Tag Archives: Lake Clark

Iliamna Barge Excursion

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One cold rainy Sunday afternoon this fall, I got a call after church from Ryan asking if I wanted go on an adventure. There was a seat open in the Stinson to fly down and help move a hanger door onto the barge in Iliamna. A what? A hanger door…  At first I said no, knowing it would be a long cold afternoon, and I was quite enjoying my book in front of the wood stove.

But, I don’t often get the chance to tag along on crazy excursions like this, and transporting large items from Iliamna to Port Alsworth on the barge is a true bush Alaska experience.  I decided to pack some hand warmers and join them.

We flew 20 miles to the end of Lake Clark to Nondalton, the village closes to us.  We landed there, pulled out our gear, and got a boat ride down another small lake and into a river that leads to the barge landing close to Iliamna. And by barge landing… see the picture below.

We arrived to see the 60 foot steel framed door on top of the semi-truck and no crane operator in sight. No we couldn’t just get on our cell phone, or hop in the truck to find them… we were on Alaska time, so we had to wait for the operator to show…hoping he really did know we were coming “some time that afternoon.”  After about an hour, he arrived. I decided to stay clear and let the men work… I was merely there for sight seeing.

I found a good spot up on a hill and picked a few low bush cranberries while I watched the long process of securing the door frame to the crain and hoisting it up and around.  They had to set it down, readjust and swing it carefully around again to the barge.  It being so late in the fall, the water is low, adding another challenge of having the barge further out in the water.

It was quite impressive to see this massive structure swinging around on a crane in “the middle of nowhere.” Let’s just say, building the largest airplane hanger in Port Alsworth is not just an average or simple project.

Barging something to Port Alsworth is an 8 step process. Much like a facial.

1.  Purchase product and have it transported to Homer landing and load onto a barge

2. Barge traverses 100 miles from Homer to Wiliamsport landing

3. Remove product from barge and transport down a 6 mile road to Lake Iliamna

4. Transfer on another barge in Lake Iliamna transport to the town of Iliamna

5. Remove product from barge and transport down a 10 mile road to the Iliamna barge landing

6. Remove product from truck and place on Port Alsworth barge

7. Barge 30 miles up a river, to 6-Mile Lake to Lake Clark and home to Port Alsworth

8. Unload barge and transport your product to your home. Finally.

Rise and repeat.

Even though it was a long cold afternoon, I was a very unique experience.  It makes me appreciate all of the comforts we have in Port Alsworth, thanks to this barge.

On our way back, we buzzed low along the shores of Lake Clark skimming for brown bears. For as long as I’d lived in Lake Clark, I had yet to see a bear closer than a small dot from an airplane.  We came up on 3 or 4 big ones hanging on the shores, feeding on dead salmon. It was also beautiful to fly over the area and take in the beauty of the fall colors that only stay a few short weeks.

If you can’t make it fun… make it memorable!

Port Alsworth Weather

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I’ve lived in Port Alsworth for more than a year now and worked at Lake and Pen Air, where “we” (and by we I mean the pilots) check weather for flying almost daily.  But where does this weather report come from?  Oh…this cute little white box! Faithfully, Glen and Patty Alsworth have recorded and reported the weather for national sites EVERY 11 HOURS. Appreciate that dedication for a moment.  Recently Patty said it’s declined to only 5 times a day, but still!

Living in a place that is dramatically impacted by the weather daily, I take for granted that someone has to check and report the weather for the safety of the pilots and passengers coming to and from the Lake Clark area.  Thank you Glen and Patty!

 

 

 

 

Lake Clark Sunsets

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One of my most memorable Lake Clark sunsets was after I climbed Tanalian Mountain with a group of friends last fall.  We came off the mountain seeing the bright orange sun dropping quickly.  We piled on the four-wheeler and jetted back to the shores of Lake Clark to capture this vibrant painting of fluorescent color.  The date was October 4, 2010.

Today, October 4, 2011, I was looking at Tanalian Mountain reminiscing about the shenanigans from last year’s hike amongst the freshly fallen snow.  There hasn’t been any snow in Port Alsworth yet, but we wake to frosty mornings, and the peaks are sprinkled with a fresh dusting of white.

Tonight, I saw the glow of the sun on the mountains, so I dashed out to door, kayak paddle across my bike handle bars, wearing my PFD and peddled frantically down the runway to my little red kayak.  Out of the bay I paddled fiercely to round the corner just in time to soak up the closing of another October day.

I wonder what October 4, 2012 will bring… hopefully another beautiful sunset!

 

 

Escape to Little Lake Clark

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Lake Clark Pass empties glacier water out of craggy peaks by force creating dozens of glorious waterfalls.  Fortressed by 10,000 foot peaks, Little Lake Clark is an impressive area and easily my favorite place nearby Port Alsworth.

