A variety of events as we work through the winter months

We are coming into the period of the winter season when the weather begins to moderate some, at least regarding extreme temperatures, and the days are getting noticeably longer. With the greater amount of sunlight, moderate temperatures, and a good snow pack this year, riding your snowmachine really becomes enjoyable, whether it’s to go ice fishing or just enjoy a ride through areas which are inaccessible most other times of the year

This is also when a lot of winter activities either are or will be happening. The Iron Dog snowmachine race should be wrapping up shortly, if it isn’t already finished when you read this. Fur Rondy is kicking off in Anchorage with all sorts of interesting activities over the next couple of weeks. The Iditarod Sled Dog race will begin in early March and has an international following. The Palmer Lions Gun Show at Raven Hall in Palmer is happening next weekend (March 2-3), and I won’t be able to participate in any of them!

Other things like a Board of Fish meeting and a Board of Game meeting are also scheduled for early to mid-March and I normally try to attend at least a day or two of each, just to say hi to the board members and staff, and to keep up on any interesting proposals which might affect our Valley area. I can only listen online this year!

Unless something unusual is turned up in some blood work I just had, I should have received clearance from all my medical providers to have my right knee replaced next week. Since I won’t be able to walk much for a few weeks, I’ll miss everything I can’t watch on television or listen to either on the radio or online.

Oh, I’ll still be walking, both for physical therapy and just to get around the house, but those long walks from the parking lot into Raven Hall for the gun show, for instance, will have to wait for next year. They tell me the first four to six weeks after surgery are the worst, pain wise, and I also hear the physical therapists can be sadistic in making one rehab his replaced knee joint. In truth, the rehab is a necessary evil in order to regain the full use and range of motion of the knee joint as it heals.

I’m not looking forward to either the surgery or the physical therapy, but I am eagerly anticipating having a fully functional leg that doesn’t hurt. My eagerness for this physical improvement has many reasons, but the biggest incentive now is the permit I will receive for the DC590 Talkeetna Mountains caribou hunt I drew last Friday!

I applied with a good friend and hunting partner for the party permit and we were selected. This is usually a fly-in hunt that then becomes a backpacking operation, so you can understand the need for two functional legs! I’m not getting any younger and this may be the last time I can expect to do a challenging backpack sort of hunting adventure. My luck drawing permits is average at best, so another opportunity for a semi-remote hunt close to home is speculative at best.

I just received an email informing me of an ice fishing tournament which sounds like fun but is, apparently, not without some level of controversy. The Copper Basin Scales and Tales ice fishing tournament is a four-day affair happening on March 30-31st and again on April 13-14th. Fishing will occur on Lake Louise, and both Susitna and Tyone Lakes as well. Headquarters is located at The Point Lodge on Lake Louise and both individuals and teams can participate.

The tournament is a “catch and release” activity with cash and prizes to be awarded to the top three places in each category. This tournament “…is Alaska’s premier Lake Trout ice fishing tournament” and their stated mission: “…is to promote ice fishing excellence through education, participation, and competition.” For further information on how the tournament will be run, times and registration details, and cost to sign up, call 907-822-5566.

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission has received word that folks objecting to this tournament may attend the next meeting of the commission. The area Sport Fish Division biologist sent an email explaining the biological impact of the tournament (essentially none) and how both ADF&G and the Wildlife Troopers will be present during the tournament monitoring activities.

I’m wondering why these folks object. I’ll find out at the meeting!