Woodstock

Talkeetna was settled by miners who used the surrounding rivers for transportation.  We have enjoyed fishing and rafting on both the Talkeetna and the Susitna Rivers.  We often see wildlife on the riverbanks.  The glacial headwaters of these rivers lie in both the Alaska Range and the Talkeetna Mountains.  Two summers ago, Bucky and I had a chance to fly into the Alaska Range and view Denali.  We also landed on the Eldridge Glacier.  

However ........none of the above compared to my recent flight with Carlisle in her airplane above Talkeetna!  It was truly unbelievable.  I thought back on her as a little girl and remembered when she would strap on her backpack, pretending it was a parachute, and launch off of our back deck attempting to skydive.  Perhaps her love of aviation began back then.  We were lucky to find an almost perfect afternoon on which to tour aboveTalkeetna.  It still surprises me that an airplane with fabric wings, which the Citabria has, can stay aloft, but fly we did!

In this airplane, one person sits in front of the other.  Each seat has a set of controls, not that I know how to use them.  Basically, the airplane can be flown from the front or the back seat.  Before we left, we put an anti Pebble Mine sticker on the fuselage.  Now Woodstock, as the plane is named, ( see him on the door?) is part of the fight to protect Bristol Bay fisheries.

As I have said before, Talkeetna became a settlement because it lies at the confluence of three major rivers, the Chulitna, the Susitna and the Talkeetna.  It was amazing to see these waterways from the air.

In this picture, you can see all three rivers converging.  The train trestle is over the Talkeetna River and the town of Talkeetna is nestled in the trees.  Now, in September, the water has dropped as is evidenced by the large shoreline.  The water has also become much clearer as the glacial silt has settled. 

We flew from the Talkeetna airport up the Susitna River.  The Alaska Range was beautiful on this clear day.  I still have difficulty naming these peaks, but they all surround Denali.

I have never been on the Chulitna River which appears here with its many braids.  During the winter, residents of Talkeetna enjoy skiing, running dog sleds and using snow machines on all three rivers.  Once frozen, the rivers become an easy way to enter the back country and areas not accessible in summer.

The railroad is also a very important mode of transportation in Alaska.  Many people live off the tracks and depend on the train to get to their homes and cabins.  The train from Talkeetna to Fairbanks is one of the last flag trains in America.  This means that you can get on and off where ever you want.  Folks who live "up the tracks" transport supplies, dogs, hunting gear and anything they might need on the train.  It's interesting to watch them get on and off in Talkeetna.  I have met many people who live up the tracks and finally, from the air, I was able to have Carlisle show me their homes.  It is a very unique way of life. 

We flew up the Susitna with the Alaska Range to our West.

For the past few summers, there have been many scientists in Talkeetna studying the Susitna River.  A large hydroelectric dam is being proposed by the State.  Many folks in Talkeetna are opposed to this dam as they feel it will forever change the Sustitna.  Those who live up the tracks are particularly concerned.  In some ways, it is a very exciting time in Talkeetna, as there are hundreds of scientists in town who go onto the river each day.  The river has been crowded with boats, some of which carry really odd looking equipment.  Additional scientific equipment is flown on site by helicopters, so there is the constant whop,whop whop of these during the day.  Salmon and other fish are collected in fish wheels like you see in this picture.  The scientists are also studying the Cottonwoods and all vegetation that relies upon the river as well as studying the mammals inhabiting and using the river for survival.  It is a very intense study and one that will determine whether the dam is approved.  See  http://www.susitna-watanahydro.org/

It is always exciting to look into the high tundra for animals.  We were able to see several moose and a black bear wandering up here.  Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough to get pictures.  The airplane is quite small and maneuvering around in time to catch the animals wasn't the easiest.  I also learned this summer of something called, "moose stall" which resulted in several recent deaths.  It's when pilots spot a moose, primarily during hunting season, and then begin circling to get a better look while also losing altitude.  This can cause the airplane to stall and without enough altitude, it can crash.  When we did see moose, I encouraged Lisle not to circle many times!

We caught sight of this bull walking along the Talkeetna River.

 and this one in the high tundra.

The high country is filled with small lakes some of which have cabins and can be landed on by float plane.

This cabin is sitting high above the Talkeetna River, snuggled in the trees, and only visable from the air.

Perhaps because we spend most of our time fishing on the Talkeetna River, it is my favorite.  Now in September, the water is blue and clear.  The salmon have spawned and the river is low.  It's good trout fishing.  This river's headwaters are in the rugged Talkeetna Mountains.  These mountains often take a backseat to the Alaska range but are no less magnificent.  I really enjoyed our view of Larson Lake.  We do most of our fishing on Larson Creek which is a very small fresh water creek flowing into the Talkeetna.  The sockeye that we fish for are heading up Larson Creek to spawn in Larson Lake.  I was thrilled to see from the air their final destination!

It's hard to express how seeing things from above adds a dimension of understanding to what is seen at ground level.  I was continually impressed during our flight of the significance and importance of these watersheds to Talkeetna and all of Alaska.

                   Heading in for our landing.  And, to think that I taught this girl how to drive! 

Despite its size, the Talkeetna airport is very busy.  Numerous air taxis operate from here.   And, all climbers of Denali fly from here.

My pilot!  Notice the tundra tires on this airplane which make it possible to land off runway.  On this particular day, we landed on the gravel beside the asphalt runway.  Carlisle is now learning how to land on beaches and gravel bars to better be able to land in remote places.  Maybe that will be my next adventure!