GLOBAL FAT BIKE DAY 2022, EXIT GLACIER, KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA, DECEMBER 3-4

GLOBAL FAT BIKE DAY 2022, WILLOW PUBLIC USE CABIN, EXIT GLACIER, KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA, DECEMBER 3-4

THE POSSE:

Wally Hufford

Elizabeth Hufford

Laura Hufford

Doug Armstrong

Posing with fat bikes at the entrance sign to Kenai Fjords National Park.  (photo credit:  Doug Armstrong)

LOGISTICS:

We drove from Nikiski to Seward, Alaska with our fat bikes where we met up with Laura and Doug at the gate across Exit Glacier Road (the road is closed to automobile traffic in the winter).  Once all our gear was loaded on our fat bikes we rode the ~7.5 miles out to the Willow Public Use Cabin which is near the Exit Glacier Visitor Center.  After spending the night at the cabin we rode back to our vehicles and drove home.

The Willow Public Use Cabin at Exit Glacier.

This trip had been in the planning stages for several years.  I knew of the Willow Public Use Cabin and had been thinking of renting it for a while.  In October I thought we should rent it for Global Fat Bike Day and make a big celebration out of it.  

The cabin is in a beautiful setting and a gem itself.  It has propane heat, refrigeration, and a cooking stove/oven.  The lights are powered by a battery that is solar charged.  We had the lights on most of the evening and the next morning without any loss of brightness.  That's pretty good for the middle of winter in Alaska if you ask me.

Elizabeth, Doug, and Laura pedal fat bikes toward the cabin.

On our way out the riding conditions couldn't have been more perfect for a fat bike.  The snow was packed down and frozen hard.  It was almost like riding frozen pavement all the way to the cabin.  Our tires had studs in case of ice, but they weren't really needed.  Along the way we passed a number of other users on the road including hikers, skiers, and mushers.  Everyone was happy and enjoying the superb winter day surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery.  We made excellent time arriving at the cabin about two hours after we left the parking area.

This dog was named Wren  She was very energetic and had run about seven miles when this photo was taken.  Her owner is the skier in the photo.

This musher was training/conditioning his dogs by having them tow a four-wheeler down the road.

As we pedaled along we took our time stopping regularly for photos and to take in the exquisite scenery.  The low angle winter sun lit the mountains with vibrant color on one side while the other side remained in shadow.  The light was dramatic for sure and a benefit of living in northern latitudes in the winter.

Laura on a bridge with sunlit mountains behind her.

Once we arrived at the cabin we turned up the heat and actually marveled at the deluxe accommodations.  In the summer months the cabin is used to house seasonal hires for the National Park Service, so all the amenities are right there with the exception of running water.  Instead there are several containers filled with water for drinking and cooking.  There were also two bedrooms with two bunks each.  It was as close to fat bike glamping as I could ever imagine.  

Upon arrival at the cabin Laura warmed her toes on the heater.

We played a game of Hearts in the evening.  I got the most points.  That's not a good thing when you're playing Hearts.

The ride back to the vehicles was exquisite.  The road conditions were perfect, the weather superb, and it was downhill the entire way.  (photo credit:  Doug Armstrong)

After a restful night I woke up at 6:00 AM.  Of course, it was still dark outside when I opened the door and stepped onto the porch.  But, looking upward I couldn't believe my eyes.  From horizon to horizon a dazzling number of twinkling stars filled the sky.  It was so beautiful that I stood there staring up in total disbelief and appreciation.  There were many constellations that I recognized, even though I couldn't recall their names, and the utter silence of the wilderness setting added to the perfect stargazing station on that porch.  I stood there for a good long while before I got cold and went back inside for breakfast.

The others slowly roused as the morning moved at a leisurely pace.  We made oatmeal, drank coffee by the mugful, and talked about a number of topics pertinent to the day.  Nobody was in a hurry and the sun wouldn't come up until after 10:00 AM anyway, so we took our time.  

Once it was light enough we slowly packed our gear and loaded the fat bikes.  The ride out was sublime and we enjoyed watching the sunlight slowly illuminate the mountain peaks all around us.  It was just so beautiful.  I don't think any of us wanted to arrive back at the vehicles where we knew the trip would end.

Pulling into the parking area we took one last look around.  Mountains, sky, sunshine, and friends.  Everything was just right.  The trip had been a wonderful success and before long everything was packed up and ready to go.

