Hello once again from Munsey’s Bear Camp. We had a cool, wet summer. June was one of Kodiak Island’s driest months on record, and August was one of the wettest. When I think about this summer, though, I don’t remember the rain. I recall fun times and wonderful guests. Most of our groups included returnees, and several included returnees bringing their friends and family. It was fun to catch up with folks who have become our friends and to experience new adventures with them. Three of our groups traveled from Switzerland; all three were initially booked for 2020. They had to wait two years for Covid testing and monitoring restrictions to relax before making the trip.
We were thrilled to welcome back Marcia Messier as our head cook and housekeeper. Marcia is a special friend and someone we know we can always count on to do a great job. Our camp helper this year was Josie Allison.
Our summer season began on July 10th with our good friends from Kansas. Jeff and
Michele McHenry have visited our lodge three times. Their first trip was in 1998 when they brought their kids, Mason, Megan, and Molly, and Megan was 15 years old. This time, Michele and Jeff returned with Megan, her husband, Wesley, and their children: Ben, Joseph, and Vivian. The kids loved beach combing, so we explored a beach at low tide and showed them sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and even an octopus den. The adults were more excited about fishing, and they proved their skills. Wes caught a 35-pound halibut, and Megan and Jeff were the first inductees of the year into our halibut club with a 45 and a 70-pounder.
On July 15th, we greeted returning guest Perry Haines. Perry brought his wife, Kathy, his son and daughter-in-law, Perry Jr. and Karen Haines, and his daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Steve Seccia. The salmon were arriving in Brown’s Lagoon, and this
group caught 14 on their first day. On another day, they watched a bear wander along a small creek in front of them. Then,a huge bear approached them. Perry Jr. and Steve had not yet had their fill of salmon fishing, and on their last morning, Mike dropped them off on the salmon river, where the guys caught eight more salmon to add to their box.
On July 20th, we welcomed Wayne Barnes and Robert McMurray back and met their friends, Jack Wiesner and Jody Spears, all from Tennessee. These guys wasted little time catching all the salmon they wanted to take home. In less than four hours, they caught their limit in Brown’s Lagoon, and then, Robert and Jody each caught a 35-lb. halibut. On another day, they watched a bear swim across the bay and run up on the bank. During their stay, we battled wet, windy weather, and our beautiful summer began to disappear.
Rick and Karen Fryklund from California and Bill and Judy Mastick from Oregon arrived
on July 25th. This group watched a bear catch half a dozen salmon, and they could hear the fish’s bones crunch as the bear devoured them. On another day, they saw several bears, including a big bear that fished in front of them, and on their last day with the bears, a sow (female bear) with three newborn cubs fished among the other bears. She knew the humans were there, but she didn’t seem to care. On an afternoon of fishing, Bill caught five skates and cleared the way for Karen to land a 35-lb. halibut.
The Frankhauser family from Switzerland first visited us in 2011 when their girls were
teenagers. Beat, Marie Christine, their daughters, Sabine, Nadine, and Karin, and Sabine’s fiancé, David Schork, arrived on August 1st. The girls are grown, and we marveled at their accomplishments over the past eleven years. One day, this group watched a sow with three two-year-old cubs. Mom caught a salmon, and the cubs growled and fought over her catch. On another day, the Frankhausers saw a very large bear, but what they enjoyed most was watching the tolerant sow with the three newborn cubs (coys). She caught salmon, and her babies watched as she consumed the much-needed protein.
On August 6th, we greeted our second Swiss group of the summer. Willy and Patty
Renfer, Willy’s sister, Theresa, and Theresa’s son and daughter-in-law, Alain and Sybil, were enthusiastic about finally making it to Munsey’s Bear Camp. This delightful group kept smiles on our faces. They endured rainy, windy weather, but they enjoyed two afternoons sitting on a riverbank while watching several bears chase and catch fish. They enjoyed all the bears, but the sow with the three coys stole the show again. The cameras whirred as mom fished and her babies wrestled and boxed right in front of them.
