We have done a lot of fishing so far in 2023 to catch four fish and keep two!  We have fished in ice and in mosquitoes.  We have fished raging rivers, tiny streams, ponds and lakes.  We fished near the Arctic Circle and down on the Kenai Peninsula.   If all that mattered were fish to eat, the time and expense make our 2 sockeye ridiculously expensive meals. Better times will be coming as we have more practice and skill catching coho salmon which will arrive later this summer.

Two weekends ago we traveled 540 miles to Copper Center and back to see one moose and catch no fish.  On our four day weekend we traveled 870 miles to Soldotna.  We caught 4 fish and saw lots of wildlife:  6 Grizzlies, 6 Dall Sheep, 3 Moose, one Porcupine, 2 Trumpeter Swans,  lots of Bald Eagles and eagle nests, and lots of Arctic Terns.  (Once I start on birds I never know where to stop…many other species as well). 

I am particularly proud of spotting the above sheep at 55 mph on the Parks Highway.   I had looked at so MANY peaks, knowing that some would have sheep.  I am sure I missed many, but it was a good spot to see these.  The 5 tiny dots were worth checking out and fortunately C quickly found a pullout on the highway. With binoculars the dots were clearly sheep and with his killer zoom and a lot of patience he got a great photo.

During the 15 minutes that we watched them, the 5 became 6 as a baby left its mother’s side.  4 adults and 2 babies, yay!  Based on my weekly Denali Park bus ride, some people only care about the animals within 20 yards.   I like watching any animals and what they are doing.