In a post-trip celebration we drove the short few miles to Seward for hamburgers at the Mermaid Grotto restaurant.  After that it was a simple drive back to Nikiski where we sorted and cleaned gear.  Of course, we also began making plans for our next trip to the Willow Public Use Cabin, which we hope will be very soon.  Who knows, it might even become an annual Global Fat Bike Day tradition.  That would be something great.

DENALI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA, SEPTEMBER 4-8, 2022

A cow and bull moose meander through the brush in Denali National Park.

DENALI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA, SEPTEMBER 4-8, 2022

PARTICIPANTS:

Wally Hufford

Elizabeth Hufford

Laura Hufford

LOGISTICS:

We drove from Nikiski to Eagle River, Alaska where we spent the night.  The next morning we went to Fred Meyer in Wasilla to stock up on groceries for the trip.  Then we drove to the Hunter Public Use Cabin at the K'esugi Ken Campground in Denali State Park.  Laura joined us there.  Around noon the next day we began our drive to Grizzly Bear Cabins which is not far from the entrance to Denali National Park.  That was our basecamp for the remainder of the trip.  We stayed there three nights.  Just as a delineation, we stayed at Denali State Park the first night and Denali National Park the remaining nights.  They are two separate entities and a good number of miles away from each other.

There was much to see at Denali National Park!

Day 1:  (9/4/22)

After a quick stop for supplies at the Fred Meyer Store in Wasilla we hit the open road for K'esugi Ken Campground in Denali State Park.  Mrs.  Huffy was in charge of selecting the music for the drive, so we listened to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, by Elton John as we careened down the highway.  We had reserved a public use cabin (the Hunter) and intended to stay there for the night.  Laura would be joining us later for this portion of the trip.  

Mrs. Huffy driving down the Parks Highway in tune with Elton John.

Upon arrival we stowed our gear in the cabin and checked out the area while waiting for Laura to arrive.  Once Laura got there we headed for the Upper Troublesome Creek Trailhead and took off down the trail.  It was great to be walking through the woods as they turned colors from summer green to fall yellow.  

The trail parallels Upper Troublesome Creek and eventually the two meet up where it is easy to access the water's edge.  We spent some time there experimenting with our iPhone cameras trying to blur the moving water in our images.  After walking a little further we turned around retracing our steps back to the car.  By the time we got back to the trailhead we had hiked a little over four miles.

Once back at the cabin the cribbage games ensued.  We didn't play enough games for an actual tournament, but everyone got in on the action.  I skunked Laura...if I remember correctly.

Exterior view of the Hunter Cabin in Denali State Park.

Interior view of the Hunter Cabin in Denali State Park.

Mrs. Huffy and Laura at the Upper Troublesome Creek trailhead sign.

Attempt to blur the water movement with the camera on my iPhone.

A spirited game of cribbage.

DAY 2:  (9/5/22)

We started the day with a relaxed morning enjoying the warmth of the wood stove as it kept the cabin warm as toast.  Breakfast was eaten slowly while we drank coffee and worked as a team to complete several crossword puzzles.  When the sun had burned off some of the clouds we went for a short hike around the campground hiking loops.  Then we loaded our gear in the cars, swept the cabin floor, and said our goodbyes as Laura had to return to Anchorage.

Laura sips coffee and works on a crossword puzzle in the Hunter cabin early in the morning.

Liz and I turned north toward Denali National Park.  We passed many Labor Day travelers and lots of caribou hunters along the way.  Arriving at Grizzly Bear Cabins we checked in and took an early afternoon drive out to Savage River.  The fall colors were mind blowing.  Everywhere you looked there was orange, yellow, red, and purple just as vibrant as could be.  

A spectacle of color in every direction!

Tundra, mountains, clouds, and sky.

Layers of color.

Colorful sweeping vistas.

We returned to the cabin for a dinner of cinnamon rolls and salad which was followed by another drive out to the Savage River for evening moose patrol.  It didn't take long to find what we were looking for.

Signage along the Denali Park Road.

