Haines

I’m riding a bike. In Alaska. On the wrong side of the road. Through a bear forest. To the Fjords.

There was no thought of sardines on toast today.

As we rode, eagles soared above. There are approximately 400 permanent bald eagles in Haines and the number grows to over 4,000 in fall. As many as 80 have been seen perched in a single tree. Today we were lucky enough to see 7 or 8.

We had left Port Chilkoot and were on our way to the shores of Lutak Inlet, where the glacier was. To get there we had to go through a ‘bear forest’ whereupon Joe, our guide asked us to ride in pairs. Apparently this would allow us to ride faster through the area as a pack. Just in case we did actually see a bear.

Which we did.

Fortunately from the other side of the river. When Joe asked us to ride in pairs, I am not ashamed to admit that I got a little scared. With visions of the headlines, ‘Australian woman eaten by bear in frenzied attack to get to her chewing gum’ – the closest thing to food on me – I made sure I stuck close to Joe and his handy can of mace. Mind you, the damn bear would need to be damn close to Joe for him to effectively use that can of mace.

As it was, we got close to the salmon gates and there was a 4 year old female bear, of unknown name, scooping for salmon. On the other side of the inlet. Phew!

The salmon gates are where the salmon actually move from sea to freshwater inlet, and to their actual birth home. At this point they are counted by a person, or two, with a counter clicker. Interesting.

Anyho! our unnamed bear was very cute from the other side of the inlet. And not too big. From the other side. Binoculars proved her not so little.

there’s a bear in there……