July 18 & 19
Leaving Sourdough CG in Tok, AK we arrived at Chitina
Again, the drive was beautiful, wild flowers, mountains, glaciers, lakes and rivers……stunning!
Arriving in (Chit-Na),AK, we stopped to ask some questions about where to camp for the night. The lady in Spirit Mountain Art Gallery was very helpful. We were directed to a campground that was over the Copper River about 2 miles. It was a terrific spot.
The people we meet are so fascinating and that includes Apache Mike. He is a native to Chitna and does everything you can imagine from building log cabins, he has a fish wheel and has to check it 3 or 4 times a day, he can weld, makes jewelry, he loves traveling and the list goes on. We bought Copper River Red Salmon that he just processed, delicious!
Fun Facts:
Little did we know that the Copper River is world renowned for “Copper River Red Salmon”. This is the peak season. All Alaskans are allowed 25 fish for the head of household and then 10 fish per each dependent in the family. This is to get them thru the brutal winters they have here, down to -50 degrees.
We hiked down a rocky steep path to the river where we saw people catching hundreds of fish, most of them 8-10 lbs. Beautiful healthy fish with vibrant red meat.
We were told it is the most expensive salmon on the market. They come to spawn this time every year, after a 5 year cycle. They spend those years 90 miles away in the Gulf of Alaska feeding on plankton.
Fun Facts:
There are two ways the locals catch salmon. The oldest way is “dip netting”. Most locals do it from the banks; it can be very dangerous. These nets are big and the poles are 30 feet long. They put the nets in the water and wait for the fish to get caught in the net. The water is very cloudy and the fish cannot see the nets. If several fish are caught at the same time it can pull you into the river and be dragged down stream.
The second way of catching these salmon is with a “fish wheel”. It’s better if you google it than for me to explain it.
We explored the area on our second day driving 17 miles on the McCarthy Road to Kuskaluna Bridge over the Kuskaluna River. A short hike down under the bridge was awesome!
Fun Fact:
This was built around 1910 for the railroad to bring the ore out of Kennicott Mine. It was built in 4 months in the middle of winter.
We got to visit with Apache Mike again this evening….what a treat!
July 20
Woke up to a brisk 49 degrees. Got ourselves ready for another adventure in Chitna.
First stop “Apache Mike’s” to pick up some more delicious, fresh copper river red salmon, he invited us to his cabin.
What a treat! He has lived in Chitna for 35 years and built his log home out of trees he harvested on his land. It’s like a museum inside. he has found numerous tools from the 1900s. His land is next to a landfill from back then, it’s a trove of treasures. The first floor is a living space where you can walk and enjoy viewing and listening to the creek. He plans on adding a deck that goes over the creek.
The second story is fantastic. Mike has the beautiful white spruce logs that support the ceiling. They have these huge knots that give them an earth character. Here is his full kitchen, full double door refrigerator His bed is crafted out of the same white spruce logs. He is a talented cook/chef.
He loves wine and great music. He played “The Medicine Man” soundtrack form a Sean Connery movie. Great sound system and so much fun to listen to!
The cabin is for sale if you have an interest in living in Chitna, AK. Mike cares for the land and animals. He processes all the salmon in a more loving & humane way. This was a highlight of our trip so far.
Off to Liberty Creek and Falls. Another hidden treasure we enjoyed exploring.
Back to the motorhome to get ready for our next adventure to Glennallen. Along the way we stopped at the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Visitors Center. This is the largest National Park in the US, it’s the size of Sweden. We enjoyed looking through a telescope at Mt. Wrangell and Mt. Drum.
Fun Facts:
Wrangell-St. Ellias National Park a Preserve is remote and expansive rugged mountains and massive glaciers which boasts the world's highest coastal mountain range, including Mt. St. Ellias at 18,008 feet. Mt. Wrongell a steaming volcano provides evidence of the earth's dynamic nature. Ancient glaciers advance and retreat, slowly grinding through rock, adding a powdery silt and milky color to the rivers' flow.
We arrived at Tolsona Wilderness Campground about 4:00 pm. on the river for the RVing to Alaska Rally. We’re in the overflow field since we’re a day early. We’re excited to slow down for awhile.
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