BEARS ! ! ! in Kake, Kupreanof Island 07.12.2013

While we were traveling to Red Bluff Bay, we received a call on our VHR radio from F/V Last Dance.  Carl told us that if we wanted to see bears we should go to Kake and walk up to the fish hatchery.  The salmon are in the river there and then so are the bears!  The fishermen pay attention to where the bears are because it gives them an indicator as to what the salmon are doing.

So leaving Red Bluff Bay we decided to go to Kake to see bears!

 

Though it was overcast, there was light to no wind which made for a pleasant trip to the native village of Kake which is located at the entrance to Frederick Sound and Keku Strait.

 

 

After setting anchor off the City Pier we took our dinghy in to shore and right away were approached by two separate natives who were very protective of the community and wanted to know where we were from and why we were there.  Once we told them we came to see bears they were more than happy to give us directions to the fish hatchery. 

 

So we walked about 1 mile to the fish hatchery and we got to see several black bear feeding on salmon in the creek! 

 

 

 

 

It was a pleasant afternoon visiting the fish hatchery.

 

 

 

Afterwards we continued our walk into Portage Cove and stopped at the local grocery store.  The grocery store had everything you would expect but not much selection – and VERY expensive! 

All the locals, although protective of their community, were all very nice and happy to give directions.

 

Kake is a Tlingit community of 700.  Approaches to downtown Kake by water is through very shallow waters and we needed to monitor our depth sounder closely.  There is a shoal directly in line with the City Pier so it was quite nerve racking getting to the harbor to anchor.    The Coast Guard has removed all navigational markers to discourage visitors to the village but we were able to talk with the fishermen and a charter boat that had local knowledge of the waters so we could find our way!

 

We ended our day with Bruce fishing of the stern of our boat

 

Then having dinner on the back deck in wonderful sunshine!  This is only about the second time we have been able to use the back deck on this trip because of either horse flies or rain!