Скачать или смотреть Chilkoot Lake Paddle: A walk along bear tracks and floating with salmon

In early August, we paddled 3 miles to the end of Chilkoot Lake, one mile over, and a few more up the other side, not actually knowing the distances required until we got home and mapped it out.

All we knew was that Tim wanted lunch at the far end where the bears roam, and I wanted to visit the spawning salmon one last time. It was the perfect combination, a beautiful day, and everything we hoped for. Blue skies. Puffy clouds. Waterfalls. Jumping fish. Gold sand. Granite boulders. turqouis waters.

Then I lost steam near the end. My fingers went numb, my arms burned, and I cried to think I wouldn't make it. I nearly turned toward home but knew I'd never see this magical spot again, so we kept going.

"Five more minutes!" Tim kept saying.

"You said that 10 times now," I shouted back over the strengthening breeze.

When we finally reached the fish, there was something sacred in that moment. It was a hello and a goodbye all at once -- for them and for me. How long until we all spawn out, completing our life's cycle? It didn't matter in this moment. In this moment, we were all together, and it was bliss.

#Alaska #HainesAlaska #ChilkootLake #GlacierFedLake #BrownBearPrints #SalmonRun #SpawningSockeye #NatureLover #AdventureTogether #WildAndUntamed #PhotographerUntamed #NatureArt #AlaskaLife

See Alaska-inspired fine art and stories at www.kimclune.com