Where wild remains a guarded treasure, life's adventurous quest reaches beyond the security of enlightened dogmas, polished promises, or glistening stones. - Myers, PURSUING THE UNTAMED

Summer Edition 2010

____________ Guided by Instinct!____________

For the Alaskan sportsman summer's renewal continues in haste. 'Streams of Dreams' are visited with probing gear in search of salmon shades of bronze, rose, pink, red, silver. Update 08/06/10: The late run of sockeye (red) salmon on the Upper Kenai began to develope this past week. It is not considered 'hot' like most years during these dates. However, fishing was adequate with action resulting in broken lines, several lost and some landed fish. It is possible that the large numbers of red salmon have remained longer in Skilak Lake downriver this year due to weather conditions. Silvers (coho) are arriving along with less pinks (humpy) than usual at many popular streams during this time.

_____________ Doug's Dugout _____________

What matters more is not what we believe but how we live. (dcm)

Surviving the Surreal (Moose Twin's Torment) - Metropolitan Anchorage is a distinguished community that embraces corporate and hospitality development while preserving its wilderness roots. Through effective management Anchorage has maintained its virgin heritage. The result is a lifestyle that provides wildlife encounters seldom experienced even in undeveloped areas, especially outside of Alaska. From corporate headquarter buildings and elevated hotel suites businessmen, visitors, and local fishermen hoping to land a salmon in 'The Last Frontier' can be seen on the banks of a popular urban stream during summer months. Beyond the stream is a view of the Port of Anchorage. Other spawning streams that flow through the city and its parks from Chugach Hillside communities to Cook Inlet provide an enhanced fishery resource, albeit less significant. Wildlife is commonly seen in residential communities and shopping districts, and crossing local streets and highways. Most notable are moose. These large urban wild creatures give birth and rear young in wooded areas close to hospitals, shopping malls, city parks, and residential back yards. Undeveloped corridors along urban streams also provide access for black and brown bear. Homes among the Anchorage community of Hillside are accustomed to marauding visits by bears. People exercising by biking, running, or walking their dog on developed and maintained trails within the Anchorage Bowl do so cautiously.

While jogging on one of the developed trails near my home in Anchorage I stopped to view a mother (cow) moose with here recently born twin calves browsing near the trail. It was an inspiring sight. The twin babies kept a secure closeness to the mother, following her every move and direction. The trail parallels the edge of a lake on one side and a forested corridor including a salmon stream on the other. Viewing wildlife while running the trail is a common occurrence, sometimes filled with memorable moments. The lake is home to a family of beaver. It is also a nesting and rearing location for some water fowl, and a rest stop for others. I have witnessed several moose in this Nature preserve area including large bulls, cows, and cows with calves, but never with calves so young. It was a heartwarming experience that featured the curiosity and innocence of new life in the wild.

Two days later while jogging the same section of trail I was alarmed when observing the twin calves browsing at the edge of the lake without the mother. I immediately stopped, uncertain of my position in relation to the mother. Because the trail divides a short distance between the edge of the lake and the forested area I was concerned that I might be between the mother and her babies. An otherwise composed mother can become aggressively protective when a person enters the moose security zone that connects a mother with her babies. After looking around I realized the mother moose was no longer a part of the family gathering I witnessed two evenings earlier. I soon learned the moose calves mother had been 'put down' because of a broken leg suffered in an accident the previous day.

Alone the orphaned moose babies were preoccupied with eating. Likely confused, neither seemed timid or fearful. The little calves ate voraciously, when they seemed less perplexed. Otherwise, they would stand and stare in a position of bewilderment. Both appeared comforted when close together, a tender image. Occasionally they would cautiously approach me while I was taking photos, suggesting a need for re-establishing the lost connection of a mother's offering. When I began to leave the twins followed before hesitating to access my role as surrogate mother. My own ambivalent feelings where those of inspiration, caring, sadness, and helplessness. While touched by the twin calves condition I felt unable to provide a solution to their vulnerability.

During spring and early summer moose calves in the wild often serve as needed protein for foraging bear that is not yet available from the plundering of spawning salmon. Consequently, moose calves are the target of peril. Through Nature's genius the common birth of twins by moose provide the food requirement for bear while securing favorable odds for moose preservation. In most cases one of the calves will escape an attack by a menacing bear. It is a fortunate occurrence when both twin calves reach adolescence or adulthood. Although urban moose are generally safe from pillaging bear, they are not protected from moving automobiles. An indiscriminate vehicle is a perilous danger to the most innocent and mature.

