Smithers, b-days, new and old friends!

Last night was a fun and rowdy affair. It was costume night in Smithers and Smithers does it up big time. Town was in full swing with two dances, a Smithers Steelheads hockey game, birthday dinner and good times with old and new friends alike. It was simply a great day. Jim and Marie Ziegler cooked up one of their fantastic b-day dinners of moose steaks, prawns, potatos and home made red wine. The b-day dinner was for David, who turned 23 yesterday and his girlfriend Anna who turns 25 today. (she is such a cougar). The party shifted to David and Noelle's house, then to a dance, then to another house party, then off to the Twin Bar for more dancing and Tom-foolery. Thanks to you all for the laughs and good times. Big hugs and high fives to my late night crew of Josh, Lisa and Erin. Josh, good luck with your new buddy...call her! Lisa sorry Kispa left a gift in your ditch and jumped up with muddy paws. She loves ya and just wanted to say Hi. Thanks for the smiles and hospitality. Wish we had more photos, but here are a couple from last night. Cheers.

Simon, Todd, Kispa and monster steelies

Kispa checking out the action on the Kispiox with Todd and his son Simon. Todd found a couple nice steelies right in the deke that day. The second steelhead we landed proved to be a monster. I think it was 42 x 22. I will need to double check the numbers with Todd. Regardless it was in that 28 to 29 pound range! Fun day for sure.

BC Adventures

The roar of a boar grizzly punched hard into the ink black night. The haunting sound echoed down the river corridor...my watch said 3:12 am...sure glad I had the fabric of my ultra-light tent between us and them. To hear a grizzly bear growl is one thing, to hear them roar 50 yards away will make the hairs on the back of your neck just fall out. And that was just the first night.

Had the pleasure to set up a four day three night river trip on a trib of the Skeena River in north central BC. The trip was made up of Larry Falk, Gary Flagel, Kispa and myself. The name of the river you ask? Sorry, no can do. I'll just say the trip was full of adventure: mild white water, eagles, ravens, steelies, trout, bull trout, salmon, grizzlies, black bears, great camps, friends and the pure feeling of wilderness. Good fishing was interrupted only by the scenery and wildlife. Kispa proved to be a great bear dog in camp as well as on the river. She informed us a number of times of creatures that were working up or down the river bank, just off our camps. One night a griz growled to let us know it was there, Kispa responded and we could hear the bear charge away up river. We even heard the bear bump into one of the rafts. Just another night in the bush eh?Enjoy the images from this wicked trip.