Alaska Wrap-up

Before this trip, I had read about how salmon are one of the keystone species in Alaska. They feed an incredible variety of wildlife, and when bears and other animals carry their remains into the forest, those nutrients help fertilize the surrounding ecosystem. Most salmon never make it upstream to spawn. Instead, they become the life-giving force that sustains countless other species. Enough survive the journey to lay and fertilize their eggs, ensuring the next generation. The young salmon eventually make their way to the ocean, where they mature before returning to the streams where they were born to complete the cycle. After spawning, the adults die, giving back one final time to the ecosystem that has depended on them all along.

By the time the workshop ended, it was clear that nearly every memorable wildlife encounter we had—from whales and puffins to bears, gulls, eagles, and even the people who make their living there—was connected in some way to the fish whether it be the annual salmon run or smaller fish sustaining the many birds and other wildlife.

I mentioned the lodge in several earlier posts, but I wanted to end by sharing the view from its front window overlooking Cook Inlet. During the first part of the week, low clouds hid the mountains across the water. Then one morning we woke to a completely different world. The clouds had lifted, revealing the mountains in all their grandeur.

As if that weren’t enough, bald eagles were regular visitors. They perched in the nearby trees, soared past the windows, and constantly drew our attention outside. It was impossible not to stop whatever you were doing to watch them. The gift of staying in that cabin wasn’t just the spectacular view—it was living, if only for a short time, in a place where seeing an eagle became an everyday occurrence.

Following is a final wrap-up video with stills and clips of the amazing week.

Today’s gift: Having the opportunity to spend a week exploring wild Alaska with a great group of people.