Salvage Run

Long time readers know that when the dock goes in, a river float is not far behind. This past week, I found the perfect combination of weather and free time to do it. Getting on the river for the first time of the year is always good for my soul and it's also tremendous exercise. Not only did I row for five hours, my iPhone step calculator said I walked 4.65 miles. That's a decent distance, considering I was dragging a cataraft and wearing chest waders while doing it.

The river is always changing and I never know from year to year what I'll see or find. That's part of the intrigue of it all and why I keep doing it. I suppose you wonder what this photo is about. A river within a river? A game trail from a beaver or otter? Nope. This remnant is what's left behind when a tree has been dragged down the river as the ice breaks up. In a couple of weeks, the river will rise high enough to cover it, and I'll be the only one who knew it was there.

Since Earth Day occurred this week, my river float was not just about me and what lost items I could find, I also picked up trash. However, I did find a few treasures. Well, at least to me they were. A cane, a hat, a watch....hmmm, I hope those aren't clues to a bigger, more tragic story. I also found 20-30 fishing lures, a license plate, a CutCo fillet knife, an anchor (the Holy Grail of river salvaging), and a femur from a bear. The reason I kept the bear femur is it has a nice, heavy feel to it and should make an interesting fish whacker. You can never have too many fish whacker's...

As I stated earlier, a river float is good for my soul, exercise and for finding lost items. Another aspect that keeps me doing this is the wildlife viewing. Moose, caribou, seals, and plenty of birds are observed most years. With this in mind, I’m posting the last two photos for Augie, a 10 year old master phenologist from Shevlin Township. 

A pair of sandhill cranes foraging for food.

It's hard not to get philosophical when you spend the day on the river all alone. I’ll end this post with this quote.

The sun shines not on us, but in us.

The rivers flow not past, but through us...

-John Muir

See you next week.

Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service

Sand Hill Cranes

One of the most impressive birds found on the Kenai River are the sand hill cranes.  I'm impatiently waiting for these majestic, migratory birds to show up on the peninsula.  It should be just a matter of days before the first ones are spotted.   

Sand hill cranes are a big bird and can have a wingspan over six feet. They are the largest game bird in Alaska. 

There are two populations of sand hill cranes in Alaska.  The Mid-Continent population is found in the interior of Alaska.  By far the most popular viewing area is Craemer's field in Fairbanks.  The Pacific Flyway population is found in the coastal regions of Alaska (mainly Upper Cook Inlet and Bristol Bay).The majority of the Pacific Flyway cranes winter in California while the Mid Continent cranes migrate to southwest United States and Mexico.  

Cranes mate for life and can live to be 20 years old.  They are omnivores, and are constantly on the hunt for food.

Where hunting is allowed, I've been told that they are delicious bird to eat. "Flying filet mignon" or "roast beef on a stick." are just a couple of phrases I've heard to describe their taste.

I can't wait to hear their unique, if not haunting, cackle and to see their distinctive profile as they fly low over the river flats.  It gets me excited because it not only signals that it's spring, but it also signals the start of the salmon run....





Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service