Just off the edge of the road there were four cows and a very large bull moose.  The bull was following one of the cows in particular.  As the bull swaggered along it made all sorts of moose noises, curled its lips, and thrashed some trees with its antlers.  Of course,  the spectacle created a huge moose jam on the road as people with cell phones, fancy cameras, binoculars, and spotting scopes all positioned themselves for a good view of the evening's drama.  They soon got it because the cow and bull crossed the road right in front of everyone.  The cow looked up and down the road seemingly wondering what all the ruckus was about.  The bull was oblivious to all of it.  He was singularly focused on the cow.

Cow and bull moose.

Antlers and lip curling.

An evening moose jam along the Denali Park Road.

DAY 3: (9/6/22)

The next morning we hopped on the 10:00 AM bus bound for the East Fork.  The busses only go as far as the East Fork this year due to erosion at Pretty Rocks.  That's where a section of the road has disappeared down the hill making it impassable.  Construction crews are working on repairing the situation, but that will take several years.  

We hopped on a bus bound for the East Fork River.

Getting on the bus is always a delight because you hear different languages being spoken and lots of excitement for what is to come.  Everyone is is filled with the anticipation of seeing wild animals and the spectacular scenery that Denali National Park is famous for.  We saw all those things.  In spades.

Arriving at the East Fork we walked across the bridge and down some stairs to the riverbed.  As we hiked along we stopped every few steps to take in the magnificent panorama of mountains.  It was also easy to appreciate the weather as the sun warmed the air.  It was spectacular.  I could've stayed there all day.

Hiking along the East Fork in the sunshine.

Mrs. Huffy and the scenery along the East Fork.

But, we did have to go back.  So we caught a return bus to the entrance of the park.  We took our seats and quickly settled in for traveling in reverse the trip we had taken earlier in the day.  It was just as wonderful as we spotted a grizzly on the Teklanika River bed and a nice caribou strolling across the landscape near Primrose Ridge.

A grizzly bear on the Teklanika River bed.

A bull caribou cruising through the fall colors near Primrose Ridge.

In the evening we once again drove to the Savage River on another evening moose patrol.  In short order we found a lone bull at the edge of the road eating and minding his own business.  This, of course, attracted a large number of cars and people.  Soon a small crowd was standing on the edge of the pavement.  And, the moose seemed as interested in the people as the people were in it.  I think if that moose had an iPhone it would have taken a whole bunch of photos of the crowd.   It eventually crossed the road to the amazement of many and disappeared into the landscape.  The people and vehicles disappeared just as quickly.

A lone bull moose in the brush.

Looking toward the road and all the commotion of people and vehicles.

This was the second bull we saw cross the road.

DAY 4:  (9/7/22)

The weather was tolerable so we couldn't really think of a good reason to head home.  After checking with the office we found the Cheechako was available for another night and without thinking even twice we took it. 

Since it was still early in the day we decided to check out the Three Bears store in Healy.  After making the drive we ended up buying some trash bags and filling our tank at one of the Healy gas stations.

In the afternoon we took another drive out to the Mountain Vista area to walk down a gravel bed to the Savage River and back around to the parking area.  That really made us tired, so we returned to the Cheechako for a short nap.  Then it was out for dinner at The Prospector restaurant followed by the final evening drive to the Savage River on moose patrol.  We saw lots of scenery, but, alas, no moose.  Still, it was hard to complain because we had had such great moose encounters the previous two nights.  

The next morning we woke up and got on the road for the drive home in the rain.  Suddenly a period had been put on the end of summer.  All of the things we had planned had happened and the color of the foliage told us it was time to move on to the next season.  It's time for fall and the inherent chill in the air.  That will be well and good, but, I have a suspicion that at the end of next summer we'll be back on moose patrol in Denali National Park.

Mrs. Huffy on the porch of the Cheechako Cabin.  It was a great basecamp.

BRIDGER WILDERNESS AREA, WIND RIVER RANGE, WYOMING, BACKPACK TRIP 2022

 

The ruggedly beautiful Wind River Range in Wyoming.  
(photo credit:  Cari Martin)

BRIDGER WILDERNESS AREA, WIND RIVER RANGE, WYOMING, BACKPACK TRIP, AUGUST 18-20, 2022

PARTICIPANTS:

Wally Hufford

Cari Martin

LOGISTICS:

We flew into Billings, Montana where we rented a car and drove to the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Range of Wyoming.

BACKGROUND:

I grew up near the Wind River Range in Wyoming where I spent most of my free time hiking, fishing, and backpacking in the mountains.  I always look forward to my trips back to this area and decided it was time for a backpacking adventure in my old stomping grounds.  My cousin, Cari, is just as adventurous so we started making plans for a backpacking trip...and then COVID hit.  

