Alaska

The Great Adventure

Dog Mushing
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The Last Frontier of the USA

The Places my Adventure Began

  • A landscape showing a field of pink flowers in the foreground, with a layer of mist above it. In the background, there are mountain ranges with snowy peaks under a partly cloudy sky.

    Gustavus

    Gateway to the Glaciers. A community in Bush Alaska of less than 200 residents. Several Lodges, trips to the glaciers, and great fishing

    Visitor Association
  • A scenic landscape of a field with colorful flowers, green trees, and snow-capped mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

    Juneau

    Alaska’s Capital. A thriving tourist destination. A great place to live with breathtaking views

    Travel Juneau
  • Scenic view of Mount Fuji with a river and greenery in the foreground during sunset.

    Sitka

    A smalish town on Baranof Island. A long time commercial fishing town. A short trip to the some Hot Springs and the lovely town of Warm Springs Bay & Lodge for the fishing adventure of a lifetime

    Visit Sitka

Gustavus

The round house. In Gustavus. I helped Charlie work on this house and then got to live in it, No need for curtains. no close neighbors. Unless you count the Eagles that nested in the tree every year. It was such a wonderful time watching the youngsters take their first flights. Or count the Moose or Bears.

Bears know that big white box on the porch has frozen food in it so it was always a challenge to disguise it.

Moose cows are not very friendly so many times I had to wait for her and calves to move on before attempting to go to the house.

Sitka, & Commercial Fishing

My space on the troller Warlock to paint while we travel and catch salmon off the shore of Sitka

Harbor seal coat I made to keep warm

Pointing at the Eagles behind me that like to hang out on the boat. It never gets old to start the day to Eagles singing

Winters are usually spent tied up to the docks and hanging out with other fishermen listening to stories

1st boat in commercial fishing was a gillnetter, the Maverick

Trollers gather in the view of Mt. Edgcomb Valcano

Trollers gather and travel in a line each hoping to catch a bite on the line

The day starts at sunrise and ends at sunset. all while traveling up and down the line at about 2 nots an hour with engines constantly running in the background

So you want to be a fisherman, well hope you like cleaning fish.

When night comes everyone seeks shelter for the night or heads back to harbor. A rocky island in front of the volcano serves up shelter., but if the waves are rough it’s a long night of waves slapping against the hull.

Ice the fish and head to harbor to sell

The dreaded on the grid days, but it has to be done. To replace zinks, or the electracies of the salt water will eat away the propellor. Clean and repaint the hull bottom as well. Its a muddy scramble to get it all done in between tides.

Sunny days are sometimes just a chance to lay around and catch the rays in between long days of fishing

Best of all traveling around S.E. Alaska on the waters and just enjoy the views

The Iconic pump house, it’s a view everyone see’s when coming up the channel to Juneau. A reminder of days long past and gold mining on Douglas Island

Juneau, & Boat Life

My first boat, A Munk design from the 40’s. All wood and was sunken when I took on the project.

It was a massive amount of work while living on it to turn it into a home. I especially loved the cedar walls and ceilings.

Telling stories takes time so while I work to add to them for now that’s all. come back again to continue the stories