Time for a hike and we listened to some fellow travelers and hikers who told us that there were good hikes in a town called Cooper Landing and that we could see lots of salmon jumping up the river to their spawning grounds in a lake. Our kind of activity.
The parking lot was almost full - just space enough for our car. We got our packs, bear spray, slathered mosquito spray on exposed skin, filled our water bottles and headed up the hill. Nice hike, though thick lush woods. Last year Alaska was dry and there were several devastating fires. This year it is much wetter, the fire danger is low - but there are mosquitos. Galore. Big Ones. But we saw this memorial to a firefighter, Mark Westover, who had died in this area in 1969 when a firefighting helicopter crashed. The other 7 in the helicopter lived.
There were lots of people on this same hike, all enjoying it. When we got to the viewing platform, there was a nature hike group. They had chips, dip, cookies, carrots and celery with spreads arrayed on the bench in front of the platform. Umm. How can I join?
We saw a few fish jumping but very few. Every time we saw one, the crowd oohed and aahed. Most of the fish were in a pool below the falls. Actually, the Fish And Game Department built a weir for them to climb when the spring melt was exceptionally high or when it had rained quite a bit and the falls was higher.
We watched for a while then headed back down the trail to another trail along the river. We wanted to see the ‘sport’ fishermen or women spread out along what is called a ‘fish walk.’ There are lots of these fish walks along the Kenai River where the salmon run upstream to spawn. They are probably expensive but the were built to protect the river banks, to enable fisher people to fish safely and to bring in the tourist dollars. All equally important goals. But, what a benefit to all. All the the fish walks have steps at intervals to get down to the river bed and fish from the water.
Not as many people fishing as we had thought there would be but the salmon are swimming through Soldotna, about 45 miles down stream. It’s still too early for many up this way yet but some were being caught.
Not by these three. If anyone is at home waiting for fish for dinner - they will wait for a long time.
With fish come eagles and we’e seen lots on this hike. Almost too many to keep photographing. Are we getting blase’? Ah no, I still photo them all. Still marvelous shots - though I still seem to get butt shots.
This one is in the top of a tall tree, checking out the river below.
On our way back to our car, we walked along this wheelchair accessible way to get down to the fish walk that we were on. The towns around here all make fish walks for people who want to fish. Protects the cliffs and those who fish but also brings in more people to fish. Lots of tourists.
Fun hike.
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