Chicken, AK

The town of Chicken, AK is a must see for any tourist.  It's in the midle of nowhere and the roads to get there are probably the worst in Alaska.  There are no public utilities so everything is run from generators.

One of several public facilities in the town.

Details on the town

Gold camp developed from one of the dredge sites.  Has a decent restaurant with good food.  

Panning for gold from an adjacent dirt pile.  Mary spent almost 4 hours looking for the mother load. She won't tell me how much she really found.

Downtown Chicken.  Has a winter population of 15.

East entrance into town

Moving north from Kenai Peninsula

We left the Kenai Peninsula on Wednesday, after 10 glorious days of sightseeing, fishing, gold panning and good weather.  Once back to Anchorage, we began a northeast trek through the MatSu valley which was a pretty drive but challenging roads.  Stayed in Glacier View, AK along the way as you can see from the pics below.  Once in Tok, settled down for 3 days.  Will visit Chicken as a side trip to see if can find some gold.

Glacier View, AK

Matanuska glacier

campground at Glacier View, AK

campground at Tok, AK

Main road through Tok

Road into Chicken, AK

Kenai Spit

Sign as you come over mountain towards Homer

View of Homer Spit from mountaintop

Charter boat we took to fish Halibut

Homer Spit harbor as we begin trip

Days catch for 20 people on boat - allowance of 2 per person

Back at the campground processing fillets - this was 6 fish that netted about 35 pounds in fillets.

Salmon Run

Kenai river in Soldata, AK

Everyone's out fishing on opening weekend

Fly fishing for Sockeye salmon

Looks like I got the hang of it

First salmon was a legal catch.  Weighed about 12 pounds

Caught our limit after about 90 minutes.  This is 10:30 pm

Time to clean the bounty and get ready for the next day.

On to Kenai Peninsula

Chugach State Park

Turnagain Bay in Chugach SP

roadside turnout in Chugach SP

Commercial fishing fleet at low tide in Ninilchik harbor

Tide coming in and fleet is mobilizing.  Note that this is at 10 p.m.  Harbor will be empty of boats in about an hour.

Fleet on the way out

Cook Inlet looking from Ninilchik harbor

Parks highway

We left Fairbanks on Tuesday, 7/9 moving south down the Parks highway.  Stopped at Denali NP for 2 nights and then on to Talkeetna for 2 nights.  Talkeetna was originally a mining town and has now evolved into a nice stopover between Fairbanks and Anchorage.  Place is filled with shops and restaurants in spite of being in the middle of nowhere.  Arrived in Anchorage on 7/13 staying at Elmendorf AFB for a couple of nights.  Will move on the Kenai, staying in Ninilchik, for some serious fishing on Tuesday.

Denali and south

This is as close as Mary will ever get to a bear.  Sitting at the Denali visitor's center

Campground just north of Denali NP

Bears at a kill site feasting on a Carribou.  Ranger says kill probably done by wolves and them stolen by the bears.  Wolves will be back to reclaim once bears have feasted.

Weather in the park that day was a mess - mostly rain and cloudly all day.  

road system allowed only buses - was gravel and narrow with plenty of sharp turns

group still had a good time in spite of the weather

Mt McKinley at southern viewpoint - about 50 miles to summit

Me and my girl enjoying the view and the warm sunny weather next day

Stopped in Talkeetna - found good fishing spot on Montanna Creek.  Richard and I each caught a trout.

Lunch in Talkeetna 

Mary and Elle looking for treasure in Montanna Creek

Looks like they found something.  Wouldn't tell us how much.