Outings on the lake

We did limnology sampled during my first full day at camp (July 1). So we drove all around the eastern part of the lake. It was a beautiful day—sunny and calm (“keep this day in your heart,” said Richie, “during all the really ugly ones.”)



We went down to Pile Bay, at the far northeastern part of the lake, to get gas on another morning. The mist on the trees was stunning and ethereal.




We have explored various parts of the lake, including Woodey Island, Seal Island (where the seals like to haul out) and the Triangle Island group. There is a year-round population of seals here at Iliamna. This is one of only 2 freshwater seal populations in the world (the other is in Russia—Lake Baikal—I think). I haven't seen them yet but hope to soon. Lots of fun places to see!



Another day we went “piking,” or just catching pike. We went to a small lake next to Iliamna that used to be part of a bay of Iliamna until it was cut off from the lake by a gravel berm—thus, it’s a “berm lake.” The pike bit like mad—Richie and Drew (the tech) caught fish on their first cast! We measured the fish and collected a scale to age the fish and a fin clip for DNA, and threw most of them back.

UPDATE: The fish are back! July 7, 2008 they are in Cabin Bay, in front of the camp. They are still silver and oh-so-beautiful!