With a boat loaded with gear and a pirate flag, we forged out late Friday night for our destination.  The weather left something to be desired, but we weren’t complaining because the lake was a flat calm lake making it easy sailing. And the misty clouds made the adventure a little more exciting.

The trip by boat is about 45 minutes, which we passed by swapping pirate jokes and snacking on fresh smoked salmon. We arrived at our destination and dressed in full rain gear, bush-whacked through the wet foliage beside a roaring turquoise stream to the cave falls.

Part of my favorite thing about these type of mountain streams is hopping from rock to rock and clamoring through the icy cold water.  BUT this wasn’t the best day for this type of hiking as it was cold outside and the rocks were slippery from rain.  Thankfully, Micah is always prepared and had some sweet portable waders we used to cross the stream several times.

Note the pirate flag made it up the hike with us.  Arrrrr. With the deafening roar of the falls surrounding us, we scrambled up the shale rock into the cave, careful not to slice an ankle (I still boast a scar from last year’s trip) and perched on the rocks above marveling at the size of the cave. The view is incredible from inside.

After scampering down and making it back to the boat, we quick caught some fish…I mean Micah and Taylor caught a Lake Trout and a Dolly Vardon to accompany our hobo dinners.  It was a late 10:30 pm dinner and the sun was setting, making it feel that summer was coming to a quick close.

The next morning was much brighter and the clouds blew through the mountain peaks, giving us a glimpse at their majesty. We packed up camp and struck out to explore some waterfalls.  My favorite.

Micah led us to the perfect waterfall and we whacked our way through the Alders and brush, scampered up the rocks and stood with neck craned upward at the massive cascading water rushing over the edge.  Micah and I were determined to find some good climbing and rappelling.  Well maybe Micah was and I eagerly tagged along.  Up one side of the waterfall we went until we found ourselves clinging to tree branches, feet grasping to a few clefts in the rock and decided we were cliffed out.  Unable to pursue that route, we went down to the base of the falls again and headed up the other side.  Easier going, this route took us beside the falls, with about 100 feet of open rock below to rappel down. Score.

Micah proceeded to secure the rope and Ryan contemplated his first rappel.  I provided moral support. I was ready to go! Micah tested it out first, heading down and then climbed back up the rock face.

After Ryan bravely made his way safely down, I swung around and rappelled my way down the face, taking time to soak up the reality of it all.  The feel of the taut rope in my hand, my feet bouncing me off the rock face, the spray from the water fall… It was a good adrenaline rush!   I was ready to climb up and do it again.  I am so grateful Micah was able to make it work during his time in Alaska this summer.  One of my highlights!

After conquering the granite giant, we found a little stream with grayling and had a snack as we each caught a fish.  It was fun to fly fish again and catch a big one! I did my celebratory “I caught a fish!” dance. Woo!

Taylor caught the most unique Grayling with a rich, dark color accented by turquoise. So beautiful.

Sherry didn’t make it last year on our Little Lake Clark adventure so it was perfect she could be there for the weekend. It was the anniversary of our epic summer 2010 camping and kayak adventure on Kontrash…that ended very… well creatively.  We celebrated in our “uneventful” trip and reminisced about our first big Alaskan adventure.

 

Lake Clark Magic Hour

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Lake Clark provides endless entertainment no matter the season.  Winter is quickly becoming a favorite time, especially with the lake frozen over with about two feet of ice.  Skating was a daily event during magic hour when the sun peaks out behind the last mountain, then sets.  Every hour a new splash of beauty covers the lake and mountains as the sun sets.

Michelle surrounded by her boys – Callen, Jack and Taylor and our neighbors Esther and Abby.


We are about a mile out on the lake in this shot, just skating on the glass ice.  The expanse of the lake and how small you feel is hard to capture in these pictures…but glorious all the same.  Taylor was practicing his figure skating moves…and would probably hate that I just put that on this blog.  The boys, Jeremy and I skated all the way across the lake (5 miles round trip) to Dice Bay and back.  Every time we seem to be out on the ice, we get buzzed by an airplane or two… from a huge cargo jet to a super cub.  Awesome every time!


Noah joined me on the ice one night, to capture the sun setting at the south end of the lake and the hot pink alpine glow on the north end.



Last Sunday, we had a big group of friends over to skate…hours of messing around on the lake!  It might have been -5 degrees, but we kept warm skating around.  I’m so glad we skated so much, as it has snowed since then, making the skating more difficult to impossible.

Enjoy this slideshow of a bunch of pictures of our ice skating fun!

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And a video of the view!