Varden (they are very squirmy by nature and difficult to hold on to, hence the quality of the picture)

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z31/jhaquett/Other%20Pics/MyFirstDollyVarden.jpg

Overall, we drove 1700 miles in 5 days and had an amazing time. I can't wait to go back. 8)

[dtp916]

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing your Alaskan experience! 8)

[Alastair]

Thanks for posting this. I have been to Alaska twice and I would recommend everyone to go and check it out. The Kenai peninsula is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Homer is one of my favorite places, and it's the halibut capital of the world. Both trips I came home with 65 lbs. of halibut.

[jlmelend]

Did you get any moose hair or eagle hackles for the rest of us? :D
Great pictures and nice dolly!

[jhaquett]

Haha, can't say that I did. We were there at a perfect time of year to see most of the cows with calves, and I am not going to be the one to grab hackle off of a mother moose 8)

[FlyFlogger]

Thank You for posting your trip report and photos. I am hoping to make it to AK for the first time in the next 2 years, and am always on the lookout for more information trying to decide when and where to go. :wink:

[jhaquett]

If you are going to be in the Kenai area, can come anytime of the year you wish, and are going to be doing any fishing, the locals say that you absolutely must come during "magnum" season. It has just recently started and continues for around two months (check on the ending dates to be sure).

We are talking 100 fish days with nothing under 23" here :shock: , or so I hear from the guide I was with, and another guy at a shop in Cooper Landing.

Needless to say, I'll be going back to the peninsula some day around October.

[alaskanfish]

If you are going to be in the Kenai area, can come anytime of the year you wish, and are going to be doing any fishing, the locals say that you absolutely must come during "magnum" season. It has just recently started and continues for around two months (check on the ending dates to be sure).

We are talking 100 fish days with nothing under 23" here :shock: , or so I hear from the guide I was with, and another guy at a shop in Cooper Landing.

Needless to say, I'll be going back to the peninsula some day around October.

As a full time resident of the Kenai Peninsula and a professional fishing guide, these are very lofty expectations! If you are fishing for pink salmon on even number years, well that's a differnt story.

It is true that the best rainbow fishing on the Kenai river and tribs is late August through the end of october. This, of course coincides with the salmon spawn. Likewise, the most crowded time of the upper and middle Kenai river is late August through the end of October.

Sometimes, if you are seeking a quality experience, fishing either before or after the "magnum" (not familiar with that term) season. There are still plenty of great fish, but not near the crowds.

So, definitely plan a trip to the Kenai, check the expectations back into reality, be patient and social and you will have an awesome experience, like the one posted at the beginning of this thread.

Good luck

[jhaquett]

:lol: , that's funny. I am sure you are familiar with Cache Creek Outfitters out of Cooper Landing, they are the ones that told me to go during the so called "magnum" season, to catch 100+ huge rainbows. I went with a guide from this company as well.

Oh well, it was worth the dream at least. :D

Thanks for the reality check.