HAVING A GREAT TIME!!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
UPDATE
More bears - Another sow has showed up on the river with two cubs. Her name is Clueless – she was the bear last year that had a collar and an ear tag!
Most days now the sow with 3 cubs and Clueless and her 2 cubs and at least one other bear are on the river. There are 5-6 tour buses and many people on the river – some fishing and some watching bears. Bob usually spends mid day on the river directing traffic and people!
Most days now the sow with 3 cubs and Clueless and her 2 cubs and at least one other bear are on the river. There are 5-6 tour buses and many people on the river – some fishing and some watching bears. Bob usually spends mid day on the river directing traffic and people!
8-2 MONDAY
What can I say……We headed to the Haines Ferry Terminal about 7:30. No bears on the river this morning and the fish count has been updated to 55,000 sockeye over the weir. Saw a pod of humpback whales on the trip to Juneau. Arrived home at 8:30. It was 75 in Haines today, figures!
LEAVING THE HAINES FERRY TERMINAL
LEAVING THE HAINES FERRY TERMINAL
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
8-1 SUNDAY
Woke up to clouds again and can’t see the lake. 55 degrees. After the morning routine we drove out the Haines Highway. Stopped along the Chilkat River several times. Met John and Jen the camp hosts at Chilkat State Park for lunch at 33 Mile Roadhouse. Just a log cabin, but it has the best hamburgers, fries, and homemade pie! While we ate lunch we watched a helicopter drop supplies several times next door to the restaurant. Just a routine thing up here! Took a rock in the windshield today.
Back to camp, checked the chickens, and built a fire. I finished packing my suitcase. We watched two kids walk up the road with full backpacks looking for a site. We told them camp was full. They were going to walk back towards town – 10 miles. We ended up letting them stay in our site. They pitched their tent and we gave him a beer. She cooked a steak on the fire. We visited with them for quite awhile. They were 28 years old and from Switzerland. He was an Environmental Engineer and she was a Social Worker. They quit their jobs, gave up their housing, and bought international medical insurance. They had landed in Fairbanks from Switzerland about 2 weeks earlier and were traveling from Alaska to South America! They are going to walk and hitchhike and stay in their tent or in hostels. They have a visa for 6 months (3 months in Canada and 3 months in the U.S. and they don’t need one in South America). They have to return to Switzerland after the year because he has to do either a year of military or community service. They were very interesting to talk to.
About 9:00 Bob walked away to help a camper and OF COURSE the beaver swam by camp. I scrambled to the trailer for the camera and got a picture. It is not great but I am posting it anyway as proof!!
Back to camp, checked the chickens, and built a fire. I finished packing my suitcase. We watched two kids walk up the road with full backpacks looking for a site. We told them camp was full. They were going to walk back towards town – 10 miles. We ended up letting them stay in our site. They pitched their tent and we gave him a beer. She cooked a steak on the fire. We visited with them for quite awhile. They were 28 years old and from Switzerland. He was an Environmental Engineer and she was a Social Worker. They quit their jobs, gave up their housing, and bought international medical insurance. They had landed in Fairbanks from Switzerland about 2 weeks earlier and were traveling from Alaska to South America! They are going to walk and hitchhike and stay in their tent or in hostels. They have a visa for 6 months (3 months in Canada and 3 months in the U.S. and they don’t need one in South America). They have to return to Switzerland after the year because he has to do either a year of military or community service. They were very interesting to talk to.
About 9:00 Bob walked away to help a camper and OF COURSE the beaver swam by camp. I scrambled to the trailer for the camera and got a picture. It is not great but I am posting it anyway as proof!!
EAGLES ON THE CHILKAT RIVER
FISH WEIR ON THE CHILKAT RIVER, HAINES HIGHWAY
FISH WEIR ON THE CHILKAT RIVER, HAINES HIGHWAY
YOUNG EAGLE FISHING ON THE CHILKAT RIVER
I THINK THESE TWO PICTURES ARE THE KLEHEENE RIVER.
I THINK THESE TWO PICTURES ARE THE KLEHEENE RIVER.
(SP). BOB WILL CORRECT ME IF I GOT IT WRONG.
PROOF!!!
7-31 SATURDAY
Raining this morning. Can’t even see the lake. Did the morning routine, then went to the shop for showers. On the way in to the shop we saw whales moving out Chilkoot Inlet back into Lynn Canal. Went to the fairgrounds for the SE Alaska State Fair. It’s not much. Lots of entertainment and most people stay all day. We lasted 2 hours then went to the Lighthouse in town for fish and chips.
Came back to a full campground and still raining. High 56 degrees today.
7:00 A.M.
9:00 A.M.
GORGEOUS!
