Photo Essay: Talachulitna River Float, AK
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The alternate title for this post was…
Missed Opportunity: IA reunion at Ted Stevens International.
I think that a few of us may have just missed each other. I returned from this float trip over a week ago, but have been absolutely swamped getting caught up in my masters program and at work. I did pop in last week to see everyone else’s fantastic pictures from other trips. I’m glad to finally have a few minutes to take a deep breath and finally get these up here.
Trip Stats: Flew into Anchorage on the 23rd. Drove up to Willow AK on the 24th. Flew from Willow, AK to Lake Judd. Floated the Talachulitna Creek, to the Talachulitna River, to our pickup point on the Skwetna June 31st.
Total time in the backcountry: 7 nights. Trip Occupants: 3 dudes (including yours truly). Total Bear sightings: 5. Bear Prep: 44 magnum, huge rounds, two cans of bear spray, cooler, bear bags. Bottles of Bourbon Brought/Finished: 2/1.75. Fish Caught: 3 rainbows, 2 grayling, a lot of silvers and pinks. Rods Brought: 9. Flies Tied: 360+ Glo Bugs in 10 Colors. Flies Purchased: 10 Dozen. Tied flies used: 12-16 (always happens this way). Purchased Flies Used: At least 3-4 dozen. Packs of Beef Jerky Consumed: 11
Trip Details: Things looked really grim as we arrived in Anchorage. Every local told us there had been two days of sun in an otherwise rainy summer. Those in the “know” also told us the fishing had been pretty bad. It was. The creek water was high and cloudy. This was supposed to be rainbow territory and we pounded water with little luck. I think the biggest of the trip is pictured below; my first fish of the trip. We didn’t expect monsters, but I did expect a few more in the creek. They were put down by the rain, and only a few kings were spawning in the river. The king run on the Tal was legendary in its disappointment. I was glad we didn’t come up for it.
To be honest we didn’t know how long the rain would last and I expected to get pounded for the entire trip. By day 4 I was fishless, mostly consumed with getting meals cooked and gear dry. The other guys had pulled in fish, but you had to really work for them. Day 5 brought sun, silvers, and a somewhat life threatening class 4 whitewater experience. Everything turned around at this point…except the mosquitoes. Worst I’ve ever seen. I normally enjoy using nature as a toilet, but when your ass is the main course for a few hundred of those suckers…well it makes for a really uncomfortable experience, and a “every man to his own itch pen” situation. The only bug netting I had was intricately rigged to our dining tarp. The silvers were in early and they were a blast. Pictures and additional details below:
Flying in to Judd Lake
The Group at Judd:
We came upon this site on our first day. Totally destroyed by bears. Its occupants had obviously left in the middle of it. They left a rowing frame, oars, boots, toothpaste on a toothbrush, and tons of other gear. It literally looked like they had to run out with only their sleeping bags.
A pretty big grayling:
Our biggest rainbow, but a terrible picture:
Hanging out at Friday Creek. Our camp day.
Last part of Hells Gate, Class4 Whitewater. Almost went really, really badly:
Heading out of another set of rapids. Probably my favorite picture from the trip:
Some Pinks: We tied into these for the last three days.
Our only sockeye:
And Finally…the IA food shot. Bourbon and some Cheesy Corn and Chicken. I now have this in my pantry at home. Best backcountry meal I’ve had in a while, and great for when the girlfriends out of town. I actually do all the cooking at home, but never put forth the effort when I’m by myself. Just add two cups of boiling water and chicken to the freezer bag…wait ten.
All in all the trip was fantastic. If you are able, I highly suggest doing a trip like this in the backcountry. I don’t think you can do 7 days in Alaska for less than we did. Next year we’re out of bear country…probably going after reds. Its tentative, but I can assure you I’ll be back to AK someday and will probably do another float. Hope you guys enjoy the pictures.
Nice shots – thanks for the food one !
Those Alaskan rainbows sure do look a lot like browns !!
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A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
Solid report Andrew! One of my favorite things about going to AK is flying in the Beavers. I love that first photo…especially with the low ceiling and rain on the windshield. That is the Beavers element. I can hear the drone of the engine and feel the plane bouncing around in that photo.
Nice.
Sounds like a tough, but good trip! Glad you got into some fish at the end and the rapids didnt dump you. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Does De Havilland still exist? I thought I read somewhere that there are a finite number of Beaver [floatplanes] left in the world, and that eventually they will all break down and disappear.
Zach
I think they got bought and split up a number of years ago. I wouldn’t worry about them going away anytime. People are still restoring old ones into flying condition. They are a venerable old workhorse. It just might mean you won’t be able to afford one in the future. Not like they are cheap today 🙂
The one’s I saw when I was up there a few years ago were between $350k and $550K. I would expect them to be more now.
This was our ride into the Alaska Range (Talkeetna Air Taxi). Note the skis.
Last Beavers were made in ’67, I think, and there were fewer than 2,000 ever made. At the first lodge I worked at in AK, we had a 1948 and a 1954, both on floats, and they were in pristine condition. Beavers are so valuable as bush planes, every little part is maintained, rebuilt, and treated well. At the last lodge I worked, a brand new pilot totalled a Beaver on his very first flight, crash-landing on the tundra above Moraine Creek. A sad, sad day. No one was hurt, but the owner had to sell the plane for pennies on the dollar to the company that salvaged it.
Phil
Also, hats off to the dude in the wool sweater with his breathable waders on. 🙂
Zach
Wool is a VERY underated outdoor material in this day and age of bigger, better, lighter, etc etc.
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