An Alaskan Love Affair

You can wander around Alaska in a wide variety of ways. The major highways see a steady stream of cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, bicycles, and RV'S. The rivers and coast are best navigated by boat which can mean anything from kayak to cruise ship. And don't forget winter when you'll see tons of snowmobiles and dog sled teams.

My observation however is that folks up this way save a special place in their heart for another form of transportation. I'm talking of course of the airplane be it bush, float, or ski, vintage (DC 3's and 6's), Piper Cubs, Cessna, Beechcraft - the variety is endless. I've read that more than 1 in 4 Alaskans has their pilot's license and I can understand why. To get many, if not most, places in this State the only feasible way is by air.

Ready for takeoff at the Chicken air strip u

Consequently, you see airfields and landing strips everywhere. You first notice the bright orange wind sock which adds a splash of color against the generally green (at least in summer) backdrop. Often the landing strip is cut right out of the forest and most are not all that long. One Alaskan pilot told me his Piper Cub needed only 140 ft. to get airborne. Some actually slope downhill into the prevailing wind to get that added boost. Regardless, with a hope and a prayer, and a good bit of skill, there seem to be many, many Alaskans in the air at any given moment.

We were bicycling along the 'old' Richardson Highway when we came across this lonely and forlorn plane sitting quietly in the sun surrounded by flowers as tall as its now dormant tires. There was even the old style ladder that had clearly not seen footsteps in decades. We wondered what stories this forgotten craft could tell but all we got in response was the quiet drone of insects. There was a feeling about the place; a little bit of sadness tinged with a healthy dose of serenity. A grand old Dame of the air, her duty done, now resting silently watching the years go by.

When was her last flight? To where was she going? Who caressed her controls to take her aloft? Who were the passengers who marveled at the passing vistas from her windows? Oh, the places she must have visited, the sun-dappled clouds her now missing wings had glided through.

There are many ghosts such as she in Alaska. They come in many guises - planes, cabins, cars, boats, mines - relics of bygone eras. Cast aside, barely remembered, they remain a tangible part of this great State. Though they will eventually rot and rust and turn to dust Alaskans are beholden to these ghosts of the past as they helped shape the Alaska of today.

On to a love affair of a different kind. If you asked the typical tourist (that would be me) what they would most like to see the grizzly bear (or brown bear as its referred to up here) would probably top the list. However, while Alaskans tolerate the great bear I think they save their love for the Moose. We have yet to see a bear - black, brown, grizzly, or Polar- during our time in Alaska, though we saw dozens in Canada.

Moose, on the other hand, are everywhere. I think that love stems from two places. One is that unlike bears Moose don't eat people, though get too close and they may stomp you. And two, you can, and should (because it is purportedly very good) eat the Moose. It's no secret that a lot of Alaskans hunt and most seem to eat what they catch at least when it comes to Moose, Caribou, and salmon. We spoke with a guy who had been salmon fishing.  He was feeding three families with his catch of 85 fish. That would last those families for about a year. He was originally from Carbondale, CO, my neck of the country, but hadn't looked back after heading north 35 years ago.

Most of the Moose we've seen have been cows with one to two  calves. It's said that animals know when hunting season starts and make themselves scarce when necessary. The Moose we saw have been unconcerned and tolerated us watching from a distance.

So here's to moose, not number one with tourists but definitely a special favorite with Alaskans. Now if I can only get a good recipe for Moose stew...