Stories of Alaska
Beautiful country and capable, amazing people
- AJ Slagle
- 2017-07-16 02:30:45
- Private Charter
- South Inian Pass, Alaska
I said "Jason"as I approached the powertroller with the man operating the winch controls at the base of the boom mast, the bearded, work disheveled fisherman turned to me then smiled once he recognized the source of the voice,a warm strong handshake was extended and I greeted his son Calvin as well.
Then he started telling me what he had been up to since our last meeting a year ago,we both had plenty to relate and the brief encounter was heartfelt and fun, I explained the charter I was on that had brought me there to Hoonah and that I would be visiting a mutual friend of ours on the way to elfin cove which was one of the benefits of this journey seeing Jason and his son and Sean Roberts the captain of the "shadow" also reminded me of encounters possible while traveling in this country.
Knowing there are friends traveling these waters facing the same risks and challenges,admiring the country and its bounty in a mutually respectful manner adds to its allure and makes being away from home and loved ones less of a burden to bear.
Our time is so limited when we are working and traveling but we have to grab these moments when possible and make that effort for we just don't see when these encounters may happen again. I was telling Chris about feeling the difference in the motion of the water under the 16 foot Lund I brought to Elfin cove my first time there as I came through south inian pass the next day then we saw Jason in the "Quyana".
That is why I called him on the VHF as we both made our way through,it may be even longer before we see each other again and the setting makes the greeting even more special.
Beautiful country and capable,amazing people its been a good trip.
Corona Virus Update 2.3.2023
Even in the remote islands of Southeast Alaska, COVID-19 poses risks. The health and safety of our guests, employees, and community are our top priorities. We have put special measures in place to keep people safe on excursions:
The safety of our customers is paramount, so we’re also not going to walk away from common sense guidelines such as:
- Vaccination – We believe vaccines provide safe and effective protection against COVID-19. We strongly encourage vaccination and boosters for all employees, and the vast majority are currently vaccinated against COVID 19
- Social distance – We strive to keep groups separated as much as possible during the licensing and outfitting process, but our real strength in social distancing is based on the size of our boats. With only six passengers per vessel and one captain they spend time with, the risks of exposure are limited.
- Masking – We abide by the federal mandate for passenger vessels, masks are required for the duration of the tour while in enclosed cabins. That being said, there is quite a lot of airflow even on our hardtops which are typically open to the back deck. Masking may be required at times for vulnerable guests on a case-by-case basis.
- Stringent Cleaning – We’ve increased the frequency of disinfecting surfaces and high traffic areas such as the Alaska Fish House restaurant, bathrooms, the outfitting room, the dock, and our boats. Hand sanitizer will be available to all guests on every boat.
- Wellness Checks:
- Employees receive daily wellness checks to ensure they are healthy and symptom-free.
- Employees are empowered to call in sick if they show symptoms.
- If you or anyone in your group is experiencing symptoms, we will work directly with you to cancel or reschedule your tour free of charge.
These protocols have enabled Baranof Fishing Excursions to operate safely and successfully throughout 2020, 2021 and 2022. With your help, we intend to continue fishing safely in 2023!
