Hatcher's Hike - April Bowl

We took the opportunity to share another hike with our friend's the Finleys. It was back up to Hatcher's Pass to the April Bowl Trail. At the top there is another hidden lake. We got to see hoary marmots and watch the boys hike up a skinny trail. We did not actually walk around the ridge of the bowl. We met up with two kids from Lancaster, PA, who hiked the bowl ridge. You can see their silhouettes at the top of one of the pictures. I had to borrow Amber's

Summer is Finally Clear!

The smoke from the interior wild fires has finally left the valley....wow that's a statement I could've written two years ago when we were living in California. Our amazing views and cooler temps have returned. Pictures are of grazing pointing at a moose and loving his favorite toy, a doggie he reconned from Landon's room. Note in the first picture that he has begun smiling like Landon for pictures.

Dipnetting - Kasilof River

We took a trip down to the Kasilof to do subsistence fishing by way of dipnetting. With a dipnetting permit you can catch 25 fish for the head of the household plus 10 additional fish per additional family member. That is 55 salmon for a family of 4. We went down and stayed with 4 other families from Layne's work. Kasilof beach was literally a tent city and the restrooms ( or woods and gullies) were a little two "Watch your step" for my taste. The lack of seasonal rain and four wheelers also made for dusty conditions. It sort of reminded me of a messed up family friendly Woodstock where the musicians forgot to show up. It turns out that there was an emergency order that allowed gill set netting offshore and so the subsistence run was slow. We ended up with 10 bags of red salmon. The boys had a blast running up and down the beach offering to bonk people's fish. People we didn't even know ended up with a line of small boys offering to bonk their fish. Layne also took the roe (eggs) home and cured them in the garage for fish bait for the upcoming silver salmon run. On thr drive home we were delighted to see the belugas swimming in the Cook Inlet.

Littlest Guy Turns Two!

Grayson had the oportunity to celebrate his birthday with Honey, Gramps, and extended family before they headed back to the lower 48. He was embarrassed by everyone singing to him, and enjoyed openning gifts, although I am not sure he quite understood. Landon and Kate were excited to lend a hand. He weighs in at 28.4 lbs and is 34 inches tall, happy, and easily amused (and easily screams). Landon did not want his picture taken so I got a great shot of his eye!

J&J Smart Charters - Ninilchik, AK

We spent the night in the Redoubt Cabin at DeepCreek View campgrounds. The Cabin was large enough to house our party of 10 and had the bonus of indoor plumbing (no shower though). We sent a crew of 5 out on a halibut charter. They had a blast! The crew was great and our group returned with tired arms and about 85 pounds of consumable halibut.