Summer Visitors '21

We returned to our arctic home a little later than usual this year. Brett had a little over a week before he had to start work, but we certainly were able to make the most of that time! Brett's sisters Kate, Shelly, and Jenna came up for that week and we were all super excited to have them. Unfortunately the weather wasn't awesome with rain forecasted every day, but it didn't slow anyone down (except for me maybe!!).

They are here!

The girls got a village welcome as we threw their luggage into the Mule and piled onto the "honda."

I'm sure they were beyond exhausted as they traveled through the night, but everyone was game for a short fishing trip. Brett figured we had to take advantage of the time because with the rain the river would just continue to rise and would get too cloudy to really do any fishing. Shelly caught a pink salmon on her first cast!

Kate with her grayling.

Anya gave a little effort, but she doesn't stay patient for very long.

I think Shelly won the contest of "Who Caught the Most" on day 1. This chum did not want to be pictured.

We got all packed up on their second day here and then the boat wouldn't start. Brett ordered a battery but it had to be shipped from Kotzebue so we were stranded for the day. We did head out to the berry patch and found some aqpiks (cloudberries).

This year has been an outstanding year for aqpiks. In the past we have struggled to get a quart and this year we ended up with more than 6 gallons!

On the girls' third day here, we headed down river to set a net. It was a drizzly, dreary day, but it didn't dampen anyone's spirits! The water was high and the current was a little strong, but the net held and we caught around 15 in less than an hour, plenty for a days work!

Shelly and Kate untangling the net.

"Hold on!" the kids grip tight as Kate and Ryker drop the anchor side into the river.

Cheers went up immediately as we watched fish hit the net.

Jenna, Ryker, and Oren pulling in the net after it sat for about 45 minutes. We didn't want too many fish to take care of in one go!

Then comes the untangling.

We had some nice, fresh salmon to put away for the winter!

Anya only likes to hold "little fish," so she was happy to throw the pink salmon.

All smiles, even in the rain!

The girls each tried their hand at the ulu for cutting fish and did amazingly well!

We took the old wall tent and Brett set up a shelter for us to get out of the rain. It was a very nice option to have. Anya even laid down and took a snooze!

The rain continued and the river kept rising making it difficult to fish. Brett wanted to show the girls the up river canyons, so we headed up for an overnight camping trip. We actually had a break from the rain while we set up camp and through the evening.

Bear tracks--a common sight.

Brett made a tarp sauna last spring, so we brought it. The girls and the kids all used it and jumped in the river.

Oren trying out his birthday knife.

It doesn't take much to stay entertained. The kids spent hours "cracking rocks."

The kids loved the time they got to spend with their aunties.

Animals must have been hunkered down in the weather. I think we were able to see one bear, but that was pretty much it.

Brett getting the sauna going.

It is so beautiful up there, even with the clouds hindering visibility a bit.

Time to go--too soon! The girls were booked on the Saturday morning Bering flight. We weren't ready to say bye!

We just had to wait a few days before my brother, Troy came to visit. The weather was a lot nicer, but the river was still super high from all the rain. He got here on a Friday and we went down to Nunakruq, a creek that empties into the Noatak River, to do some pike fishing and look for a moose. We did catch a few pike and the boys glassed for moose for a bit. Then on Saturday we took a day trip up to the Kelly River to try for some trout.

Ryker trying to find the best hook. The boys caught some old salmon, but no trout.

Brett tried a few holes too, but the timing just wasnt right for the trout I guess!

We had some lunch and then took off so we'd have time to stop at a few known trout spots on the way back down. At Pingalauraq the boys tried out their fly rods after Troy landed a few grayling.

Nothing like a happy, messy face boating girl!

Oren using an old salmon he caught to chum for trout at the mouth of Pingalauraq.

Troy has some boys that really look up to him.

On Sunday the boys really wanted to do some pike fishing. We went inside Kuuchauraq, a little creek south of town, and fished for a bit. Then pulled up to the bank to look for aqpiks. We must have picked almost 3 gallons in an hour.

Anya is a super berry picker. She mostly picks them and eats them, but she got into filling her bucket on this trip. The gnats and mosquitoes just love her though. She is learning to keep her bug net on.

The boys brought me and Anya back to town and continued down river for another full day of fishing. They tried for pike first but then ended up fishing for salmon. The water had finally started to clear even though it was still quite high, and they were catching a bunch of fresh salmon. Brett had to work on Monday, but when he got done we went out for an evening of salmon fishing and picnicking.

Ryker's big one.

Troy caught one on his first cast. And second cast. and maybe even his third.

We got a fillet over the fire quickly and enjoyed a fresh picnic in the sunshine!

It was late-ish when we got back to town, but the boys wanted to make the most of Troy's few days here so they dropped me, Ryker, and Anya off and headed out for a late night bear hunt. Their time paid off because they got one and the meat is incredibly tender and tasty. Brett's opinion on bear is that it has the potential to be the best....or the worst...meat that we subsist. We have learned that it doesn't freeze super well, so we like to try to use it as soon as possible. We have also learned that it pays to trim off every bit of fat. For some reason the fat must get rancid quickly and then the meat is left with a 'fishy' taste.