Cooper Landing

We said goodbye to Portage Valley and headed south down the peninsula.  Our next destination is Cooper Landing where we would stay at a lodge and RV park on the Upper Kenai River.  Here we were deep into bear and fishing country.  While Cooper Landing is a community, there really is no “downtown”.  The businesses are focused on outdoor adventures of all kinds.  The lodge sits high above the Kenai River.  They have a large patio area that afforded us a restful view of the blue waters of the river and the deep greens of the forest areas.  All around are signs reminding everyone that we were in bear country and to take all the usual precautions about food  and anything else that can attract them.  We were distressed to learn that last year the state conducted two bear hunts as the population had become too large.  Each hunt took 250 Black Bears!  I cannot imagine how they could take that many and still have bear left but apparently they did.  From the park, with binoculars you could see bears on the mountain side eating berries.  As the berries of all kinds ripen, the bears gorge themselves in preparation for the winter sleep.  Every time we went out with the girls to walk into the forest, I felt apprehensive and imagined that at every turn a Black Bear might appear.  Thankfully, that did not happen.

Jim decided to take a fishing trip.  Here on the Upper Kenai, no motorized boats are allowed.  So guides take folks out in boats that drift with the currents.  You can fish from the boat or you can get out and use waders and fly fish.  Here, it is catch and release only; plus, there were no Salmon as of yet.  There were lots of birds that follow the fisherman in hopes of stealing a meal.  There was a Bald Eagle that sat in the same tree each day watching for an opportunity to steal a fish.  As they passed, Jim had a fish on.  The Eagle took flight, screeching as he circled overhead.  This time however, he did not get the Rainbow that Jim had on his line.  Jim had a good day and caught Rainbow, Grayling and Dolly Varden.

The weather was rainy while were there so picture taking was poor.  Here are the only shots we took.

The RV Park sits in a valley at the base of these mountains and above the Upper Kenai River.  This picture was taken at 11 p.m. in the evening.  The sun was fading behind the mountain leaving only the top in view.  Jim went out and took a picture with his cell.  Turned out pretty good.  Even after all this time here, we still are amazed that the sun is still shining near midnight.

One of the Rainbow Jim caught on his fishing adventure.