Hoonah Alaska Trip

 

Thanks Mark Standley For The Photo

Thanks Mark Standley For The Photo

Fresh back from a wonderful adventure down to Hoonah Alaska.  Joshua was my travel partner this time and It was a great Father son trip and full of memories that we both can cherish over the years.  Here are a few highlights and I want to give a great big thanks to the Diamond family for hosting us and sharing a wonderful adventure together.  Thanks also to Mark Standley for hosting us in Juneau.
Well I have to start with the bear charge story because it certainly stood out as the highlight.  Right before the cabin at freshwater bay on Kennel creek we decided to hop out of the car and see if any silvers where milling around and as we walked down over the river bank from the road a nice fat brown bear meandered down the river right on the other side of us.   No worries, a few “Hear Bears” loudly to let him know we where right there and then wait for him to walk on by.  Unfortunately right when he was directly across the stream from us, he took one look at us and when from standing still to all out charge right at us. Now if you have not seen the power and muscles of a 700 plus pound bear running full boar through the water 30-40 feet away directly at you then you have not lived a full life.  Joshua let out a scream and since he was only 40-50 feet from the car he decided to beat feet for safety and if you have ever watched the road runner escape the coyote you get an idea of what Joshua’s feet looked like, in fact as he blew by Jack I am not sure is feet ever touched the ground.  Joshua hit the care and in horror realized the door was locked and Howard sitting in the driver seat said the look on Josh’s face when he realized the doors where locked was quite a site.  I still hear that haunting scream echoing “THE DOORS ARE LOCKED” , after all Josh had not looked back and imagined he was about the be eaten by 800 lbs of hungry.  Well with my gun drawn part way and a new grip on my underwear I readied for the impact and hoped it was a bluff if all that thinking can really happen in such a short amount of time. Well it turns out the joke was on us and I think the bear actually planned it this way, right as the bear was about to hit our side of the river in front of us he dove forward and landed on a nice big salmon and proceeded to enjoy his morning breakfast.  Phewww, that was a better ending than how it was looking and I never imagined Joshua could move that fast:)
Here are a few more highlights
• Spent half a day halibut fishing and was just good to get on the water and see Hoonah from the water.
• Our second night we spent in Kennel Creek Cabin – this is an amazing cabin and I will for sure be back again with the family – http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/kennel-creek-cabin-ak/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=107983
• Had some wonderful dolly and silver salmon fishing on the Spasski river and shared some of the river with some bears.  Walking the bordwalks and trails down to the river and enjoying the quiet and beauty of the area was a highlight for me.
• We where doing a little hunting but only saw does.
• Loved walking the docks and exploring all the boats, I really love being around the sounds and smells of the sea.
Was a great trip, really enjoyed spending time with Joshua and look forward to going back to Hoonah for another adventure.
Until the next Sundog Adventure – Cheers