We set out to see the carousel filled with Kenai critter carvings.  We found it along with a wonderful fellow who chainsaw carves and loves it.  The shop is filled with wall hangings, table decorations, furniture and even bird houses.  The yard is filled with works in progress including bears, totem poles and his current project, a chair carved from a giant beryl.  By far, bear and eagle carvings are my favorite.  They seem such a natural subject for this art.  He carves ice at various festivals too.  I think we found another reason to visit in the winter sometime.

Homesteading 1947.  It is amazing to realize how recently this vast land has been settled.  Soldatna was born of a post WWII homesteading opportunity for returning veterans.  The local museum includes three original cabins built to satisfy the “habitable dwelling” requirement to seal the deal for land ownership.  They are filled with items of the times.  Since most up here didn’t get power until the mid 60s household items look like those of the mid 1800s in the lower 48.  The curators, one a daughter of an original homesteader, are great story tellers.  It is a must stop if you make it through here.

Even then Soldotna was all about salmon fishing.  Man has fished this region hard for ages.  The very banks that invite the salmon to return have been trampled and salmon runs are greatly reduced.  Restoration efforts are now in full swing.  The prime fishing access points along the great Kenai and Anchor rivers are lined with fishwalks to allow angler access but protect banks and foliage.  Long sections off the banks are entirely closed and fenced off.  Signs everywhere encourage riverbed walking by anglers to limit bank damage.  (They sell a lot of chest waders up here) They count Kenai River salmon with sonar at the mouth and have an elaborate calculation to change season close dates based on the count that makes it up river.

This year King season closed early because of low counts.  There is some whining and we have seen a good bit of rule breaking but they certainly are trying to repair the damage done and build numbers back toward historical.  Even with the restrictions and smaller runs, we have seen a lot of fish caught.   We may still try again to catch one  before we get out of here.