On August 11th, we welcomed returning guests and friends Bob and Sandy
Comstock from California. The Comstocks were joined by their friends, Nick Long, Shirley Apapricio, and Chris and Amy Hunsberger, all from California. This group spent an afternoon with the tolerant sow and three little cubs. Mom caught several fish and then stretched out on the riverbank. One of her cubs curled up against her while the other two rough-housed. Everyone in this group caught fish, but Bob was king. On his birthday, he landed a 35-pounder and a 30-pounder! We celebrated that evening with a birthday cake and excellent Comstock wine.
Our fishing buddies from California arrived on August 16th. We greeted Dan Robertson
from Nevada, Gordy Sexton, Howard Hancock, Gene Fanucchi, John Mendoza, and Mike Saner, all from California. Silver salmon were scarce around Kodiak Island this summer, and we caught very few. After much effort, one day, Mike caught a 12-lb. silver, and John landed a 25-lb. king salmon. Halibut fishing also wasn’t as good as usual this summer, but these guys caught three “club” halibut. Howard caught a 62-pounder, and Mike caught a 55-lb. and 40-lb halibut.
On August 21st, we welcomed another group of guys, including our friends Andy Vena,
Al Strydesky, and Sil Squeri. Al’s son-in-law and grandson, Jim and Jackson Newsome, and Jackson’s other grandfather, Dave Newsome, rounded out the group. These guys enjoyed two days of good fishing, including four club halibut. Andy caught two 45-pounders, Jackson landed a 60-lb. halibut, and Dave caught a 92-pounder, the largest of the summer. After seeing very few whales all summer, fin whales finally appeared in the bay, and four giant whales surfaced near our boat. On a day of bear viewing, Sil snapped a beautiful photo of a bear standing on her hind feet in the sedges while checking out the humans.
On August 26th, we were thrilled to welcome back our Florida friends, Ken and Summer
Groves. Ken and Summer’s friends, Jeff and Nancy Swenson, joined them. This group brought their Florida sunshine, and we said, “THANK YOU!” One day, they sat on a riverbank and watched a sow with three yearling cubs and the friendly sow with her three coys. The older cubs were beginning to fish on their own, while the young cubs waited for their mom to catch a fish and then stole scraps from her. One of the babies took a piece of salmon and climbed up on a log to eat it. On a gorgeous, calm, sunny day, we sat in the middle of Uyak Bay and watched huge fin whales surface and feed around us.
On September 5th, we were excited to welcome back our good friends Tony and Karin
Ross from Pennsylvania and Nino and Celine Veronese from Switzerland. Tony and Karin stayed for twelve days. Jeff and Robert Caldwell from Colorado rounded out this group. Fantastic bear viewing continued, and their last full day sums up their adventure:Mike spotted orcas just after breakfast and rushed everyone out to photograph and watch the majestic whales. Next, the group hiked up a river and watched several bears. When the three little cubs decided they wanted to play on the log where they were sitting, the humans quickly moved back to give the bears space, and one of the cubs stopped to sniff Mike’s gear.
On August 10th, Tim and Jan Rollman from Colorado and Gary Struthers from California
joined Tony and Karin. This group watched many bears catch salmon on a small river, but the friendly sow with the three coys again stole the show. Mom seemed very comfortable when the cubs jumped up on the log where the humans were sitting and checked them out. The cameras clicked while the cubs looked quizzically at the strange animals in front of them. Everyone got great photos. This group watched a family drama on another day when the friendly sow walked away with two of her cubs. When the third cub looked up and didn’t see his family, he began to cry. Mom finally came back for him after several minutes, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief at the happy ending.
Tony and Karin spent two more days with us. Tony caught a nice halibut, and they hiked again with Mike to their spot on the river to watch the bears and say goodbye to them for another year.
This summer reminded me of how much I appreciate our guests. While catching up with returning guests is fun, it is also exciting to watch the awe-struck wonder of a new guest who is visiting our beautiful little corner of the world for the first time. Thank you to all of our guests this summer, and a huge thank you to Marcia and Josie for your hard work.
On a personal note, my true-crime book Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier will be available in late December.