Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Alaska/Yukon....and increasing human activity

Just wondering,

For those of you that have lived in these places for awhile, have you seen any major impacts on the wilderness there over the years in terms of development and human encroachment? Do you think humans will manage to mess these last true wilderness areas as well? Or, do you think it's remote and cold enough to deter major destruction?

A while back there were over 3000 people in the same stretch that now holds about 75. So if anything I think it is more wilderness now.

I've only had a 20+ year perspective on Alaska.

The only significant development I've seen in Alaska has been in the existing major population centers, and that is barely a percentage of the land mass of Alaska. In a large portion of the state you can wander off and have the same seclusion as 100 or 1000 years ago.

Not saying man can't screw things up on a large scale, but I don't fear for my kids and their kids being able to enjoy the wilds and beauty of Alaska.

I do see the glut of free loaders putting a strain on our economy, but that's for another rant.

The Sterling Hwy relocate is going to be a major cluster and impact.

DOT planning to put it right by Juneau falls.

NIMBY!

What do you attribute that to?

He's likely referring to a loss of whaling stations and fishing. Southeast was a busier place 100 years ago in many respects. These days you'd hardly know people were here in large numbers minus some old cannery pilings here and there. The rain forest just eats up signs of man. Look at a pic of Killisnoo from 100 years ago versus one now and you'll see what I mean.

For sure, but that's only part of it.

We are being overrun by liberals but hopefully the skeeters and [bleep] weather will run them off. lol

Why not invite a bunch of them bear hunting and make sure you wear your fastest sneakers?

There are lots of abandoned mining, fishing, fish processing, logging, and more sites all over AK.

Some of the cooler ones i have been to are Port Hobron, Lynx Creek, Pigot Bay, and there are a huge bunch more. This place was settled by a bunch of really tough SOBs!!!

Forgot AK's first oilfield at Katalla on the northern Gulf of AK. Would like to go back and spend some time looking around there.

...And it's about GD time.

That would be a cool sight to explore. Given how remote it is, likely mostly untouched.

Lots of wire-wrapped wood casing/pipe still lying around... saw no buildings standing, but it is right on the water.

Agreed, Chris. I certainly do not have an issue with improved roads and better safety. That's the #1 crash area in the winter down here.

And, it IS about time - been nearly 40 years of talk. It's just the route I don't like. They are all expensive (~$300 million), but the Juneau Falls route is by far the most invasive.

Yep. Lots of old junk around in the woods everywhere. We have some of that old wire wrapped wooden pipe laying around, I will see if I can get a picture of it tomorrow. I have found old dams build out of boards and logs in the middle of nowhere. People were a lot craftier and tougher back in the day.

around population centers as noted, more buildings going up even in the outlying areas. hasn't seemed to effect moose populations very much still see them and even right in downtown area.

but as Paul noted, lots of wide open spaces here, it's hard to envision it becoming crowded outside of pop centers.

spose it could happen but I'll be dead and gone before it does, that's worth something.

Here`s a better thought for Liberals take them snipe hunting with bags only by the river in a well known brown bear fishing area when salmon are running !