Back to School

Why?...." because I told you so". Man I hated that when I was a kid. Its because it has everything to do with authority and nothing to do with reason. Well this week I got just a taste of that, here's the story.

A few years back when I was on the River Board our guide industry was facing alot of scrutiny because of its impact on the social fabric of the Kenai River. Some were fearful that the guides could lose some fishing days due to regulation so they devised a plan to make the guide industry more professional, a kinder , nicer guide industry....How?...Well lets send them all to school for a week. The plan called for all new guides to have to go to school immediately before they could guide and then a roll in was done with the guys who have been at it the longest being given 5 years or so to take the class.  That's me, the last guy to take the class, well me and 24 more like me. 

I was actually having anxiety over going to this as I just thought it was nonsense.  After all, I've guided 200 to 300 anglers a year for the last two or three decades, whats to learn?  But I finally came to the conclusion that all industries usually have a continuing education program and there might be some value here. And there was, just not enough for 4 nine hour days worth with a 5 hour day for testing.  The safety concerns you can't hear to  often and the science of the river was fascinating, I learned alot. It could all have been done in two days. But you know me, theres always a bright side so here's a snapshot of the class and a list of what I learned....

My class room was number 107 in the Walter Ward building. For years I thought the benefactor was my old friend Walter Ward who owned Wilderness Way Store and used to be a Park Ranger. In fact I often thought my friend Walt was one of these silent unassuming philanthropists never wanting recognition. He was doing it just to do the right thing....Well, at recess of the first day I found out I was flat wrong, this Stately looking gentleman is the 'real' Walter Ward. I don't know his story but he certainly looks like a guy who would and could give jillions to the local community college. Thanks Walt. 

I'm not a real fan of signs. I guess its because signs are generally telling you not do things and I'm all about doing lots of things. But the 3 signs in this sequence caught my eye. It kind of underscores what we all know about Alaska, its not like the 48.  But it seems to me that the sign about bears should trump the sign about no guns.

Our college (KPC) has a huge oilfield technology curriculum.  They have classes for instrument technology and fire and safety and welding. So this huge, gorgeous , rusty moose is the work of the welding technology students. I don't think theres to many campuses with such a unique artwork and us here on the Kenai know one thing about moose...like fish, you can't have to many of them. When you really look at this thing like I did the weirdness goes away and you realize that not only was there an obvious welding lesson in it but the structural design needed and the overall layout makes this a pretty cool project.

When I got to class on Monday morning I naturally picked out the farthest seat away from the podium, I like to talk in class....in fact I like to talk anytime. Well who comes and sits next to me but Tim Hiner, guide #1 on the Kenai River. Of course we've known each other in passing for years, we reallyy didn't know each other well but after having shared our schooling here I can announce that we're friends now. It really was one of the cool unintended results of this deal. Tim is a good christian fellow and about as steady a guy as I know. He laughs easily and I'm impressed with the missionary work he does in Russia. Today when we split up I thanked him for helping me through the course. So the next pic is me and Tim taking notes during the 'what every guide needs to know' section of the class. Don't think the pick below it is a mistake and doesn't fit...its actually the mental imaging exercise I was doing while the guide spoke. Yep, I can still do two things at once just like high school.

So today was graduation day. The next pic is me getting my suitable for framing certificate. On the left is Dave Goggia who is the President of the Guide Association and also Gary Turner, the President of the college.  It was pretty cool that a guy that busy would fine time to congratulate all the students personally.  When all was said and done I actually had a pretty good time and got to see alot of old friends. The food was healthy and the coffee was hot. Here's a few of the interesting things I learned. I hope to retain as much as I can and in some ways you guys...this deal made me a better guide. It sure couldn't have hurt anything.

1. The 'hyporeuic' is the most important zone in the stream. Its the aerated depths (sometimes as deep as 2 feet) that the hatched out alevins are raised over the winter relying on their yolk sack and then the aquatic creatures that inhabit the hyporeic zone.

2. Silver fry spend 3 years in the fresh and then just one year in the ocean.

3. There are 38 species of fish in the Kenai River. I knew there was alot, but not 38...

4.86 species of midges and chironmidaes, the all important aquatic creatures that the small fish feed on.

5. Our first people to the river were the Kachemak Riverine at 1,000 B.C.

6.I can shoot my shot gun legally 1/4 mile from a house or structure.

Well you get the idea. Everybody's doing alot of work to make the best of the this world famous Kenai River.