Came back to a full campground and still raining. High 56 degrees today.
7:00 A.M.
9:00 A.M.
GORGEOUS!
CAMP VEGETATION
7-30 FRIDAY
Sat along the river this morning. Each day starts with breakfast, then walking the campground to pull tags if anyone has left and pick up anyone who came in late the night before. That has not been a problem because most nights the campground is full. Then the toilets get swabbed out and new toilet paper gets installed. Then we get to leave. At night the bathrooms usually get checked again and we walk the campground checking for paid tags and collecting from new arrivals. Everything gets logged on a sheet with license plate numbers of vehicles in camp and if they pay during the visit the money gets dropped in a holder at the entrance to camp. When the campground gets full a sign is hung out at the entrance. CAMPGROUND FULL.
No bears until 4:00 when we were leaving to meet friends at the Elks for hamburgers. The bear walked out on the weir a ways. Matt was counting fish. He banged on the weir and the bear ran back to shore. Then he slowly came back out on the weir and didn’t give up until he caught a fish!
Back at camp counted chickens, built a fire, and did lots of visiting.
Full campground 65 degrees today.
WATCHING MATT ON THE WEIR
No bears until 4:00 when we were leaving to meet friends at the Elks for hamburgers. The bear walked out on the weir a ways. Matt was counting fish. He banged on the weir and the bear ran back to shore. Then he slowly came back out on the weir and didn’t give up until he caught a fish!
Back at camp counted chickens, built a fire, and did lots of visiting.
Full campground 65 degrees today.
WATCHING MATT ON THE WEIR
Monday, August 16, 2010
7-29 THURSDAY FIRST BEAR
Went to town this morning for showers and laundry. 3 loads of laundry and 2 showers = $22.00. Headed back to camp but ended up staying on the river for over 2 hours directing traffic! Mama bear and 3 cubs were on our side of the river. Mom was fishing and eating what she caught. The 3 cubs were hidden in the bushes just below the road. They were making so much racket squawking at Mom. Mom brought a fish over and one cub came out and snatched at it. She smacked him good and he backed down. Then she “gave” him the fish. Pretty amazing. When she had enough to eat she slowly walked across the road into the bushes. She stuck her head out of the bushes and when she was ready for them to cross she made a huffing noise and here came the three little bears crossing the road and running into the bushes. Then a lone bear came out and we stayed and watched him for awhile.
Back to camp for lunch then back to the river and watched eagles for over a long time. The single bear came back and we stayed for 2 more hours on the road directing traffic and people.
Dinner was chili and peanut butter sandwiches! Counted chickens and built a fire. More visiting tonight. 2 beavers swamp right in front of our camp. (no camera!)
Full campground. 64 degrees today.
WHO ARE THEY KIDDING!!!???
MAMA BEAR IS ALWAYS WATCHING AROUND HER
WATCHING SOME MORE - THE CUBS ARE OVER THAT DIRECTION
THIS IS THE LITTLE GRAY CUB THAT STICKS BY MOMS SIDE. THE OTHER TWO CUBS ARE IN THE BUSHES.
"I JUST KNOW SHE IS EATING SOMETHING GOOD!!"
MOM SAID TO WAIT!
FINALLY A PIECE OF MY OWN!!
Back to camp for lunch then back to the river and watched eagles for over a long time. The single bear came back and we stayed for 2 more hours on the road directing traffic and people.
Dinner was chili and peanut butter sandwiches! Counted chickens and built a fire. More visiting tonight. 2 beavers swamp right in front of our camp. (no camera!)
Full campground. 64 degrees today.
WHO ARE THEY KIDDING!!!???
MAMA BEAR IS ALWAYS WATCHING AROUND HER
WATCHING SOME MORE - THE CUBS ARE OVER THAT DIRECTION
THIS IS THE LITTLE GRAY CUB THAT STICKS BY MOMS SIDE. THE OTHER TWO CUBS ARE IN THE BUSHES.
"I JUST KNOW SHE IS EATING SOMETHING GOOD!!"
MOM SAID TO WAIT!
FINALLY A PIECE OF MY OWN!!
"NO! I DON'T WANT TO SHARE!!"
MAMA BEAR IS CHECKING THE ROAD FOR A CLEARING
READY TO CROSS
THOSE PEOPLE ARE WAY TO CLOSE!!!
MOM SAID THE COAST IS CLEAR .
LAST OF 3 CUBS TO CROSS......"WAIT FOR ME!"
READY TO CROSS
THOSE PEOPLE ARE WAY TO CLOSE!!!
MOM SAID THE COAST IS CLEAR .
LAST OF 3 CUBS TO CROSS......"WAIT FOR ME!"
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