Dillingham Pics: August/September/October
I know it has been a really long time since we last blogged. So we thought we would give you a taste of what we have been doing the last few months. Below are some of the highlights of life in Dillingham in August, September, and some of October. We will load some more recent ones in a couple of days.
When we first arrived in Dillingham, the Silver Salmon were just starting to run. We missed the Sockeye Salmon run by a few weeks. Above is a picture of one of our better fishing days. We caught Silver, Char, Rainbow, and Whitefish. We fished right at the outlet of the Wood River on Lake Aleknagik.
Nick, taking the eggs out of one of the silver salmon. We cured the eggs and then used them to catch more Salmon.
Janna--proving that she can still fillet like a champion. Seriously.... a champion!
The view across Lake Aleknagik. The lake is 17 miles up from the town of Dillingham, and just across the lake is the village of Aleknagik.
Above is a picture of the moose that Nick and Larry (green sweatshirt) shot. It isn't very big for a moose, but even a small moose is a huge animal. As the guys skinned and quartered it (in the dark), we could hear a large animal (almost certainly a grizzly bear) in the brush WAY too close to us. Janna stood guard with a spotlight and a gun, protecting the men from certain death, with nasty, big, pointy teeth....... The next morning the carcass had been totally ravaged by a bear and covered with grass and brush. It was really quite an adventure, and we stocked our freezer with meat for several months.
On the way to Lake Aleknagik there are a couple of lakes called, Twin Lakes. We crossed one of the lakes in our float tube, and fished the larger lake in back (I am not sure what it is called). Anyway, we were just about ready to quit, when a Northern Pike grabbed Nick's lure. It was so big, it wouldn't fit into the net we brought, so Nick had to kick the float tube to shore, just to land the fish (I'm having Moby Dick flashbacks....).
A better shot of the Northern Pike--also called "snakes" because of their shape and nasty teeth (and the fact that they prey on mice and other small rodents near shore).
Above is a picture of Snake Lake. On one of our first weeks here, we went exploring, and ended up on Snake Lake Road. We had no idea that at the end of the road was this gorgeous lake. Apparently it has good trout fishing at the outlet, but you need a boat to get there.
We were lucky enough to get to go out on Lake Aleknagik on one of the most beautiful fall days. Our friend TOny took us out in his boat. We went up to the inlet of the lake and fished (we caught mostly Char). That's Tony in the back hiding behind Janna.
This picture just doesn't give the day we had justice. Between the fall colors, and the gorgeous weather, it was the perfect day.
Another gorgeous picture. There are actually five lakes all connected by rivers. Lake Aleknagik is the lowest lake. This summer we are going to fly up to the fifth lake and do a float trip down. It is supposed to be the trip of a lifetime.
Another view from the boat.
Nick and Tony, pulling the boat up on shore after our trip.
Well, this last one is for Damon and Heidi--we have continued to keep the tradition of making pizza, even though it isn't the same without you guys. Lately we have been into making pizza bagels, mostly because they are yummy, but also partly because they're yummy.
Hope you all are having a good fall/winter. We're having a great time here, but we sure do miss all of our friends and family. Keep in touch.
-N&J
The day was really clear, and actually quite warm still. The ground was pretty muddy in places. Nick appreciates that I did not take a picture of him sliding down the hill on his butt--but I guess there were more scenic things to see.
More gorgeous shots....
and more shots....
Nick hunted on the way up the mountain. We didn't see any Spruce Grouse, but we did see a few Ptarmigan (the Alaska st. bird). Apparently they are pretty tasty. They turn white in the winter, and their feathers were just starting to change. 
A view from the top--you can see Snake Lake off in the distance.
It was pretty frigid at the top. The wind was blowing pretty hard, and our hands got pretty frozen. The views in Dillingham really can't be beat--it is easily one of the most breath-taking places I have ever been. 
