Stan (pilot) fishing in the Tsiu River, looking inland towards the mountains.

Our plane, parked on the beach alongside the river.  We left the "tailgate" open the whole day, so the passengers could come by whenever they liked and pick up or drop off equipment, eat lunch, etc.  Actually, I was a bit worried that a grizzly would wander by and see all the coolers sitting in the open behind the plane.  It would have had a field day!

Another plane circles overhead, looking down over the river and the beach before he lands.

Sea otters play in the surf, near the mouth of the river.  It became quickly apparent that they were keeping a close eye on the intruder (me) - everytime I'd approach the edge of the water, all the close ones would all of a sudden be gone.  Disappointed, I'd start walking away, only to look back and see them right on the shore again -- like they were taunting me!

Standing alone on the empty beach, looking down the line of pounding surf gradually fading into the mist to the south.  As I stood there, I had this sudden urge to go surfing, which is interesting, because I've never had much of an interest in it before.  I think it was the image of me, alone, surfing the coast of Alaska on this deserted beach, 50 miles from the nearest civilization!

The beach itself was a beautiful strip of hard, smooth and fine sand.  At the high end of it was a jumbled line of driftwood.  I always love looking at driftwood, at the strange, twisted shapes, and the contrast between smooth, polished surfaces  and sharp spiked edges where it was dashed against the shoreline by the fury of the sea.

Pebbles, scattered about along the higher end of the beach, create their own shapes and forms as the occasional higher wave washes over them and and then gently withdraws, leaving behind each a wake of sand.

Isolated clumps of grass on the beach yield to the relentless gale of wind and the shifting sands.

A set of grizzly bear tracks wander down the otherwise lonely beach...