Welcome to May everyone…or using our standard measurement for time .. a mere 5 months before the annual Haunted Trail event. Time is closing in on us in the haunt department. Fortunately, after this weekend’s agility dog show in Wisconsin we will be home for a good period of time that I can devote to all things that go bump in the night. In the midst of that, I also need to hit the ankle rehab hard(er) if I’m going to be ready to race a couple of weeks after that event. Going to be a busy summer. Having subjected you to a rather drab member of the birding world in my last post, I was searching for something to spice it up a bit. Took a scan through Brad’s queue and he had the perfect “NAB” to feature. Identify the person who is slowest in your group and let Brad take you on a northwestern adventure.
Take it away Brad…
Late last summer, Jan and I were on a great Alaskan Adventure. Our 17-day tour involved several days on land, and then several more days on a very large cruise ship (more stability = less queasiness for Brad). We booked every possible excursion available so we could see as much of the Alaskan wilderness as possible. I also felt pressure from Intrigued HQ to book some birding adventures. One of our trips was a guided Wildlife Tour at Icy Strait Point near Hoonah, Alaska. We did see birds, but they weren’t the highlight of this excursion.
After disembarking from the cruise ship and walking through the gift shops, we arrived where the tour would start. Thankfully, Jan and I were not there during peak season. It seemed the vast majority of the passengers from the two cruise ships docked there were headed to either the zip-lines, gift shops, or the bars (as if the cruise boats ran out). Our tour was designed for up to 18 people, but only 8 signed up for the trip. We’ve learned from the past that fewer people in tour groups usually means we can make more tour stops, or spend more time in the various places on the tour.
Once we were checked at the tour office, the group climbed into the mini-bus, and our guide, Amy, started the tour. Amy told the group that she grew up on the island, fifth generation in fact, and was a wealth of knowledge for being as young as she was. After making a stop to see eagles (link to Under Construction) she took us to a remote location on the Island.
After we all got out of the minibus at the next stop, Amy gave a stern safety briefing. She said that are usually bears in the area, but that human noises keep them away for the most part. Amy also requested we stay behind her because she didn’t want to have to deter a bear with tourists in the way. I didn’t fully comprehend what she was telling us until later in the tour.
We walked a few hundred yards along a two-track gravel road into the wilderness. Amy was pointing our various flora and fauna and telling us stories all along the way. Now, I wish I had recorded those stories to help write these stories. After about 15 minutes, we came to a small bridge across a creek.
As we say at Intrigued … “It’s a Furry NAB” (Not a Bird). Hit the jump to learn more about this Alaskan creature.
Continue reading Salmon Buffet…by Brad Marks
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