So, after a several years delay we finally made it to the Big Sandy trailhead where we started hiking and were totally awestruck by the spectacular mountain vistas.  We spent three days amongst the mountains hiking fantastic trails and appreciating the Wyoming wilderness.  If ever you are able you should go there.

Welcome to wonderful Wyoming!
(photo credit:  Cari Martin)

DAY 1:  (6/18/22)

We had spent the previous night in Lander, Wyoming visiting relatives so our drive to the trailhead began from there.  We stocked up on some last minute provisions, got some coffee and began the drive.  After turning off the highway there is approximately 37 miles of dirt road which slowly deteriorates toward the end.  When we got there we found an extremely crowded parking lot.  Fortunately someone had just pulled out of a parking space near the trailhead sign so we pulled the rental car into it and started prepping for the hike.

Once on the trail we passed many other hikers which was not surprising since there were so many cars in the parking lot.  We saw every type of hiker you could imagine.  There were trail runners, family groups, solo hikers, young hikers, old hikers, ultralight backpackers, extra heavy backpackers, horse packers, and many doggos.  Everyone was friendly, courteous, and happy.  We even enjoyed several pleasant trailside chats as we made our way up the trail.  One guy we spoke with was 70-years-old and had been hiking in the area for many years.  He told us the best campsites could be found at Dad's Lake, so that became our first night's destination.

Upon our arrival we set up camp and I began to notice I wasn't feeling quite right.  As the evening progressed it became worse and I wasn't able to eat much of my freeze dried meal.  My condition worsened over the evening and I felt terrible when it was time to go to sleep.

The next morning I felt better but knew I shouldn't push things.  We packed up and headed for Marm's Lake which would only be a two mile hike.

Finally on the trail in the Wind River Range.

A portion of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) passes through this area.

Cari on the trail in the Wind River Range.

Cari prepares her dinner in camp at Dad's Lake.

My one-person tent has been on many adventures.  Now it's been to  the Wind River Range in Wyoming!

Cari negotiates a stream crossing.

DAY 2:  (6/19/22)

Arriving at Marm's Lake we found a beautiful campsite and plans for the remainder the day were made.  I would stay at camp with the gear and try to recuperate from my ailments.  Cari would take a small pack and dayhike toward Texas Pass in hopes of getting a view of the Cirque of the Towers.  Cari is an experienced mountain runner and we knew she wouldn't be alone as there were plentiful backpackers on the trail.  She departed around 11:30 AM just as clouds began to roll in along with thunder and occasional light rain.  In camp I enjoyed the scenery and watched the multitude of backpackers pass by and sometimes engaged in conversations with them.  

Around 4:30 PM Cari returned after hiking for nearly 13.5 miles RT.  She told a wonderful story of hiking to an "otherworldly" place which was mostly rocks and heavy weather including rain, wind, hail, thunder, and lightening.  She said the weather was formidable and threatening when she decided to turn back after getting a view of Texas Pass.

As we ate dinner I listened to her stories and wished I had been there.  Her descriptions of the trail gave me plenty of good reasons to return.  Then out of nowhere a Bald Eagle soared over our campsite which we both considered to be a good omen.

And it was, because I felt much better the next day.

Fireweed growing out of a crack in a rock near Marm's Lake.

Heavy condensation required that gear be dried in the sun each morning.

This group of cowboys/girls and their horses passed us as we hiked along the trail.

Cari appreciates the view while hiking in the Wind River Range.

Sunrise reflections in the Wind River Range.
(photo credit:  Cari Martin)

DAY 3:  (6/20/22)

The weather had improved overnight and the morning brought clear skies and warm sunshine.  That was good because my tent fly and other gear was heavy with condensation and needed to be dried before it could be packed up.  After breakfast we loaded our backpacks and turned back toward the trailhead at Big Sandy which was eight miles away.  

