Our temperatures have cooled, and most or all of the wild fire smoke has dissipated (see A Red Sun Rises). But, we’re still seeing the effects of the Alaskan heat wave.
Meade Glacier sits at the head of the short Katzehin River across Lynn Canal and somewhat north of our homestead. The river influences our life here in many ways. Most importantly, the glacial silt that flows out across the fjord waters effects how we fish and collect fire wood.
Fresh water, being less dense than salt water, tends to lie on top of the ocean at the outflow, often in a layer that’s about a foot deep. We commonly look out and announce “The river’s coming!” as the silty, fresh water flows to our shore. If we needed to (and don’t mind the silt) we could dip drinking water off the surface.
The silt also makes a translucent layer that shields the sensitive eyes of our game fish, allowing them to stay near the surface on sunny days, rather than diving deep. That improves my fishing.
But, I digress.
This specimen cruised by our beach the other day (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger).
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