Sarah Deyerle shares her journal notes from her week at Kulik Lodge. Friday - September 17, 1999 Today mom, dad and I got up at 5 o'clock in the morning, two of our friends came over around six thirty. A car picked us up and drove us to the Detroit airport. Our flight left at eight thirty. We flew 3 hours and 50 minutes to Salt Lake City. I saw so many mountains. At the top there was lots of snow. Once we changed flights we saw the big salt lakes. First it was blue and green and then it was bright pink! The man behind us said it was a salt mine. It was really weird. That flight was 4 hours and 20 minutes long. Once we got here we waited for our 2 friends to get off the plane then we went to baggage claim. We had to meet a girl named Lori, but we didn't know what she looked like. Luckily, everyone going on the trip had the same bags. We saw her name and looked to see who picked it up. Then a shuttle picked us up at the airport and took us to our hotel.

Saturday - September 18, 1999 Today we got to the Kulik Lodge. It's so neat. There's ten log cabins, also a lodge, hot tub and gift shop. We saw 3 bears on our way in. In the smaller plane we took, it was so much fun! There were eight seats including the pilot. The people here are really nice to everyone. We're renting the whole lodge. There are a lot of bears according to Bo. He's really nice. He works here.

Sunday - September 19, 1999 Today we got up in the dark. We got all our supplies to go fishing. After that we went to go eat breakfast. Then we took a boat with my mom, dad, friend, Carolyn, and me. We had waders on and saw even more bear, also lot's of dead fish. I was the first one to catch a fish. He was huge! (I was only regular fishing. Everyone else is/or was fly fishing.) Soon we came back and ate lunch. Then we went for a long hike. I found a piece of volcanic explosion rock on the beach. I brought it back with me.

Monday - September 20, 1999 Today we woke up at 7 something. We then went to the lodge for breakfast. It was really good. Then a small plane that landed on the water took us to Brooks Falls. We saw a huge waterfall on the way there! Once we got there we saw lots of bears on the platform (I have pictures). Then we all hiked to the falls. We saw salmon trying to jump back up but they missed. Then we saw Snaggletooth the bear who had one very large tooth and you could see it well. He caught 1 fish. We ate lunch and then left. When we got back I went in the hot tub.

Tuesday - September 21, 1999 This morning mom, dad, a friend named Carolyn, and I all went fly fishing. Wayne, our guide, too us out. He went around a bend with my dad. Then the three girls saw a bear go into the water and it kept coming closer. Then across the way more people saw it too and told us what to do. First they said we were fine then they all started waving their arms so then we got in very deep water. Then Carolyn and I turned around and saw him. He was right behind us. Then Wayne finally got back with dad. Then my dad was fishing and lost his glasses. We couldn't find them. Then we all came into the lodge and sat by the fire.

Wednesday - September 22, 1999 Today I went hiking with a few people. The only bad thing was it was raining. We were gone for about a little over an hour. We saw lots of bear prints (footsteps) because the ground was wet and muddy. Then we got back and ate a very good lunch. After lunch Lori and I played yahtzee for a while. Then we played card games. My dad said he was going fishing so Lori and I went too. I caught the first fish. It was a big rainbow fish. It was really pretty. Then we went in and saw a lot of bears. Then later we ate dinner and watched some bear movies. The first snow on the mountain tops today is called termination dust and there's lots of it.

Thursday - September 23, 1999 Today we moved cabins. Now we're in #2 instead of #10. Our guide said it was messy outside so we didn't go fishing in the morning. Then after lunch we all went fishing. We saw lots and lots of big and small bears.

Friday - September 24, 1999 It's our last day. We tried to do a lot of fishing - it was so much fun! Tonight we had a big dinner and took lots and lots of pictures! Everybody was hugging each other and saying good bye. We all promised to write to each other and I got everybody's e-mail addresses.

Saturday - September 25, 1999 We had breakfast and then went fishing a little while. After lunch we got on our plane and went back to Anchorage to go home. I miss Kulik already!