Day 1: Ugachak Narrows

Ideas by the group,transcribed by Mark, spell checked by ??? :

This morning, we had our first Alaskan float plane experience and it was amazing. Rising gracefully from the lake,  skimming  over the treetops and tundra.

Float planes piloted by Everett and Tom(former Navy fighter pilot).   Fog, that leads to flight delays, low ceilings (pilot talk for can’t see the sky).   Polar bear swim dips in water that is about 50 degrees(Trevor was the lone swimmer) – video coming later

Meals of champions….. steak and eggs and bloodies for breakfast, turkey sandwiches  and beers on the shore, and tuna tartare with duck wrapped bacon for appetizers, and venison and lobster for dinner.   We’re roughin’ it.

Camaraderie…beers, Macallan single malt scotch, Grey Goose..conversations…laughs…enough said.  How else can you describe  hanging with two fathers and three sons.   Wish Matt and Jim were here though as well.

Riding shotgun in a float plane…Mark figuring out how many hours until he has his own. 

Our first casts were something to behold - Kevin lands the first fish, Trev catches the most fish and Chris wins the award for the most fish to escape.  Biggest fish award goes to Mark, no world record, but good for our group…..see below.  He also managed to catch himself, so I guess that was really the biggest fish.

Apres-fish beers.

Bear and Moose prints …a constant reminder to be looking over our shoulders.

Trevor has been exercising his inner Ansel Adams.  Check out the panoramic photo and the floatplane scenery.

 

Weather for tomorrow:   Partly cloudy, chance of rain, chance of sun, chance of wind.   Who knows?  Who cares?    Lots of smiling.  It’s all good.

Headed to an area tomorrow called “Contact” where we will contact nature, fish and bears after a 4 mile hike followed by some char and trout fishing.

 

More tomorrow…….