It looks like summer has come and gone. The daylight hours have gone from 22 in late June to approximately 15 as of September 5th.  By Winter Solstice on December 21 the sun will be rising at approximately 9 am and sunset will be around 3:15 pm, leaving us in the dark by 3:45.

The first snow typically leaves a fresh powder on the tips of the mountains and from there we watch it slowly make its way down the mountains. When Mt. Ripinsky (the mountain north of town) gets it's first dusting of snow, we know it's only a few weeks until it reaches the ground.

As always I get excited for winter to begin, but first is our run of Coho (Silver) Salmon.  This is one of my most favorite times of the year, autumn is in full swing covering the valley in bright colors.

Catching Chum (Dogs) Salmon (2011)

 And, there I am standing somewhere on the banks of the Chilkat River with fishing pole in hand, the sun shining it's last rays of warmth on my face, eagle's gliding over the water in search of a catch and the never ending thought to keep an eye out for bears walking the banks.

By the end of October most of the fish will be up the river in the Eagle Preserve and beyond. There is a four mile stretch of river that doesn't freeze because of warmer water entering into it. The eagle's gather here in November by the thousands to feast on the fish as they pass through. Although it's cold and snow is on the ground by then, there are still a few bears out and about in search of their last meal before finding a place to hibernate for the long winter ahead.

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