Scouting for Sheep

I took the opportunity over Memorial Day weekend to do some sheep scouting with a friend. This spring I was notified that I had been drawn for a Dall sheep tag in the Tok Management Area. Only 5% of those who submit are selected each year. Earlier in the year I told Dianna that I had a better chance of winning the Iditarod Sled Dog Race with my 6 dog rec team than getting selected for that hunt. Guess I'm running the Iditarod next year.

Tok Management Area

This is Tom K. who agreed to help me out with this hunt. Tom is on a ridge looking for the elusive Dall sheep.

This is what we had to climb up to get to where we thought a lake (camping with water) would be. Unfortunately the lake was not where it was supposed to be, it was in the next basin to the west, and it was frozen.

Once we finally found camp we decided to glass for sheep, which for the most part means looking through bino's for white spots moving on the hill sides. I use the much more advance method of closing my eyes and listening intently for sheep moving. It looks a lot like sleeping.

This guy came by soon after we set up camp. It's not often that you get to see a wolverine because they aren't fond of people. He was running right at our camp when he saw us and looked quite surprised. I guess he doesn't see to many people in this neighborhood.

After 2 days of scouting we had to return to Fairbanks. We decided to take a different way down than the way up. This route was much more gentle but had a lot more snow on it.

Finally out of the snow and on our way back to tree line, great weekend in the Alaska Range.

All Photo's courtesy of Tom K.

Floating the Tanana

Tanana River - Fairbanks to Nenana

The Delta Clearwater was such a great trip that it inspired another float to take advantage of the beautiful, if not unusual, May weather. Like the last trip, this one started at the Oasis for breakfast.


After breakfast we headed to the put in, which for this trip was just outside of Fairbanks, a place where we usually have one of our ski races, The Tanana River Rally. This is a picture of the put-in in the winter. Many people ski, mush and snowmachine on the rivers in the winter.

But it's spring, now, not winter! This picture was taken just after we got on the water. Steve was solo on this trip, so used his sea kayak.

The Tanana (TAN-uh-naw) River is the largest tributary of the Yukon River (the Yukon River is the 10th longest river in the world). The Tanana River from Fairbanks to Nenana (nuh-NAN-uh) is wide and slow.


While the section we were floating is not as swift or as narrowly braided as the section above Fairbanks, it still has a some braiding, gravel bar islands and plenty of drift wood which demonstrate the power of large volumes of water.

Some times you can find surprises in the drift wood piles. This treasure is also known as a "tundra daisy" and is often referred to as the state flower (although officially the Forget-me-not is the state flower). There is no telling how many of these 55-gallon drums exist in Alaska.


I spent much of the trip enjoying the sun and appreciating the new green of spring. After a long, cold, dark winter one has a better appreciation for sun, warm weather and the returning life that comes with it.

We stopped to camp around 8 p.m. The days are long this time of year with around 18 hours of daylight, which will continue to increase until June 22. This picture was taken around 9 p.m.


Jeremy happy to be spending another day on the water.

The difficult paddling during the afternoon on the second day required us to stop and rest. Though perhaps it was only an attempt to delay our arrival at the take-out that really caused us to pull over and nap in the sun.

The Nenana Railroad Bridge marks the end of the trip as we approach the take-out. President Harding drove the golden spike (no longer there) in the north end of the bridge in 1923, connecting by train Interior Alaska to the ports of the south. This bridge is the second longest single-span railroad bridge in the US and is built on rollers to accommodate the expansion and contraction of the bridge during temperature changes. Before the bridge, tracks were laid across the river ice in the winter so the train could travel on to Fairbanks, the furthest north stop. The highway bridge in the background, further down river was built in 1968, which replaced the ferry system that had been used up until that time.

From Fairbanks to the Yukon River the Tanana River is ideal for barging given its wide and slow nature. In this picture you can see Tom and Melissa with their the pointer-husky mix, Elka, paddling around the Ramona. Nenana is one of the most important ports in Interior Alaska. It is here that barges are loaded with supplies, brought in by train or truck, destined for interior Native communities along the Yukon River. Nenana is a mixed community of Natives and non-Natives. It was used historically as a seasonal fishing and hunting camp by Athabascans, but in 1905 the construction of an Episcopal church and telegraph station marked the beginning of a more permanent community.

Jeremy, Steve, Melissa and Tom

Just outside of Nenana we stopped at the Monderosa for their famous burgers. It was a great ending for one of the most enjoyable floats I have had while in Alaska.

Still the best burgers in Alaska.

Clearwater 2009

A sure sign that summer is on its way is the annual Delta Clearwater float trip!

Fairbanks people start the trip with breakfast at the Oasis, a restaurant and lounge. This is the only time of year that we eat at the Oasis. You have like the smell of cigarette smoke with your breakfast to fully appreciate breakfast at the Oasis. They do, however, produce some tasty eggs bennie.

Parking lot at the Oasis. This is a trip for big kids, no inflatables. : )

The put-in is at the Clearwater State Recreation Site near Delta Junction. As was mentioned in a previous entry, Jeremy has a duty to recreate in state parks since he is a member of the Citizen Advisory Board. He's such a good citizen!

The put-in.

Finally on the water 1 hour 45 minutes later.

The floatilla. It was a beautiful day, maybe 70 degrees. I call those days, Colorado days.

Did I mention it was a beautiful day?

The Clearwater trip for our group involves an overnight at the base of a bluff. Once at our camping spot we usually build a fire and stay up until the wee hours of the morning. This year the festivities were over at midnight, however. We must be becoming a more mature group.

The next day we usually hike up the bluff and chill for a few before beginning the arduous journey to the take-out.

View from the bluff. It's a great place to drink your morning coffee and appreciate living in Alaska.

Spring flowers - Pasque

The second half of the trip is on the Tanana River, a much larger river than the Clearwater. While there are no rapids it moves A LOT of water and at this time of year a lot of trees and ice, too. That is floating ice next to Rachel and Steve.



We usually make one stop on the way out to eat a late lunch (we rarely get on the river before noon - either day). This year a we had a couple rounds of the "stick game." This involves holding the stick to your chin and making 10 rotations then throwing the stick down and jumping over it. Check out Jeremy.

Once you see the bridge and pipeline, you know you've come to the end of the trip; this is the take-out. Now the game of shuttle begins. This year's shuttle was a little confusing and may require some prior planning next year.

In years past we have gone into Delta Junction for burgers and beers, but this year most people felt a need to get on the road back to Fairbanks or Anchorage. It's all a part of being mature. So, this year the Fairbanks people stopped at the Knotty Shop on the way home for ice cream. I couldn't bring myself to take a picture of that.

The Delta Clearwater is wonderful way to begin the boating season. We are looking forward to a summer spent on rivers with good friends.