Get Outside

I was told to go outside just about every day when I was a kid. If the weather was nice I was expected to do something, anything outside. Not that it was a bad thing, I mean that was before Cable television and the original Nintendo had just been released. Of course I didn't have one.

Luckily at that time, I was living in a small farm town in Southern Indiana. There was plenty to do outside. I rode my bike all over that town, even made trails in the woods. I loved to play "Army Man" in the woods. My friends and I spent most of our time building forts or tree houses in the woods. We also always found ways to get into mischief too. It's a boy thing I think.

A few years later my family and I moved to Dallas Texas, then Lafayette Louisiana and finally Ft. Lauderdale Florida. Eventually as a teenager we moved back to Southern Indiana where I stayed until the Military moved me around some more. In every place though, I spent my time outside. Be it the woods surrounded by timber or the swamps of the Everglades. I found peace and comfort outside.

When I think about all the jobs I've had, most of them have been outside too. Pig farmer, lumberjack, Lawn Care Technician, all outside. What is it about the Outdoors that draws us in? What's the allure of it?

I was blessed to spend three years of my life in Alaska from 2008-2011. Hands down the most beautiful place I have ever been. If that place doesn't make you appreciate the outdoors, nothing will. Towering snow capped mountains, covered with Alaskan Birch and Spruce trees. Rivers and streams that seem untouched by man. Bear, Moose and Bald Eagles everywhere you look. The fishing, wow the fishing was incredible there.

Six Mile Lake Elmendorf AFB, Alaska

Little Susitna River Hatchers Pass, Alaska

Six Mile Lake Elmendorf AFB, Alaska

Six Mile Lake Elmendorf AFB, Alaska

I'm not a real religious guy, but standing near the base of a mountain, in winter, with snow covering everything, you believe. I thanked God for letting me experience such unimaginable beauty. Being there gave me an even stronger appreciation for the Great Outdoors. And I miss it terribly.

Whether you like to hunt, fish, hike or camp, we all do these activities for the same reason. We enjoy being outside. More than likely someone shared their love for the outdoors with you. Maybe a friend or family member. Now we all get the same opportunity to do that for someone else. I shared my Alaskan experience with my wife, and continue to share the outdoors with her. I will take my children outside and share this wonderful world with them too. Life is too short to waste it being cooped up inside all the time. Do something, anything outside, I promise you won't regret it.

D.S

Alaska "Combat Fishing"

May in Alaska is a wonderful time. Not only does it signify the end of Winter, finally, but that's when the Salmon start moving up through the rivers and streams to spawn.

Summer in Alaska only lasts for a short time, so all the locals wake up from their hibernation and head outdoors. Couple that with the 1.9 million tourists who visit each year, and it can get a little crowded. Alaska is the largest state in America, consisting of 586,412 square miles. it's twice the size of Texas, and has 12,000 rivers and more than 3 million lakes. The best Salmon fishing, however is primarily on the Kenai Peninsula.

Salmon fishing is serious business in Alaska. Most of the locals fish for sustenance, while visitors fish for sport. Techniques range from spoons or flies, to nothing more than a hook to "Snag" the fish. I had never encountered "Snag" fishing before, but it was some easy fishing. Basically, you cast your hook up stream and let it drift down stream, lifting your rod tip up every so often. There are so many Salmon in the water, it doesn't take long to snag one.

The "Combat" part of all this is, you are fishing within a few feet of other anglers. Dozens of fishermen along the same stretch of shoreline, all casting sharp hooks within inches of each other. If you're not paying attention, someone could get a hook in the face, and no one wants that. Not to mention the possibility of a bear stopping by to do a little fishing right next to you. This is Alaska after all. I have to admit, I really didn't enjoy that type of fishing very much. Personally, I would rather be on a lake, with no other anglers in sight, fishing from my kayak. So why do so many anglers flock to "The Last Frontier" to fish like this? Huge Salmon and the beauty, I suppose. It wasn't uncommon to see 80 pound King Salmon or 12 pound Sockeyes being hauled out of the river. That could be reason enough for some to fight through the crowds. Mine however, were not that big.

I have been all over the world, to many awesome places, but Alaska is my favorite. The best hunting, fishing, hiking and camping I have ever done was in Alaska and I hope to make it back there one day. Maybe I'll give "Combat Fishing" another try, who knows. If you get a chance, I highly recommend visiting Alaska, if not for the fishing, just for the sheer beauty.

D.S