We got in after midnight yesterday and missed the views on the way in, then woke up around 8 when it was still dark out and couldn’t make out our surroundings. The wait was worth it though, and the view from our corner hotel room (Reese’s parents hooked us up) certainly did not disappoint.

Cook Inlet on one side...

Chugach Range on the other side...

We spent the day taking it easy and exploring Anchorage. We stopped in a couple shops downtown, and I thought the coolest shop was probably the Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers Co-op. I’m not much of a “shopper,” but I have to admit the fiber from the musk ox was a remarkably soft and warm. Hope things cool off some, otherwise I think the hat Reese picked up is going to be a bit warm!

Reese sporting her new Qiviut hat

We drove around a bit and tracked down a couple of fly shops.  We stopped in McAfee’s Fly Shop first and didn’t hear any promising news  (although he was helpful and forthcoming with info).

Reese snuck this pic in... getting the bad news

I wasn’t quite ready to give up so we checked out the World Wide Angler shop. It was a sweet shop and was HUGE, but unfortunately the news there wasn’t any better than at McAfee’s. Fly fishing Alaska in late November just wasn’t meant to be for me. Guess I’ll just have to come back in season!! Ended up talking skiing for a bit with the WWA crew and I’m hoping we can work in some skiing time at Alyeska before we head home. Looks like they’re going to open up in the next day or two.

I know it’s going to be all kinds of cold and dark, but I figured (well, maybe hoped it a better word) there would be some sort of fly fishing option while I’m out there… Well, I’ve almost given up hope at this point.

After trying the folks at Deneki Outdoors (fan of the blog for sure), Alaska Troutfitters, Mystic Waters Fly Fishing, and X-tream Alaska, I’m still coming up empty. Deneki Outdoors gets the award (hands down, they’re the only ones I was actually able to make contact with) for being the most helpful, but I’m striking out nonetheless.

Don’t have much time left to do any sort of planning, but I thought I would give it one last effort… Any suggestions of who I should talk to about doing some Alaska fly fishing in late November (and by late November, I mean next week)? Is it even possible?

My buddy Chris (fished with him last week), suggested I ditch the fishing idea and opt for skiing instead. Not looking like a terrible idea…