An Alaskan Adventure : July 1 - 29, 2026

Part 8 - Brooks Lodge Day 3 and departure

July 20: Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes

We took the day trip bus tour to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, which is no longer smoking. We made a few brief stops on the way out to the visitor center, then hiked down to Ukak Falls.

cIMG_2452.JPG	pIMG_2454.JPG	Iliuk Arm of Naknek Lake	Moose
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Bog Wintergreen	Unalaska Paintbrush	Lupine	pIMG_2526.JPG
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pIMG_2552.JPG	pIMG_2553.JPG	pIMG_2555.JPG	An eroded fumarole
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pIMG_2588.JPG	pIMG_2600.JPG	pIMG_2608.JPG	A wolf!
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pIMG_2649.JPG	Campground	Can't be without Starlink	Campground fence
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July 20: Brooks Falls

Back at the falls after dinner, the salmon were popping like popcorn! There was some speculation that the salmon fishing season had ended a few days before, so a new influx of fish were getting through. In any case, there were fewer bears around than the day before, presumably because many of them had gotten their fill during the day. Did I mention the salmon were completely bonkers?

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pIMG_3303.JPG	pIMG_3304.JPG	Watching the fish jump	pIMG_3323.JPG
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July 21: Departing to Anchorage

My original plan had been to stay at Brooks in the morning and take an afternoon flight back to King Salmon. However, I opted for the morning flight out due to weather concerns for me getting to Anchorage later in the day. Once again, I departed IFR, but the skies cleared approaching Anchorage.

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pIMG_97778.JPG	Susitna Flats	Anchorage International Airport	Approaching Merrill Field
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