Day 108: Bears, Berries and Fair in Haines

July 31, 2014

Today was another beautiful day in Haines, Alaska!! It was 51 degrees when we got up, but then quickly warmed up to t-shirt weather. We are really enjoying this weather and this area.

We got up at 5:30 this morning so we could go out to Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Site to see if we could see the bears. The salmon come in from the Pacific Ocean through the Lutek Inlet to the Chilkoot River. The river is only about a mile or so long and flows out of Chikoot Lake where the salmon spawn. At least that is our understanding from the signs we read. There is a fish weir (fence) across the river with 2 openings for the fish to go through and they count the salmon and at some point each day catch a certain number in a net and tell their age by their scales then release them. This is all part of how they manage the salmon fishing to maintain an adequate supply of fish.

Fish Weir

Counting Fish

Anyway, where there are salmon there are frequently bears and the literature says you can frequently see the bears in the river here. Best viewing early morning and evening. Well, this morning we saw eagles at the bear viewing location, but no bears.

It was very pretty though. When we arrived there was a fairly heavy fog that cleared as the sun came over the mountain. Just beautiful. We hung out watching for bears for a while then headed back to Fred for breakfast.

Haines from across the water

We cooked breakfast outside again – pancakes. Great way to start the day! After feeling adequately nourished, we headed out of Haines about 20 miles to go hike the nature trail at the Eagle Preserve (and see the eagles.) Well, as luck would have it since we saw eagles at the bear viewing location, we saw a sow and 2 cubs on the way to the eagle viewing location. We just rounded a curve and there they were on the side of the road, about to walk in front of us. (Really didn't have to get up that early.) We, of course, stopped and the traffic from the opposite direction also stopped and we watched them cross the road, climb over the guard rail and go to the shore of the river. The water is really up and running fast due to all the rain and don't know if that was the problem or what because the sow only stayed on the river bank a minute then came back across the guard rail and back across the road. It's so much fun the see the bears - especially the cubs! By the way, for those that wonder – yes, we were very careful. They never got close enough to the truck to make us nervous.

She seemed to be trying to find a way to the fish wheel

Notice the color difference in the cubs

The light colored cub was always lagging behind and looks like it has lost track of its mama.

So, after that excitement we went on to the Preserve and hiked the 3 mile tail. Very nice, relaxing walk beside a different river. Scout got to go on this one and do a little swimming so he was happy too. We had been wanting to pick some raspberries and found some along the road near the trail. They were not as sweet as they looked.

The Southeast Alaska State Fair opened today in Haines and that's where we went this afternoon. We are told that the area may be crowded this weekend. After being there we can't really see that there would be a big draw. It is a good deal smaller that the Blount County Fair, but with some of the same types of displays. There were quilts, jellies, pictures, produce, etc for judging. There was only three rides – a carousel, a ferris wheel, and a train and a bounce house There were food vendors – although the foods are a little different than in Alabama we did see some of the same things like cotton candy – no funnel cakes or Oh So Good Barbeque. Some things were very different - like the Cooperative Extension Service handing out educational material on how to can moose and caribou. The entertainment for the weekend is suppose to be some big name bands, but we have no idea who they are talking about. Another bit of the culture of Alaska. We had hoped to go to the big Alaska State Fair in Palmer, but it isn't until late August and we will be well on our way home by then so this one will have to fill that spot.

Kids in hula hoops seem to be at all fairs in Alaska

We enjoyed a visit with a forecaster from the NWS office in Juneau.

We don't remember seeing a sushi booth at the Blount County Fair

The champion cabbage was not as big as we expected.

Of course, this was our favorite quilt.

Anyway – it was a fun and interesting day in a beautiful location. We are hoping for more of the same tomorrow.