We are going fishing. For big fish. Right on the line of the Arctic Circle.
It is quite an adventure for a couple of farm-loving romantics, seeking out the big fish, discovering new places, and meeting new people.
We left the small Idaho Falls airport yesterday morning, flying over acres of dry country, a wildfire or two noticed on the way, and landed in Seattle. From there, we boarded another plane and rose over the verdant landscapes to see the rugged Rocky Mountains below. Images from plane windows are never very good, but here, you will see the vast, open rugged country below, most likely the country out of Kelowna, Canada and then Banff National Park. Once we got east of the ocean, the countryside dried out quickly.
Smoke wafts in the air which smells of a distant campfire. We landed in Edmonton airport to notices that the town of Jasper was about to be evacuated. Nestled in a mountain vista, Jasper looks so much like Jackson Hole. With routes shut off, residents and tourists have one westerly route to navigate. Smoke chokes the vehicle occupants, traffic is jammed, gas tanks are running low. There is rain in the forecast. Everyone watches the smoky skies hoping they darken further to dampen the infernos.
The luxurious layover here in Edmonton provided a tour of the nearby Outlet Stores, for which we have no room to pack anything further. It was a nice walk around to discover a pair of Oakley sunglasses cost a whopping $280. What?!! Then off to the horse track and casino. The track was beautiful and we stood looking out over the hazy oval imagining the thrill of watching horses race by. Walking in, we converted our American dollars to the plastic Canadian dollars - $1.00 equals $1.25 in the casino, and enjoyed a couple of hours of putting our money in their slot machines. No big winners last night!!
Today, we climb aboard a charter plane to Stony Rapids, a town just south of the Arctic Circle. Surrounded by lakes and marsh, we will land to transfer to a float plane which will take us into Scott Lake Lodge, right on the line to the Arctic Circle. Which sounds cold, but it isn’t. Last week, it got up to 90F. Things are cooling down and with rain in the forecast, we are hopeful conditions will be perfect for catching big northern pike and lake trout.
Scott Lake is up on the line in this photo a bit to the west of center. The lodge sits on an island. All of the supplies for the week will be flying in with us as well.
Things I am excited about include; meeting our guide. When asked what kind of guide would you like, Mike put “woman”. I do not believe they have a woman guide - yet!! The food. This is reported to be 5 star dining. I will try very hard to not gain weight! The fishing. This place lands PIGS for fish. 43” lake trout, monster norther pike. We are dreaming big! The people. It will be fun to meet the others at the lodge who have come to seek these slimy creatures! The lake life. Sitting on the shore, listening to the water lap the land, feeling the cool breeze, and hearing a loon. That’s when you know you have arrived!!
We’ll be there tonight!! More to come on the Epic Fishing Trip!
Can't wait to hear the rest of the story!