Quartz Creek

After our trip to Hope, we drove to Quartz Creek Campground, just outside Cooper Landing. Don did not reserve a spot in the government campground, and we were very lucky to find two spots fairly close together.  Although the campground had no RV services, we would return there in a heartbeat.  This was the view from our sites:

Katie immediately grabbed her fishing rod, and although she didn't catch anything she enjoyed the experience.

The next morning, after Don cooked us bacon, eggs, and pancakes, Chris, Teri, Don and I went to the Kenai Wildlife Refuge, while Katie stayed back and fished (imagine that!)  The Wildlife refuge was fun, and we had a lovely walk through the boreal forest, but we did not see any critters, which was disappointing.  When we returned home, Katie told us about all of the salmon she had seen and about the fish she had caught, but released.

After a dinner of hamburgers and fresh sweet corn that Teri brought with her, we walked to Quartz Creek to see the salmon.

They are so pretty . . . but when they have turned red, they are not good to eat.  We had no idea!  We were told the red color comes from the bruising they take swimming to their spawning grounds, but that is really not true.  It is the coloration of mating.  So all of these beautiful fish are not good to catch.  Who knew?