Once again we passed many different types of trail users along the way.  Some of them even had stereo speakers going so we could 'enjoy' their podcasts/music (I don't like to complain or get sarcastic in these posts, but using loud speakers in a wilderness area is thoughtless and intrusive.  Please, at least, use an earbud.  You'll receive fewer sideways glances from me and others on the trail...end of rant)

At any rate, the hike back to the car was a breeze and I enjoyed the walk out immensely.  Since we were taking airplanes back to our respective homes and couldn't bring our fuel canisters with us, we offered them to the first person that walked past us in the parking lot.  She was an outdoorsy attorney from Bozeman, Montana and said she could definitely put the fuel to good use.

Then it was a long drive back to pavement and on to Lander, Wyoming, then ultimately Billings, Montana.  

Already I can't wait to go back.

Adventure cousins in the Wind River Range, Wyoming.
(photo credit:  Cari Martin)

SHUYAK ISLAND PACKRAFT TRIP 2022

Paddling packafts in from Eagle Cape on the Big Bay Neketa Bay Loop.  Shelikof Strait is in the background.  (photo credit Trevor Davis)

SHUYAK ISLAND, KODIAK ARCHIPELAGO, ALASKA, JUNE 21-28, 2022

THE CREW:

Doug Armstrong

Jim Bennett

Kristin Davis

Trevor Davis

Steve Ford

Wally Hufford

Julie Stephens

LOGISTICS:

We flew to and from Shuyak Island via Northwind Aviation's floatplane based in Homer, Alaska.

ABOUT SHUYAK ISLAND:

Shuyak Island is an island in the northern part of the Kodiak Archipelago located just north of Afognak Island.  It covers an area of 65 square miles and has only one tree species-the Sitka Spruce.  Shuyak was designated a state park after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.  It has miles of rugged coastline, beaches, and protected waterways.  "The Shuyak experience is one of wilderness."

Source:  Wikipedia

DAY 1: (6/21/22)

At 9:30 AM we departed Homer, Alaska on Northwind Aviation's floatplane bound for Shuyak Island.  The weather was exquisite and would remain so for the duration of our trip.  The flight was fantastic as we watched the mountains of the southern Kenai Peninsula pass under the plane.  Open water was next and shortly thereafter we flew over the Barren Islands.  Just minutes later we caught our first glimpse of Shuyak.  We landed at Deer Haven Cabin and unloaded gear onto the beach then moved into the cabin.

After lunch we inflated our packrafts and paddled around Carry Inlet.  Along the way we saw Black Oyster Catchers and curious sea otters.  Later in the evening we held a slingshot competition.

Northwind Aviation's Otter.  Our transportation from Homer to Shuyak Island.  

Gear and people (that's Trevor in the photo) loaded and bound for Shuyak.

Jim Bennett takes aim during the evening slingshot competition.

DAY 2:  (6/22/22)

Most of the group spent the day exploring the trails around Deer Haven Cabin.  We walked a good portion of Skiff Passage and took several side trips with "Side Trip Steve."  Along the way Jim lost his 'Adventure Croc' in the mud while crossing a plank.  After several minutes of searching in the muck up to his elbows he found it!  Trevor and Kristin took off on a beach camping adventure while the rest of us returned to the cabin.  

Later in the afternoon we decided to pack up our gear and head for a beach at Big Bay where we would spend the night in tents.  Julie sprained her ankle as we were making the move and spent a good portion of time soaking it in cold water in efforts of making the swelling go down.

One of the cabins we used during our trip.  They were all essentially the same size, design, etc.

Doug Armstrong and Julie Stephens plan the day while looking at maps on Doug's iPhone.

Jim displays his 'Adventure Croc' after it had disappeared in the muck and mire.

DAY 3:  (6/23/22)

After breakfast we packed our gear and left Skiff Passage bound for the Eagle's Nest Cabin.  As we paddled along we saw a hole in a rock so we stopped for photos.  We arrived at Eagle's Nest cabin just as a group of State Park Interns were anchoring their boat and heading into the woods to place new signage along one of the established trails.  Shortly thereafter Trevor and Kristin arrived and the group was together again.  

Later that afternoon we took a hike to 503, which is evidently the tallest location on the island.  Some of us turned around before the steep climb, but Trevor, Kristin, and Doug made it to the top and said the views were spectacular.

Our beach camp at Skiff Passage near Big Bay.

Packrafters paddling past a hole in a rock.

