Jumping Salmon, Skagway and Wildfires
August 2018
Alaska is the fishermen’s paradise
To be able to go fishing in Alaska an official fishing permit is required. For foreigners and for longer than 14 days it costs 145 US$. We organised one at Delta Junction.
In several large and rather rapid rivers my attempts had to be booked under «practicing». Locals told us that it was still too early for salmon.
In Valdez I managed to do everything right. Weather, passing salmons and thus I succeeded in reaching the daily allowed quota of six fish per day several days in a row. Now we have the comfortable problem that in our 30l freezing compartment apart from the salmon – filleted by Brigitte – there was only space for some Magnum ice creams and ice cubes!
Border official, likable and linguistically gifted
Coming from Haynes Junction, Canada we travelled south into Alaska once again. The officer on duty spoke to us in fluent German after having received our passports. As he stayed in Germany until he was 10 years old he spoke the language very well. There were no other vehicles behind us at this rather quiet border post and we had the chance to get some interesting insights form this friendly official.
Where we would for sure see bears! That now most fish were to be found at the mouth of the Chilkoot River, due to the warmer weather and increasing minerals in the glacier water.
That he enjoyed this border amidst nature more than the Mexican, where he was stationed previously! We said farewell in Spanish.
Hyder, a village in Alaska where Grizzlies roam
From Stewart, Canada we drove the few kilometres without border control to Hyder, Alaska. This place had a rough charm and appeared like a ghost town to us. Dilapidated houses on scruffy yards. Every second house is marked “for sale”.
Hyder advertises the attraction of seeing bears catching salmon. As the Fish Creek had very little water when we were there we felt sorry for the fish that really had to struggle to get upstream. In every little pond where there was space for the whole fish to be under water they fought with each other. On the viewing platform tourists were cramming up for the best spots to take pictures. Despite persevering for several hours for two days we were not able to take a picture of a salmon catching bear. They do exsist, those photos, but not from us.
We left this touristic highlight after two days. Luckily for the salmon it started raining. We had just left the parking area towards Steward when a Grizzly crossed the road 30 metres in front of us.
The Canadian border official asked us on return whether we had brought any presents or other things from Hyder. He must have insider knowledge, as we did not see any shopping possibility in the dilapidated village.
Skagway
Coming from Haynes with the car ferry we ended up in the tourist trap of Skagway. Up to four cruise liners at the same time land here. Consequently, the small town (450 inhabitants in winter) gets displeasingly flooded with up to ten thousand tourists a day in summer. Except for gift and jewellery shops as well as some tour operators. For us it means stocking up on supplies and off we go into the grand nature.
BF Goodrich T/A KO2 the Allrounder also for snow
After already having a wary feeling about our Firestone A/T tyres on the Dempster Highway because of the snow mud and rain it was time to get better tyres.
From substantial, positive experience with BF Goodrich All Terrain in Australia and in southern Africa the choice was obvious. In Prince George tyres for our large rim size R20 were immediately deliverable. Now all we needed was a good testing route!
Heavy forest fires in Canada
In the south-west of Canada, we were traveling from Prince Ruppert to Jasper. Due to the many fires and their smoke development we mainly drove through heavily smoked areas, like fog in the night. Some places were completely evacuated.
At the beginning we still risked one night in a recreation area. The strong smoke-filled air and the over flying fire extinguishing helicopters made us continue our journey the next day. Very disappointing, as we had to leave out some very nice overnight spots, also some with good fishing grounds, for hundreds of kilometres.
In Prince George we had a stopover. Coincidentally we met Erwin the Swiss, who spontaneously invited us to set up on his property. We learned a lot about the people and the country from him and his wife. Interesting for me and for Erwin was that we had many mutual friends 45 years ago in Zurich.
The trip up to Lasalle Lake continued to take us through heavily smoked areas. After on night however the sun rose again and the doomsday mood was luckily over.
Canada: Kluane Glacier Air Tour 2018
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 001
Round trip from Haines Junction, Canada.
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 002
Our Pilot Stuart had a serious check done before departure.
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 003
In order to experience an unrestricted enjoyment, we waited 2 days for good weather conditions.
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 004
We climbed the river valley between the mountains.
