First Days at McNeil

Wednesday we flew with Jose deCreeft owner of Northwind Aviation on a float plane from Beluga Lake across Cooks Inlet, 100 air miles, to the McNeil River Lagoon.

We were met on the spit by our guides Tom, Tony and Drew with wheel barrels to transport our gear to camp.

Austin, Sandy and Tony help unload gear

In this remote camp near the top of the Alaska Peninsula,

Austin sets up the tent

tents were tucked in an area drenched in beautiful fireweed.
It was absolutely gorgeous.

Diane and Austin at the cook shack

We picked our spot before heading to the "cook shack" for orientation.
The cook shack is the gathering spot for cooking and socializing along with being a place to get dry and warm. A couple of large picnic tables, 6 propane burners and a wood stove. The group will take turns going to the river for water collected in 10 gal. plastic jugs.

There are two outhouses 50 yards from camp and a sauna 20 yards in the opposite direction.

out houses at the end of the windy path

The group made its introductions over dinner. Because of weight restrictions, Austin and I only brought freeze dried Mountain House food, some fruit, granola bars. instant coffee, tea and gorp. Others in our group paid overage charges and came with all kinds of foods, a story for another day. But on this night we feasted on salmon and flounder caught by Emily and her Dad Bill earlier in the day off the spit. Our guides baked it up for us in their cabin.Yummy!

The rains started after midnight.

Day one: After breakfast we all suited up in our rain gear and headed out for bear viewing. We walked through some sticky mud as we made our way to the lagoon. Crossing the lagoon can only happen at low tide and I slipped and fell as we crossed, those rocks were slippery. That was the last time the camera was around my neck while we were hiking.

Diamond Eyes

We hiked through mud with sink holes, grasses and flowers that were shoulder high in spots and up and down the cliffs. Our group sat along the mouth of the McNeil River observing for a while and then hiked over to McNeil Falls.

McNeil Falls has a large concentration of bears in July during the chum salmon run, only two bears were here this day.

Mikfik River looking towards camp

Hard to get good pictures in the wind and rain but we all tried. At the end of the day we needed to hike around the Mikfik River because of high tide. Mikfik is were the bears congregate in June. On the trail high up on the cliffs we had to side step the trails for two juvenile bears that seem to hang out together, fun.

Crossing the river I had to be on tip-toes. The guys were at my side just in case.

At the cook shack Austin and I sat in amazement at the variety of foods being prepared. Our group brought everything from soup to nuts. Steaks, salads, salsa and chips.

Day 2 and the weather has gotten much worse. I called it a tropical storm but it was really a sub arctic low (storm) that was battering the camp. Horizontal rain and high winds 30-35 mph were reeking havoc on the entire camp. Only 5 of us decided to brave the elements and take the hike, after all that's why we were here.

LAX with her cubs

Camera's were all in plastic bags and in back packs. At low tide I almost couldn't get across the lagoon because of high water pushed in by the storm. Once we got across we immediately stumbled on "Lax" a sow with 3 cubs. But where were her cubs? This bear is called Lax because she is very lackadaisical which was a good thing in this situation. We were between a mother and her cubs. The five of us and our guide Tony stayed against the cliff as Lax casually walked by within 20 feet to rejoin her cubs on the other side of us.

We saw bears this day and a couple were real close but the driving wind and heavy rain drove us back to camp early. Picture taking was at a minimum.

Still plenty of high water and the final river crossing was too high for me and my hip waders (should have had chest waders like the Alaskans in the group). I was waist deep in the river and taking on water, Spencer and Bob had to hold on to me before I floated down stream or sank. They carried me a few feet before I was able to continue the walk. Lucky for me that we were on our way back to camp at this point. It was a silly moment and although I was wet I wasn't cold.

At the cook house, Emily and Sandy got me out of those waders filled with water and sent me to the sauna to warm up. The water just poured out of those waders and we all had a good laugh.

inside of sauna



sauna



The sauna is just a 10' X 15' foot enclosure(approx) with a slat floor, a bench and a big pot of water on a wood stove. There was also a bucket of cold pond water and a pan for mixing. Sure felt good to throw that hot water over my body.

Guides, Tom and Drew set up two of their back-up tents for us. Dora and Spencers tent and our tent were the most water logged. Everyone was having issues and the cook shack had its rafters full of gear and clothes trying to get dry.
2 1/2 inches of rain and high winds in 24 hours. I think Tom felt bad and he cooked up pasta with red salmon sauce for all of us.

inside the cook shack dripping with wet gear

Weather forecast, more rain...............................................................