I just got back from a weekend of glassing mountains on the south end of Johnson's Pass Trail. No bears sited. I didn't expect to get a bear, but I did expect to at least see one. I'm a little suprised I didn't see anything. My friend and I hiked in 5-6 miles and then camped all weekend just in the timber line and glassed all day. We saw two sets of brown bear tracks on the trail on the way in. The first set were bran fresh just out of the parking area and the second set were 1.5-2 miles out, a day old, and HUGE! I'll try to post pictures tomorrow. Too tired now. Must sleep!

Brett

South end sucks IMO. a long ways to hike to get into the high grounds.

Coming in from the north you break out up high faster.

Only time the south end comes in better is if you have a boat and skip across the lake, knocks out alot of hiking.

Alot of brownies on that trail, more than blackies. blackies are there for sure.

How was the snow?

The North end has a lot of snow still on the mountains. I'm sure the trail has quite a bit too. I went to the south end because it was receiving much more sun and melting much faster. Many of the slopes were open to opening up on the south end. Yes it was quite a way in from the south end. A boat would be a great advantage. The lake is open by the road, but the rest is still closed. Snow on the trail wasn't too bad. The way in we postholed some. I had snowshoes and broke them out. By the time we left sunday the trail was melted significantly more and snow shoes weren't needed. At this rate next weekend there won't be snow at all on the south end of the trail. The north end has a lot of snow on the mountians. I would guess the trail would require snowshoes, but I have only driven past it and not seen for myself.

Brett

Thanks for the snow update. Wifey wants to head south to do some glassing and I was curious.

Next week I'm probably gonna do a flyout for bear and I'm hoping there wont be to much snow.

After the snow is gone, you gotta hike the whole trail, its pretty cool.

I woulda thought the lake woulda been pretty much open by now, with the weather we have been having.

Talked to my manager today at Barney's. He was down on the Kenai steely fishing. On the way back sunday he pulled over at the north end of Johnson's Pass Trail to water a pee tree. He looked up on one of the mountains and saw two black bear. He thought they were a boar and a sow. Figures! I may do a little road hunting this weekend and then do another pack in hunt the following weekend if I'm still bearless. Good luck on your hunt. Let me know how it goes.

Brett

If you do a road trip, hit round mtn. across from the kenai ferry access just outside of cooper landing. I usually see some bears on that hill. Nice south facing slope so the snow should be gone.

Theres a very easy access that will bring you through the trees in no time, thanks to the USFS.