AK 08

I joined host-and-Alaska-tour-guide-extraordinaire Jon and eight other guys for a 9-or-10-day testosterone fest in the Alaskan wilderness. We really enjoyed the land of the midnight sun which helped light our way through the 20+ hours per day of activities. We saw a lot of the beautiful state and its wildlife, caught fish, "released" a fish or two or three, pulled a Tony or two, ate fish, shot stuff, panned for gold, explored a gold dredge, got puled over by Ranger Rick in Denali for suspected comercial activities?, ran a river, went bowling at midnight, experienced 50 below zero, drove nails with a frozen banana at 50 below, collected some porcupine quills, played horseshoes (while fishing), fished the Gulkana (while still fishing the Copper--you gotta love the fish wheel), got teased by the reds on the Kenai, hooked up on the Anchor, watched Bishop land "Godzilla," were the "rough looking bunch" at chruch, ate a reindeer hotdog, peed outside, put about 1,500 miles on a 15-passenger rental van, took thousands of pictures, and laughed pretty much the whole time. The only thing we didn't do much of was sleep.

This was taken around 2am at Hay Way in Fairbanks. The picture turned out darker than it really was--seriously. Packing $1,300 of supplies from Fred Meyer for the whirlwind tour at Hay Way. Divided by 10 that's only $130 of supplies. Gas was only $0.43 a gallon too (using that same logic).

A couple of the 33 or so moose we saw. These two were off the Richardson Hwy on our way to the Copper River. This was at about 10pm at "night." We saw lots of moose, tons of bald eagles, a few foxes, some caribou, sea otters, seagulls, one or two mosquitoes, some porcupine, but no grizzlies.

Panning for gold at El Dorado just outside of Fairbanks.
Getting a little taste of winter in the 40-below freezer at Alaskaland in Fairbanks.It was actually 50 below and they didn't even charge extra. I lost the parka, but the gloves were a must. My fingers were killing me from the first time.
The fish wheel on the Copper river. It's pretty nice to catch 30+ Copper River salmon in your sleep.
This is a red salmon (sockeye).
Here is another red. Copper River reds taste amazing. Jon's dad "smooked" some for us that was just incredible (thanks again Mike!). The reds are good eating however you prepare them.

Our group from California also introduced fish tacos to this region of AK, and the Alaskans really enjoyed them too. They were the best fish tacos I have ever had. Wahoo's better watch out for the smoked, Copper River red, fish taco.

This is a 20-pound king salmon. These guys are a lot of fun.

Here we are fishing on the Copper River while we eat our steaks.

Some of the scenery from the Glenn Hwy on our way from the Copper River through Anchorage and onto the Kenai. It was spectacular.
A shot from our halibut boat leaving Homer.
Fishing on the Far Side of the Cook Inlet. We caught our limit of some pretty nice halibut. This was another beautiful day in Alaska. It felt more like fishing off San Diego on this day. I guess the day before was rainy and miserable. The moral of the story is to always travel with a Bishop. Below is Captain Calico Beard (or Mostly-Red Beard).
For you "Deadliest Catch" Fans here is the "Time Bandit." That boat looks way too small to be doing what they do with it on the Bering Sea.We opened our tent door to this view of Denali Nat'l Park just off the Parks Hwy. Denali (aka Mount McKinley) was way up above in the clouds to the right.

I'll have to take Ethan up there when he is old enough to fight with the kings. This was a once in a lifetime trip to Alaska that I hope to do again! 8-)