Guests at Alaska West have the opportunity to book fishing days on the Arolik River, which is a really awesome experience for a whole bunch of reasons. Accessing the Arolik involves taking a short bus ride through the village of Quinhagak and down the Arolik Road to the edge of the river, where we keep our guide boats.
The Arolik bus is a real gem. Formerly used by forestry teams, it made its journey to us by barge. Its life in (well, near) Quinhagak started off with the barge getting stuck in the muddy bay outside the mouth of the Kanektok for a couple of weeks, easily within sight but yet so far away…but that’s another story.
It’s got plenty of room for anglers and gear, and let’s just say it’s got a ‘well-worn’ feel to it. Rugged, reliable and overflowing with character – just the way we like it.
Will Windshield World make a house call up there?
Man, we wish they would! Them, and Domino's.
As if it weren't wild enough to get off a small plane in the middle of western Alaska, loading gear on that flatbed bus and then riding in it to the Kanektok is real adventure. I say this because of my visit to Alaska West a year and a half ago. I took three bus rides including one to the Arolik and each was memorable. Regarding the windshield, there's no way you can't wonder how that crack got in there.
Local lore? Any story to tell?
Loved the trip up there and I can't forget the bus.
I need a lowered version for tooling around Ennis, Montana.
greg
Crack, as in singular?
All of the above! Gravel from the road, bored local kids, casting mishaps. Wouldn't be surprised if some hopped-up silver missed slashing at a popper and wound up on the windshield. It's taken some hits for sure.
Fitting that it is a “short bus”, no?
Kevin
For a bunch of misfits like us, fitting for sure.
I’ll see the short bus this summer – Lord willing, but the old Andros bus was neat as well.