Assuming the twin moose calves survive a brief remaining summer season, the lack of mother's instruction and warmth during frigid winter condition will be a formidable challenge. The little orphans worked hard while depending on their instincts alone to gain a future without mother's nourishment, guidance, and protection. It was their bad fortune to loose mother, while it is their good fortune to have each other.

Saplings to Sourdoughs - In addition to Alaska's Native Eskimo/Indian population are inhabitants who have migrated from the 'outside' for a variety of reasons. Many from the "lower 48" moved north to fulfill a military assignment. Some were attracted by the prospect of quick financial gain offered by corporate giants of the oil industry through oil/gas-line development, commercial harvesting of Alaska's bountiful seafood resource, or the visitor/travel industry. Others may have viewed the 'Last Frontier' as an opportunity for emotional and social independence not discovered elsewhere, or to distance a painful past. For these new residents the search is not for financial favors alone but for spirited discoveries in the heart of Alaska's pristine recreational reserve.

Financial ambition without inspiration in Alaska is when the 'untamed' becomes the focus and not its pursuit. Extreme work conditions, inclement winter months, and/or separation from family and friends living a great distance on the "outside" can erode the footing necessary for growth. Dark winter months and the feeling of isolation may discourage firmness in favor of ambivalence.

Nature's requirements for all landscape inhabitants are universally inflexible. Negotiating with Nature is pointless. Ask the early season moose calf or late season spawning salmon. Fairness has never been a consideration, only survival. For Alaskans the challenge is to surrender to limits while seeking the limitless. Only when residents have been seasoned by years of challenging extremes can they fully appreciate the Alaskan sourdough's claim to riches. Serenity and solitude are incentive treasures awaiting the enduring, while soulful characterizes their emotional journey.

Among the heartfelt is the Alaskan sport fisherman. For these anglers of fortune childhood dreams of fishing success are resurrected. Neither cold, wind, mud flats, or swift current can deter the river angler. Only an occasional meandering bear guided by the smell of success will temporarily interrupt the casting rhythm of a dedicated fisherman. The visceral utterance 'Fish On' is especially stimulating along Alaska river shorelines. For the patient angler ecstasy is discovered when braced against an ar ched fishing rod directed by the zigzag cutting movement of a tight line. Repeated surface splashing enhances an angling ensemble that includes the zinging sound of a drag tested reel. Colorful trout of golden, brown, and rainbow caught in mountain streams elsewhere may become a faded memory when battling Alaska's king size migrating salmon of red, pink, or silver. (dcm)

The Art of Living - Only while alive can we paint a future legacy landscape left for others to admire or admonish. Beyond bequests today's brush strokes will hang in tomorrow's canvas gallery of memories, but not our own. A harsh composition painted with colors of criticism, control, selfish ambition, and failed promises may leave a dismal landscape. On the other hand, a generous mixture of affectionately warm colors blended with tools of honor and good faith will remain inspirational to the soulful eye. Framed by love's faithfulness, glowing memories of a radiant landscape will live forever. When our time for creating has ended and the paint has dried, we are called to surrender our talent or travesty to the view of others left behind. (dcm)

Unity in Diversity - Like beautiful orchestral music Nature's composition reveals the necessity of dissimilarities in creating purposeful harmony. Extended daylight hours of summer in Alaska are in contrast to its brief daylight schedule during winter. Together these instruments of the calendar offer for many both celebration and despair. The arctic village of Barrow knows a season of perpetual daylight only because it was preceded by a contrasting season of continual darkness, and vice versa. Alaska exemplifies Nature's requisite for living by extreme measures, whether exhilarating or depressing.

Every sport fisherman understands the difference in a successful catch and no catch. All sporting events share equally the culmination of both agony and ecstasy, i.e., for every winner there must be a loser. To know the nature of opposites is to understand Nature. Alaska's spawning salmon are guided by Nature's necessity through instinct, requiring death to providing life for the species. Alaskans are grounded by a common knowledge through experience that whatever truly exists its opposite is equally true, and therefore also exists. (dcm)

______________ Archives ______________

Article: Fool's Gold - The Pebble Mine project is a controversial proposal by Northern Dynasty Minerals to build one of the largest gold and copper mines in the world in Southwest Alaska near Lake Iliamna. The proposed Pebble Mine would include the largest earth dam in the world to hold back created toxic waste. The open pit gold & copper mine would place at risk Alaska's prolific Bristol Bay Region ecosystem. The proposed location is at the headwaters of the Mulchatna / Nushagak and the Newhalen / Kvichak River drainages, both of which are renown wild salmon and trout fisheries that flow into Bristol Bay. For additional information: Save Bristol Bay, Renewable Resources Coalition, Bristol Bay Alliance, Bristol Bay Times

- Look for upcoming discussions and events -

Doug Myers, Editor

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