Don't get too anxious for me, I haven't SEEN a bear; but they made their presence know by leaving fresh tracks and scat when I woke up in the morning! Check out this track below!
So the goal this week was to collect data on a fresh water fish, smelt. Using gill nets and minnow traps we were on the hunt for the illusive fish. (http://www.gma.org/fogm/Osmerus_mordax.htm)
I was working with 2 fresh water fish researchers/biologists at Wragnell-St Elias National Park, Molly and Dave. It was such an amazing trip that turned into one big adventure and BEAUTIFUL WEATHER! I was sunburned by the end of day 1 (yes, believe it Floridians!)!!
DAY 1: Fly into Sudden Stream and explore and collect data on smelt. We boat up stream towards a lake created by melt water from the Malaspina Glacier and set the minnow traps and cast out gill nets. Glacier ice was floating by all the time! It was amazing!
Since these pictures were taking by me..... oh geez ya'll know I did work too! This was our first fish, stickleback (top picture) and a sockeye salmon that was about 50 cm in length! HUGE fish in my book, but the largest salmon here in Alaska is the chinook salmon which can get almost 90 cm in length.
Here's the stream, Sudden Stream, with the St Elias Mountain Range in the back and Gummy below.
Simply breathtaking view of St Elias...... 4th highest peak in North America at 18,000 feet (below).
Gummy and I had our first taste of fresh glacier water from Sudden Stream and our first piece of Glacier Ice.... YUMM!!!! Cold and PERFECT!
Now this picture below is to show you how much light is out at 2:30 AM..... and a 3rd Quarter Moon phase too....
Gummy wanted to make friends with the wildlife and then enjoy a little campfire...... done the old fashion way with a spark from a rock and straw........
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| Gummy and Wolf |
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| Gummy and Grizzly |
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| Glacier Ice from Hubbard Glacier that drifted onto shore from Disenchantment Bay! SOOOOO FRESH!!!!! |
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| HUBBARD GLACIER --> ADVANCING GLACIER It was such an amazing trip! Bears were always there and every morning was a new bear track...... YIKES! But I actually felt really safe and comfortable in my tent! |
I love reading about your adventures!!! I feel like I'm there with you, except a little hotter here! <3
ReplyDeleteWAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THAT FIRST BEAR -YOU'LL FLIP OUT ......TURNER
ReplyDeleteStop talking about the bears!!!! You don't want a bear encounter...don't care how safe you feel in your flimsy sleeping bag and tent! Linda, tell her to STAY AWAY FROM THE BEARS!!!
ReplyDeleteStem