It's that time of year again when the (normally) fresh mountain air holds a tinge of decaying salmon. On average, out of 4,000 salmon eggs laid only two adults will return to their birthplace to spawn. This is one of the "lucky" few that were strong enough to endure a lifespan that included a few years at sea running a gauntlet of predators that includes seals, orcas, fishermen, and finally, bears. Hopefully this male was able to contribute to a future generation of sockeyes before becoming a meal for a hungry brown bear
It's also a good time of year to be aware of your surroundings when traveling in the backcountry and avoid succumbing to the circle of life just yet.
Colin
