On our 2009 trip, we were fishing for pinks across the inlet from Valdez, Allison Point, as mentioned by hdblair. The pinks are all hatchery raised and put into Prince William Sound. When they return from sea, after two years they congregate in front of the hatchery where they were released but have no place to go. The crowds do line up to catch them and it is a fun social event for the most part.
However, that year there was a yearling brown bear weighing 300 to 400 lbs, probably the equivalent of a human teenager, that would come down to the beach each evening at 7 PM to eat salmon for supper. He would eat a few and then for the fun of it would charge down the line of fisherman, causing a mass exodus up the bank. He would soon wander back down toward the hatchery where out in the water you can see the salmon splashing around. Then after he would eat a few more fish, he would charge down the bank again scattering fisherman up the bank. After an hour of so he got tired of the game, had his tummy full and would wander across the road into the woods.
Actually pinks are good to eat when fresh but don't freeze well at all. Not the quality of a red salmon but still better than what a person can buy in their supermarket, IMHO. There is a dry campground on down the road a mile or so or full hookups in town, across the inlet.
Here is the bear.
joe b.
Stuart Florida
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Chevy 3500 DRW Dmax CC - Rockwood 8281 SS 5th Whl & 2008 Lance 845 TC www.pajbcooper.com web site
Alaska Trip 2011 posted
Colo-Utah-Ariz 2012 trip posted
"Without challenge, adventure is impossible".
If you find yourself around Fairbanks with a little extra time.
A trip up to the Chena Hot Springs is worthwhile.
We were there late in August a few years ago and saw the Northern Lights for the first time. WOW!
Soaking in that warm water will keep you warm all night.
Being in a valley surrounded by mountains makes the night sky something else.
Have a great trip you will remember it.
hdblair wrote: If you are into fishing much, we found a GREAT place to catch Kings and Reds. We happened upon it on our trip. It is in a very small town called Copper Center. The fish camp is on the Valdez (kind of south) side of the Klutina River in Copper Center. It is nothing to look at but the people there are really great. The can take you on the Copper River to catch your Kings and then you can fish right at the fish camp for Reds. This avoids all the "combat" fishing in the Kenai. We caught our Kings there and then caught plenty of Reds. We then took a few days and drove down to Valdez where we caught a "bunch" of Pinks over at near the hatchery. This was really fun. No bait, just treble hooks. We then smoked the pinks (the only way to eat pinks according to the natives!). If you want more info, let me know. Also know of a GREAT place to view bears up close and personal on the Russian River.
Harold
I am going to suggest a trip up the Dalton to the Arctic Circle for the summer solstice. I've been that way twice and it's not all that bad. If it rains you'll get your rig dirty but it's a good road. Met two couples from Kentucky driving model A's and pulling teardrop trailers. They made it, so can you. Met another couple from Switzerland who had been on the road for 18 months driving from Tierra Del Fuego(the southern most spot on the PanAm highway.
There is a BLM CG about half a mile N/O the AC to overnight for free.
Grand Kids tried to stay up all night but didn't make it, DW took pictures about every hour with the date stamp turned on.
"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to go". R. L. Stevenson
Lots of Stuff wrote: If you find yourself around Fairbanks with a little extra time.
A trip up to the Chena Hot Springs is worthwhile.
We were there late in August a few years ago and saw the Northern Lights for the first time. WOW!
Soaking in that warm water will keep you warm all night.
Being in a valley surrounded by mountains makes the night sky something else.
Have a great trip you will remember it.
This thread is making me home sick. I grew up in the Fairbanks area in the 70s and returned for a few years in the 80s after college. I don't get back now as often as I would like.
"I am going to suggest a trip up the Dalton to the Arctic Circle for the summer solstice. I've been that way twice and it's not all that bad. If it rains you'll get your rig dirty but it's a good road."
I second that trip. I did it in 2010 and had a ball. Be sure to get the certificate that shows you were at the Arctic Circle. Very nice campground. I found that the Dalton Highway was good and the views were excellent. Several small herds of Muskox were on the highway closer to Deadhorse.
Have a great trip. Lord willing and low water I'll be back in Alaska this August.
sbishop - did you see the model A's in 2010? We saw them somewhere on the trip in June/July of 2010.
Grant
Dodge 2500 CTD.
Northstar 850SC
Constant companions - Scoter and Skye - Black Labs (better than most people)
No matter what route you take you will enjoy your trip and you will go back again to do things you wish you had time to do on this trip. I must also recommend Ron's book for a variety of reasons; the main one being he is my father!
My favorite route heading in Canada is going up North on WA 97 into Osoyoos, Canada and then head West on Canada HWY 3. Canada HYW 3 will dump you out on Canada HWY 5 near Hope, Canada. That small stretch of Canada HWY 3 is some of the most beautiful in the world. My favorite way of heading into, or out of, AK is taking the Top Of the World HWY from Whitehorse, to Dawson City (both in Yukon Terr.) and entering AK that way.
My father is departing AK the first week of June and heading to our home in WA. My parents have to get thier grandkid fix. If you actually run into him say hello and if you let him will talk traveling AK for hours with you.
As for the book the 2nd Edition was updated and in print starting Oct 2011. There are other older (aka cheaper) versions out there but either one will suffice. Just keep in mind the older one has places, names, etc. that are no longer there/valid (heck; any travel guide is out of date as soon as it is published so be prepared). I understand not every travel guide is for everyone so do your research and get what YOU feel most comfrotable with. If you do pass through Gig Harbor, WA I have a huge driveway and a 30 amp for a night or two.
08 F350, DRW, 4WD, DSL
07 Lance 1131
1 wife, two kids, and a dog
Well Lots of great suggestions. As a Resident of Kodiak, AK, I am somewhat partial to the fishing out here, but Kodiak is a bit out of the way for most, with our 12-14 hr ferry ride, and lack of support to the RV community. But if you like to do a bit of exploring and dry camping, Kodiak is a beautiful place to come and see. Being one of the largest islands in the US, not much is explored due to the limited amount of roads, but the beauty here is incredible when the weather breaks, and Eagles are as plentiful as seagulls too. And the Kodiak Brown Bear are frequent shows at most of the popular rivers for fishing Reds, Silvers and Kings. Most locals are fish-snobs, and don't even do anything with the pinks, though, a nice fresh pink on the grill is still good too, just don't freeze pinks... they go mushy. Lots of Halibut and rock fish as well as Pacific Cod here. Just too bad the charter prices are going up as quickly as the gas prices, and the catch limits have been going down... My brother caught a nice 225 lb Halibut off my 21 ft boat that was 6ft 4in long. A co-worker caught a 335 lb halibut last year. But most locals prefer the 20-45 lb HAlibut as they tend to be really tender. But a large fish can certainly fill a freezer in a hurry. Good Luck on the trip. I will be going to Fairbanks the 7th-10th of MAy for a work conferrence, and got work to pay the ferry as long as I cover the fuel, so taking the Avion to Fairbanks, and Momma will meet me at the Anchorage Airport and we will drive to Fairbanks together. Stay at the conferrence, then take a day to go to the Chena Hot Springs, then work back down to Anchorage for her to fly home while I work back down to Homer for the ferry back to Kodiak. THis should prep us for our July trip with the Family to the Mainland with the TC. We live here, and are still exploring the vast expanse of God's Wonder called Alaska.
Garry in Kodiak
Garry K
Wife + 4 kids
Retired Military Family.... Alway's on the move....
2002 F350 CCSB 5.4 6spd 4x4 in AK
1966 Avion C-10 Truck Camper
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