Picture above was taken in August 1997, it cannot possibly do justice to the
area. Yes, the sun does actually set in August. Nearby is a creek, I have caught
grayling over 19 inches there.
I have seen beavers, owls, moose, fox, and wolf in the area. I suppose there are bear, too, fortunately I have never seen them there. Foliage is a mix of tundra, spruce, and birch along the creeks. Wildflowers abound in the summer. Early summer has wild roses, mid-summer has blazing areas of fireweed, late summer yields blueberries. Do not forget the bug dope (mosquitos).
Arctic Circle (Dalton Highway)
and a Dalton shot.
Fish Creek... right is a "good" hole, generally yields a legal (12") grayling first cast every time I stop by.
One summer doing catch and release (after meals were kept) I pulled 40 fish from the hole in 90 minutes.
This particular creek is very clear, you can see rocks on the bottom and the fish in the water, too.
Arctic Grayling
That's a #1 Mepps lure, 2 inches in length (1+ inch visible above)... that's probably a 14" grayling (breakfast).
Camping at Arctic Circle
I have stopped here at least once a summer since 1986 (15 years, and counting).
The Solstice, of course, is a good time to be here.
Camp goon & tent at left, car (mud caked from road) on right... with wine.
Retsina makes an excellent camping wine.
Ah, a better picture of me (obscured by smoke)... and dinner (remnants of a 17+ inch grayling).
Baked in foil over campfire with butter, wine, lemon juice, dill, lemon pepper... forgot the garlic (and ginger is nice, too).
(by the way, first time I was above the Arctic Circle I was in my early teens...
I had won a free trip to Nome and Kotzebue at an Alaska Goldpanners baseball game)
(pictures taken July 1999 or June 2000, except as noted)
Travel Index - Valdez - Angel Creek
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