DAY 4:  (6/24/22)

We were all looking forward to this day because we planned to paddle the Big Bay Neketa Bay Loop in our packrafts.  It was exciting because we would be traveling along the outer coast of the island into the open water of Shelikof Strait.  The weather was perfect for it as the skies were clear and the winds calm.  So we set off from Eagle's Nest Cabin looking forward to an invigorating paddle.  It took about an hour to get to the open water and we found it glorious!  There was a slight ocean swell, kelp beds all around, and sea life everywhere.  Sea otters, seals, sea lions, and birds of all sorts were in great abundance.  

As we rounded Eagle Cape we ran into Julie coming from the opposite direction and a few minutes later we looked up to see Trevor and Kristin atop the bluffs taking photos.  They had hiked out on the Eagle Cape Trail from the Ranger Station and timed it perfectly to see us from above.  We paddled to a small cove where we all met up for lunch and conversation.

Packrafters in the ocean and hikers on the bluff at Eagle Cape.  (photo credit Doug Armstrong).

The view from a packraft looking out toward Shelikof Strait.  (photo credit Doug Armstrong).

Stephen Ford packrafts the Big Bay Neketa Bay Loop.

Lunch break during the Big Bay Neketa Bay Loop packraft paddle.

DAY 5:  (6/25/22)

Different objectives led the group in three different directions on this day.  Wally and Jim hiked the Eagle Cape Trail while Doug, Julie, and Steve paddled packrafts around the Big Bay Western Inlet Loop.  Trevor and Kristin departed for some paddling around the area and another night of tent camping on the beach.  

The trail to Eagle Cape was awesome and followed the edge of land along a bluff above the water.  During the hike we could hear loud noises like an explosion every once in a while.  As we neared Eagle Cape we saw a whale in the distance slapping the water with its tail and we knew where the sounds came from.  The destination was an overlook at Eagle Cape which provided splendid views of Shelikof Strait, Afognak Island, and part of Kodiak Island.  In the water we could see seals, sea otters, and all types of bird life.  It was a unique perspective to see everything we had seen the day before, only this time it was from land.

These markers helped identify established trails.  Animal trails crisscrossed all over the place and it was easy to  inadvertently start following one of them.  These markers helped keep us on the right track.

DAY 6:  (6/26/22)

For a change of scenery Wally and Jim moved to the Salmon Cove Cabin while Doug, Julie, and Steve remained at Eagle's Nest and spent the day hiking the Eagle Cape Trail.  Trevor and Kristin were still out camping, so we all kept in contact with each others whereabouts by using our inReach devices.  

The hikers had a wonderful afternoon and stayed at Eagle Cape for three hours enjoying the scenery and watching the wildlife.  On their way back they saw a sow and cub brown bear near the Big Bay Ranger Station.  The bears were evidently a common sight around the station and the rangers had seen them often.  Trevor and Kristin arrived at the Salmon Cove Cabin later in the afternoon and spent the remainder of the evening there.

Trevor and Kristin making a breakfast cake on a camp stove.

Big Bay Ranger Station.  There is a small Visitor Center in the front of the structure which has some good information about Shuyak Island.

Sow and cub brown bear.  They had been hanging out near the Big Bay Ranger Station.  (photo credit Julie Stephens).

DAY 7:  (6/27/22)

The group from the Eagle's Nest Cabin, Wally and Jim reunited on the water between the Salmon Cove and Eagle's Nest cabins and began the paddle back to Skiff Passage where we would portage our gear back to Deer Haven Cabin.  Trevor and Kristin portaged their gear from Salmon Cove Cabin to Deer Haven Cabin via the Deer Haven Trail.  

The paddlers took it nice and easy because the tide had to fill the cove with water before we could enter with packrafts.  Once the paddle and portage(s) were complete we spent the remainder of the afternoon drying and packing gear for the floatplane trip back to Homer.  

Later in the evening Trevor received a message on his inReach from Northwind Aviation saying they would be there at 8:00 AM the next morning to pick us up.

DAY 8:  (6/28/22)

Everyone got up bright and early this morning so we could be ready for our pickup.  Right on schedule the floatplane taxied up to the shore and we began loading our gear.  Then, as we were going across the lake Trevor said, "There's a bear on the shore."  We looked over and sure enough there was a bear.  Once aloft Jim and I saw a deer running down the beach.  It was a great send off.  An hour later we were in Homer.

Loading the Otter for departure from Shuyak Island.

Shuyak Island under the wing of our departing floatplane.

The official map we used to plan and follow our packraft routes and hiking trails.