Kenai, Alaska

July 27 and we were heading south 50 miles to the mouth of the Kenai River on Cook’s Inlet. We picked the Beluga Look RV Park because it was located on a bluff over the mouth of the Kenai River. We had a spot right on the edge of the bluff that afforded us a view of all the “goings on” on the river. We had plenty of entertainment watching the Alaskans using their dip nets to catch the salmon as they entered the mouth of the river on their journey upstream to spawn. Locals are allowed to take 25 salmon for the head of the household and an additional 10 salmon for each additional family member. The best catching was at high tide and there would be hundreds of people out on both sides of the river dipping for salmon. They net them, club them, cut the heads off, gut them and leave all the heads and guts on the beach. The next high tide washes it out into the water for food for scavengers. We had 3 warm, sunny days and it made for some interesting smells.

All the fishing is controlled by Fish and Game and dip netting only occurs the last 2 weeks in July. If the numbers of fish are high, they can extend the time past 2 weeks.

All the salmon fishing is heavily regulated by F and G. They have a line strung across the river and they use sonar to count the fish on their migration upstream. During the month of July over 500,000 fish passed up the river from the ocean. On July 27, when we were here, 60,260 fish swam up the mouth of the river. The number of commercial boats that go out into the inlet are also regulated, depending upon the number of fish.

We are starting to appreciate the different kinds of salmon. Reds are running now but they also catch kings and silvers at different times.

We can see 3 large volcanoes just across Cook’s Inlet, about 25 mi from our campsite. The 3 volcanoes are: Mt. Spurr (11,100 ft that last erupted in 1992), Mt Illamna (10,016 ft) and Mt Redoubt (10,197 ft that erupted in 1989 with ash that forced the cancellation of airline flights). This state is indeed “the last frontier” with bears, volcanoes, etc.

Our RV park is located adjacent to old town Kenai, which was founded by Russian fur traders in 1791. There is still a strong Russian influence here. There is an ornate Russian Orthodox Church located with walking distance that was founded in 1846 and is the oldest Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska. It has been beautifully restored.

We have thoroughly enjoyed visiting and spending time with our neighbors. (an advantage of staying in a private RV park where you are VERY close). Norm from Fairbanks educated us on salmon fishing, and we enjoyed wine with Rob and Gerri from Camarillo, CA.

A side note: Pris’s grandparents would take their fishing boat from Astoria, Oregon up to Alaska to fish for salmon-a week’s trip to get here. Lots of “sisu” in those Finnish genes.