We made it to the high school pool just before the morning lap swim session at 6:30. Jack swam while I ran on the treadmill. We then had breakfast at the Diamond C restaurant.
Our plan was to meet at the ranger office at 9 and to be on the boat to Anan by 9:30. As is usually the cast, things did not go as planned. Bob asked that I help unload the crew boat at the city dock. It was low tide again and the crew needed to unload the scow with the hoist. While I worked with the crew, jack helped load the Anan boat and before long we were cruising South down the Blake channel toward Anan.
The guides at Anan work eight day shifts. They work at the trailhead checking permits for the area ( 50 per day) and answering questions at the falls where the bears ten to congregate. The guides reside on a float house which is moored 100 feet from shore in Anan Bay - roughly a mile from the trailhead. They use a skiff (a johnboat to you Midwesterners) with a tiny outboard to shuttle to and from the trailhead.
Most of the locals who visit the falls carry firearms as do the commercial outfitters who bring visitors on guided tours of the area. After you've had the guides check your permit, you are on your own. The trail to the falls is about a half mile in length and twists its way along Anan creek through dense rainforest. The trail has many blind turns and rises so you've got to make as much noise as possible to ensure that you don't startle a bear en route. It is a bit unnerving as every inch if the trail is covered with bear scat and the brush is nothing but a series of bear trails.
Even though we were weeks from the heavy salmon run, there were lots of bears at the falls. We saw no bears on the trail until we were about fifty feet from the trail's end, when suddenly a black bear emerged from the woods. He stopped and took a long look at us before moving on his way.
We spent two hours at the falls before heading back to the trailhead and float house. We had lunch, packed the boat with the outgoing crew's gear, and headed back to Wrangell.
We made it back to the truck with just enough time for Jack and I to make it back to camp before the potluck began.
The ranger program covered natural dyes, the plants needed to make them, and the varieties of colors that can be found on the island. There were over forty people on attendance- one of the best turnouts yet - lots of families and kids in attendance. It was a good one.
Cute pics of Jack.
ReplyDeleteHey Greg - you know that I am a natural dyer. Is there anyway you can bring back any of the local natural dye stuff - whatever type it is, I'll figure out how to use it and dye some yarn for Jack (and some for myself) so he can knit up a nice wool cap or two made from Alaskan colors. Do you remember the names of any of the dye materials? It usually takes quite a bit - like pounds as opposed to handfuls of the stuff. If you have a chance, grab some along your travels and Jack and I can have another dye day in the fall.
I know you are short on space what with bringing back halibut and berries and garnets and now natural dye stuff but you know there will be some kind of a payoff for you at some point. Speaking of which, I have some bread in the oven right this minute that you would just love! I'm working on a new recipe. I'll make it for you sometime when you get back. It's not that different from the other sourdough that I make but maybe even slightly better and it's whole wheat.
I miss you guys so much. It's kind of lonely here in the neighborhood these days!