The Part Where Bears Did Not Eat Me......
I am back in Fairbanks! I SURVIVED Alaskan camping.
I was not killed my pinchy bugs, brown bears, Grizzlies OR my fellow campers. Whew.
We were in Sourdugh, Alaska (really) and not quite to our camping spot when the lovely lady behind the counter who was missing teeth and an important undergarment informed me "Grizzlies are out...want a huntin' pass? I done killed a Grizzly outside ma bedroom window...not even 30 feet outside my bedroom window..just last week. Yep".
REALLY? I mean seriously? Was this just a way to sell huntin' passes? Because really, I will take four passes if it ups my chances of survival. I will. I am such a city girl. I hate it...but I AM.
We pulled up to our camping area (a six hour drive from Fairbanks) and my sister-in-law calmly says "Hey...that's my dad. He drives there every weekend".
It's a 350 miles drive! EVERY weekend! These folks are a WHOLE different animal up here. When I drive 6 hours somewhere....I end up in Canada or three quarters of the way to San Francisco. And I do that once every 4 years...not every weekend. The power of the King Salmon.....
Here are some shots....
Amazing drive. It really was. But did I see ONE moose? No freakin' way. 350 miles of Alaskan terrain and no moose. I finally decided Alaska has some fantastic P.R. people. I saw about 56 moose flower planters, 31 moose mailboxes....NO moose.
We arrived at our camping, fishng destination. The mighty Klutina River. Maybe a bit of a nail biter for folks who have just lost a family friend to a drowning on a river. It was a bit tense for me. I tried to remian calm, but it really was scary. We have seen first hand the results of a fluke river accident in just the last few weeks. Deeeeeeeeeppppp breaths......
On day wo we rafted the Glucana (guessing on that spelling) and bald eagles just SOARED over head. Or in this case, perched. THAT was breath taking.
And finally...on our ride home today.....A MOOSE! It only took 7 days in Alaska. That's just wrong.
And back to the good news.....I am not in the lower intestine of a Grizzly Bear.
Wheww...........................
So it's Sunday or is it Monday?.....I have NO clue what day it is. I haven't seen nightfall for 8 days. But what other time could my kids fish for salmon at 1:00am? I wish I were kidding about that.....
Happy Whatever Day it is....
Very neat! I miss Alaska... bet you didn't expected to hear that! I lived there for two & a half years. The long, never ending summers are wonderful! It makes up for the 10 months of total gray & darkness. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay. :) xoxo, Joanna
Posted by: Joanna | June 30, 2008 at 08:12 AM
Glad to hear the update on the big Alaska trip. I told you it was a state by itself...but really unique and fun. We used to play kick the can in the street until midnight....since it was still light out. Glad you had a moose sighting!
Posted by: laurie | June 30, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Amy, your adventure sounds great and your pictures are breathtaking..my time in Alaska was spent in a fish cannery...turned 21 up there and got pelted with Samon Roe in the egg house, had happy birthday written in fish guts and blood on the wall and drank a warm screw driver when my 23 hour shift was over to celebrate! One of MY exciting tales of time spent up North. recently I took a cruise and rode a helicoptor to a top of glacier and drank the water..a little more nicer and beautiful for sure. It so incredible up there. Hope you had a totally amazing vacation. Hugs, Becky
Posted by: Becky in Portland, Oregon | June 30, 2008 at 02:54 PM