Leaving Sitka: May 31, 2013

Well, my time here in Sitka is coming to an end today. I fly down south to Craig, AK on Prince of Whales Island for the next month before I leave for Petersburg. This last week has consisted of the rest of my training and of course some more fishing. Boat safety, bear safety, and rifle safety and qualification are just a few of the things i've spent the last week doing. The coolest thing by far was the rifle qualifying. For that we were required to shoot .375cal. Holland&Holland bolt action rifles at 3 different targets of bears at three different distances. There was a limit of ten seconds to get the rifle from slung over your shoulder to firing 3 accurate shots, and hitting a specific area on the target. Very fun gun to shoot. I've got a picture of one of the bullets below.

After I fly down to Craig today I will be moving all of my gear into the bunkhouse i'll be living in there and tomorrow I head out into the woods for 12 days to work on a fish-pass on Sunny Creek. I'll be doing rebar and concrete work as well as drilling rock with a Pionjar rock drill (essentially a jackhammer that rotates). The weather looks great for up here, mid 50s with a mix of showers and sun. I'm really looking forward to getting some work done and just getting out into the woods, and sleeping out of a tent.
Its a little bittersweet to be leaving Sitka. It really is a great town that I wish I could've spent some more time in. I'll definitely miss my bunkmates and the people I've been living and working with over the last couple weeks, but I am really excited to be experiencing different parts of southeast Alaska. Many more pictures to come next time.

Picture above is of 9 bald eagles in one tree from last night. Quite a sight for my last night in Sitka.

Sitka: May 27, 2013

The past week has been filled with training 8:00-5:00, fishing in the evenings and just trying to enjoy the seemingly endless sunshine up here. The beautiful weather has made the days of training inside a bit difficult to bear but when its light out for about 20 hours a day there is plenty of time to spend outside. Fishing down on the docks has started picking up a bit with many people coming into Sitka this week for the king salmon fishing derby. I’ve been lucky enough to hook into some larger dolly varden, small cod, more rockfish, greenling and small coho salmon on the fly rod. The past few mornings have been extremely low tides revealing vast stretches of the ocean floor and all of its inhabitants. Lots of sea stars and anemones could be seen all over the rocks. It’s pretty cool to see the tide rise and fall 16 feet twice in a day. Halibut tacos last night for dinner with most of the Forest Service employees were great. Other than that, things have been pretty quiet and relaxing here and I’m just trying to enjoy every day while I can. The bald eagle sightings never get old here in Sitka, only 5 more weeks here then I’m off to Petersburg. I'd add more photos but the internet connection here at McDonalds is sub-par to i'll have to find a better connection for next time.

 Nice view of Mount Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano, across the the bay.

 Sunsets in Sitka like this have become standard...

 A view to the south of Sitka at the mountains.

 One of the many small coho salmon i've been hooking into.

 Some nice sea-run dolly varden for dinner with a few of the baby cohos that were hooked deep.

 A purple sunstar moving down the beach after being stranded at low tide.

 One of the many different colored sea stars around on the rocks at low tide.

Showing off a bit of a chaco sandal tan line.

Bald eagle at the tide line searching for food.

Sitka: May 22, 2013

Well after being up here for a few days, the shock of the absolute raw and wild beauty of this place is settling in. Sleeping in until 6:30 however is going to take some more time. After getting off the plane in Sitka, I was greeted by a frozen rain storm as well as a night of snow. The following days however have been fantastic. According to the locals, the past few days have been the nicest of the entire year to date. As I'm writing this I am in a McDonalds, tapping into the free WiFi, I can stare out the window over the water and watch bald eagles fight the local ravens over a fish. Not many places where you get a view like that out of the back of the McDonalds.

Unfortunately, over the past few days I have not been able to enjoy the outdoors as much as I'd like. I, along with many of the other interns have been doing all types of training from underwater plane crash exit training to beach/coast survival training where we are stuck inside for most of the time. I was lucky enough to go on a 9 mile hike with some forest service employees and other interns over the past weekend, and I have been able to do a bit of fly fishing after work but in a place like this, it could never be enough. On the hike, the old growth hemlock forests are none other than mystical. EVERYTHING is green and covered in moss, and the water in the ocean and all the rivers is crystal clear. On the hike we saw some brown bear tracks, walked by a muskeg (Alaskan bog) with great views of the mountains, and ended up at a nice waterfall where I took a few underwater photos of the little dollies swimming in the current. I have caught a few smaller dolly varden char, along with some assorted species of rockfish on the fly in my time after work, but the larger halibut, king salmon, and trout will come hopefully this weekend (weather permitting) when I have more time. Thanks to everyone for checking out the blog, much more to come soon.

 This is a view up the mountain behind the bunkhouse the morning after the snow dusting/ice storm.

 Looking out on the water from the bunkhouse where I live over Sitka Harbor at mount Edgecomb, a dormant volcano, which is shrouded in clouds here.

 View out McDonalds window with Mount Edgecomb to the right and boats in the docks.

 Underwater view of the small dolly varden below the waterfall on the hike.

 Baby rockfish caught on the fly

 Small sea-run dolly varden caught on the fly.

 Dolly varden caught in fresh water, notice the color difference and how they change in fresh and salt water.

 View of the muskeg while on the hike with mountains int he background.

 A "small" front paw print from a local brown bear with a penny for reference.

 Some greenery on fallen logs over a the local Indian River.

The group of us forest service interns at the waterfall at Indian River.

The Beginning

For this summer, I took a position as a Fisheries Technician out of Sitka, Alaska. A year ago, the last thing I thought I'd be doing this summer would be going to Alaska, pursuing an internship directly related to my major. It has always been a dream of mine to travel to Alaska, one of the last stretches of pristine untouched wilderness. Land of grizzly bears, wolves, deer and or course, some of the most amazing fishing on the planet. My internship position title is a Fisheries Technician and I will be working alongside U.S. Forest service employees. My position description as described by the Student Conservation Association is as follows:

"Interns will serve in remote locations in southeastern Alaska as members of teams responsible for:  maintenance work at an existing anadromous fishpass site on Prince of Wales Island, fish passage remediation work on Chichagof Island, and fish population monitoring in various watersheds across the Tongass National Forest to evaluate the effects of forest management.  Work will be physically taxing and often under adverse weather conditions.  Transportation to/from base camps will be by floatplane, helicopter, and/or boat.  A week-long initial training period will include aircraft and helicopter, bear encounter safety, cold water survival and CPR and First Aid certification.  Hands-on training in construction and explosives techniques provided.  Waders, backpack, and sleeping bags provided. Require: good physical condition and health; ability to lift and carry up to 90-lb pack over slippery surfaces; alert mind; interest in habitat improvement; experience and/or education in fish identification and fish population monitoring; backcountry camping experience. Desire: knowledge of basic construction techniques; experience with hand tools; Crews MUST qualify with, carry, and be willing to use high-power rifle (no personal weapons permitted).  Must pass a drug test."

There is no doubt that when I read that description I was a bit intimidated, but at the same time I could never pas up this opportunity. I look forward to this summer and all of the challenges, surprises and new experiences that it will bring. I am still in disbelief at the fact that I am actually going to be living in Alaska for an entire summer doing exactly what I've always wanted to do. I plan on taking many photos, fly fishing as much as i can in my free time, and also trying to keep this blog up to date with everything I'm doing up here. On a last quick note: Mom, Dad, Cassie and Corey, thank you guys for the support and encouragement, even though there will be weeks when I won't be able to contact you guys, know that you'll be in my thoughts.