Remembering a day of canoeing on the Slana River

Many Alaskans have a bucket list. Floating the Slana River by canoe was crossed off mine back in July 2002.

What started out as a conversation at our weekly Bible study about doing a fun summer activity together turned into more of a community ladies' day out. Joy attended Bible study and at the time, she and her husband Steve Hobbs operated Huck Hobbit's Homestead and frequently took their guests on float trips down the Slana River. So they had the canoes, the equipment, and the experience necessary for making this trip happen.

We set a date, weather permitting, of course. We all looked forward to this day with great anticipation and were delighted to see July 15 dawn sunny with some high clouds. I served our bed and breakfast guests breakfast and saw them off for their next adventure. Then I finished preparing for my own...grabbing a life vest and a backpack containing my sack lunch, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and plenty of water before heading out the door. I left my husband Gary with a messy kitchen, dirty dishes, and beds that needed changing and drove five miles up to the gravel pulloff at Mile 65 on the Tok Cutoff. A couple of other women and I parked our vehicles and walked down to the riverbank for our approximate 10 o'clock departure.

Conditions were such that Steve had been able to drive their truck and trailer down to the riverbank to unload the canoes. We were a total of five canoes and about a dozen women-two or three per canoe. We discussed who would ride together, and experienced canoeists were paired with inexperienced. Shortly before we shoved off, Shirley (the mother of one of our group) got "cold feet" and wasn't sure she was up for this adventure. Connie (our Bible study leader who had been canoeing since her college days) assured Shirley that it was safe, and that she wouldn't need to do anything except sit in the canoe and enjoy the day...which is exactly what happened. Connie, Shirley, and I were in one canoe. Steve took a group photo just before we pushed off.

I had not been in a canoe in almost 30 years, so I wanted to practice my rusty skills. But this was a float trip and there was not much to do except relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery that constantly changed with each bend in the river. Shimmering ripples of the water mesmerized me, but I also kept an eye out for wildlife.

All of the sudden, a splashing contest broke out between canoeists. I'm pretty sure Connie instigated it. Another woman had snuck a big water gun on the trip, which she delighted in using, while sitting in the middle position of one of the canoes. There was kind of a free-for-all for a while with lots of whooping and hollering and most everyone getting wet, but it didn't matter, because the warm sun and slight breeze soon dried our clothing.

Joy led us to the mouth of Natat Creek and we paddled upstream for a short while, where we pulled out at a spot for our picnic lunch. Spongy tundra provided

great places to sit. Everyone brought their own lunch, but some also brought items to share. Pleasant conversation and much laughter flowed. More mischief ensued, when on a dare, Joy and another woman swam across the creek. After a while, we packed up and got back on the river, reluctant only because it would take us closer to home and closer to our day's end.

Shortly after our restart, Joy pointed out an eagle's nest in a tree near the bank. I remember thinking as I floated and occasionally paddled, about how fortunate I was to have this opportunity. So many of our bed and breakfast guests first paid for flights to Alaska, then for lodging, food and often costly activities and then paid more for a place to sleep, food to eat, and activities. I lived in a place where people paid lots of money to vacation.

All too soon, Joy gave the signal to watch for our pullout location. During our lunch break, she had explained that we would need to pay attention because just before the pullout, Ahtell Creek dumped into the Slana River and the current was quite strong at that point. Steve would be waiting and would help. But she cautioned that we didn't want to miss the pullout and go underneath the Slana River Bridge. She advised that we string the canoes out with space in between.

Steve and Bob (partner of one of our group) both helped, and all five canoes pulled out in less than ten minutes around 4 p.m. As we all helped put the canoes back onto the racks on the trailer and the truck and made sure everyone and everything was accounted for, our smiling faces were testament to our wonderful day. Bob gave a ride to those of us who needed to retrieve our vehicles at Mile 65. Once home, Gary listened to my happy chatter.

One would think that by living for several years right next to Wrangel St. Elias National Park (the largest park in the entire United States), I would have a dozen adventures like this to look back on. But, like everyone else, I was busy with regular life-working at the Slana School during the school year and catering to our bed and breakfast guests, gardening, berry picking, etc. during the summer months. Rarely did I take time off for bucket list adventuring, so when I did, it was indeed memorable.

Maraley McMichael is a lifelong Alaskan now residing in Palmer. Email her at maraleymcmichael@gmail.com.