T- Minus 4 Weeks: The final gear list amendments

Gees, I head to Salt for a few days and no one sends out a picture of the day and all the pre trip enthusiasm bleeds out like a dolly hooked through the eye ball.  Ok, so it's close enough now to start real, earnest gear review and obsession.  So here is my personal "add on list"- things I've noticed from film, read in my journal or dreamed about.  Feel free to add, but don't subtract:

• Bigger (3L) video camera bag that attaches to wading belt
• Versa tip (easy change between floating and sinking, cause this year I AM going to do more mousing)
• 5-6 more dalais, assorted flavors
• dry gloves to wear around camp

Group questions sill outstanding:

• What'd we decide about chairs?  Does Mike have 6?  Yes, I think Mike said he has 6. I'll ask for sure.
• Maybe we do still bring the rod caddie so at least 3 of the rods are stowed and not being walked on.  Depends on weight, if we can, take it.
• Do two of us bring an extra reel and extra rod, as "group spares" so everyone doesn't bring one, yet we've got a couple in case we break a rod (likely) or drop a reel in the river? everyone better bring an extra rod.
• I never heard back from Janet about a second raft, do I try again? Yes, we'll take it. ask again.
• How many snickers bars are you sending up JB?  Are you still incharge of buying and shipping all the food? yes, I'm in charge. I think I have about 120??  I sent up Dehyd food last night.
• Who's bringing stoves?  Last year we had 3 but only used 2... so it should figure that 4 stoves will suffice for party of 6.  JB, Hondo and I each have jet boils, Steve or Bill, ya'll got a stove to bring?  AND since we can't bring fuel on the plane, you sending any fuel up JB? I think 3 Jetboils are fine. two to a stove. Fuel? we have some in storage, we should probably try to find another can or two in Dilly.

What else?????? Bear spray. I'll order some, or get Mike to buy some for us, and reimburse him.
what else Gov? you're the man with the list and journal etc.. what'd you have written down?

We're going When?

Ok, I can't argue that the best fishing is in August. The bo's and Dolly's are up in mass, and they've gotten girth on the first two waves of salmon (kings and reds), there will be some pinks still around and with some luck there will be silvers. We'll be fishing in bone land with all those carcasses littering the banks, but the rainbo's will be fierce and the dolly's decked out for the spawn..... BUT DANG MAN, it's so LONG TO WAIT... kids just got out of school and we aren't going until they are BACK IN SCHOOL. Sheesh, I can't take this. Some one's gotta do something!

The Distant Future, The Distant Future...

This is what Alaska looks like, from three months out.  Can't quite make it out, a bit shrouded in fog, but I know it's there.  For some inmates I won't name, like Mule & Hefe, this is the only thing keeping them alive; while with bleeding fingers they paint tally marks onto the walls of their cells.

Here's to dreaming boys, a bright future; only 3-4 months away

SEEN from the Great North

Hurry and snap it man, this thing weighs a ton

Ummm let's see, that's 29, 30, 31.... whew, that's longer than I can count

Heard from the Great North

Mikey aka Alaska Mike, aka, Softserve Mike, Aka "if ones good, twos better" Mike ( and a hundred other terms of endearment for this lovable nutcase of a piscator), had notified us that he was hitting the mercurial naknek this weekend. Weather prognostication was perfect for an early spring outing. So all weekend I'd cast my thoughts to the naknek and Mikey, wondering, wondering, pining to be there, but glad I hand't endured the travel torture (see Pablo's post: The UnGuided~  Season 1  Episode 1  The Naknek) if it was a total bust. Well, typical Mikey, he has to keep the torment up as long as possible (must be that special forces interrogation training he got in Nam)... this message showed up in my inbox on Monday morning, it's so painful I just had to share...

From: "Mike Larsen" Date: Mon, Apr 30, 2012 12:10 am 
Subject: hey 
To: "John Berry" 
Complete success. Hope to send pics soon. What a weekend. Every dream was fulfilled, and that's saying a lot.  ML

Dear Senator Hatch

Recently, I penned a letter to all my Congressmen and Senators, voicing my concerns and opinions about the Pebble Mine fiasco.  I've received one phone call (by a yawning, bored aide) and this letter.
Following the letter, is my response (penned by El Hefe). 
__________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Mr. Juan Pablo:

Thank you for your email concerning the proposed Pebble Mine at Bristol Bay in Alaska. I appreciate your attention to this matter, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.

As you may know, the deposits of the minerals in question are located on land that is owned by the state of Alaska. I value your input and hearing your concern for the salmon population and surrounding environment. As a federal representative from the state of Utah, my position precludes me from exerting jurisdiction over matters that belong to another state. While some believe the federal government should exert its authority to block this proposal, I ultimately believe that matters on state lands should be decided by the respective state. You may wish to contact Alaska’s governor and federal congressional delegation to voice your concern over this proposal for development.

Thank you for being vigilant in the protection of this unique resource. Please feel free to contact my office in the future in any matters involving the federal government. 

Your Senator,

Orrin G. Hatch

United States Senator

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Senator Hatch,

 You sir are a coward!  Do you remember hugging my wife a couple of years ago?  Well, that was fine, no big deal, but now, you have crossed the line.  If you don't protect these fish, you have no standing to call yourself a man let alone a representative of our great state of Utah.  You sir, have offended my honor, I therefore, challenge you to a duel! You may choose the weapon and I will dispatch you with out further thought!  

PS. I'm heck with a scatter-gun, just ask that she-bear on the Pongo.  If I were you, I would not choose the scatter-gun.

SEE YOU IN HELL!

Yours truly,

Juan-Pablo Secreterio

El Presidente, Rocky Mtn HQ
THE Unguided

Hog Johnson

The Fish Gods granted me three tries, count them, three, to hook Hog Johnson.  How can I ever repay that debt?  Biked in to Upper LB, of course not a soul in sight. The clear water, golden stones to match the outrageous colors of the trout.  Cutt, Brown, Bow.  Wild fish, is there anything better?