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 005
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 006
-
2018 08 canada Kluane glacier air tour 007
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 008
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 009
just be amazed and enjoy
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 010
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 011
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 012
incredible ice world
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 013
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 014
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 015
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 016
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 017
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 018
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 019
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 020
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 021
absolutely spectacular
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 022
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 023
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 024
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 025
sky blue and glacier white
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 026
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 027
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 028
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 029
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 030
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 031
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 032
many, small shimmering blue lakes
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 033
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 034
What a view!
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 035
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 036
gigantic icebergs
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 037
A magnificently flight over the Kluane National Park.
Ice fields as far as the eye can see
From Haynes Junction we flew in a well motorised airplane through the mountain valleys and over the different glaciers of the Kluane National Parks. During one-and-a-half hours Stuart piloted us through crisp blue skies and excellent vistas through the unique mountain world. The three days of waiting for the weather to clear had been worth it.
Photos Kluane National Park Air Tour
Photos
USA Alaska: August 2018 E
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 001 salmon fishing valdez
waiting for fresh salmon
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 002 valdez
the only man at the hen party
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 003 valdez
freshly caught
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 004 seagull with salmon
a seagull cleans up
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 005 edy fishing
Edy - successful salmon fishing!
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 006 edy salmon fishing
again one more!
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 007 edy
reached daily limit
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 008 fish cleaning station
fish cleaning station
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 009 fish cleaning
turning fishing success into perfect filets
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 010 edy salmon
our freezer was filled with salmon like these
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 011
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 012 moose
moose grazing in the lake
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 013 moose
moose teeny has to wait on the lake bank
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 014 worthington gleacier
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 015 black bear
four-legged crosses the highway
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 016 edgerton highway
Edgerton Highway
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 017
Alaska Farm
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 018 grizzly
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 019 chitina salmon fishing
Salmon fishing gear on the Copper River near Chitina
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 020
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 021
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 022 pipeline
Alaska Pipeline
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 023
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 024
unique view from our campground
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 025
midnight light conditions in Alaska
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 026 lutak inlet
Lutak Inlet
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 027 campground
our campsite with magnificent view
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 028 bear glacier
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 029
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 030
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 031 campground
campsite with a view
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 032 edy
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 033 grizzly
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 034 skagway
cruise ship - harbor Skagway
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 035 skagway
numerous buildings are part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Parc
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 036 skagway
This can hardly be expressed in words!
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 037 skagway
Skagway
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 038 skagway
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 039 skagway
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 040 skagway
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 041 skagway
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 042 skagway
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 043 access clements lake
on the way to our campsite
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 044 clements lake campground
idyllic in the quiet natural paradise
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 045 clements lake
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 046 hyder
Hyder, a ghost village
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 047 hyder
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 048 hyder
healthy and funny
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 049 hyder
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 050 hyder
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 051 hyder
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 052 bear observation
Salmon Migration, Fish Creek
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 053 observation site hyder
everyone is waiting to see the salmon-eating grizzlies in front of the lens
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 054 salmon
a difficult fight
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 055 bear regulations
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 056 ksan historical village
Ksan Historical Village Museum
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 057 ksan historical village
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 058 hay harvest
hay harvest
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 059 helen lake campground
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 060 helen lake
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 061
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 062 helen lake
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 063 tire change
tire change
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 064 tire change
new tire profile makes us happy
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 065 classic car
memories of earlier times
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 066 accident
What happend here?
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 067 wildfire
more than 500 wildfires in Canada
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 068 wildfire smoke
-
2018 08 USA Alaska 069 wildfire smoke
Prince George at 10 o'clock in the morning
Photos
Canada: Kluane Glacier Air Tour 2018
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 001
Round trip from Haines Junction, Canada.
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 002
Our Pilot Stuart had a serious check done before departure.
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 003
In order to experience an unrestricted enjoyment, we waited 2 days for good weather conditions.
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 004
We climbed the river valley between the mountains.
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 005
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 006
-
2018 08 canada Kluane glacier air tour 007
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 008
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 009
just be amazed and enjoy
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 010
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 011
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 012
incredible ice world
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 013
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 014
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 015
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 016
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 017
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 018
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 019
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 020
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 021
absolutely spectacular
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 022
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 023
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 024
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 025
sky blue and glacier white
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 026
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 027
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 028
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 029
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 030
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 031
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 032
many, small shimmering blue lakes
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 033
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 034
What a view!
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 035
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 036
gigantic icebergs
-
2018 08 Canada Kluane Glacier Air tours 037
A magnificently flight over the Kluane National Park.