Dock Is In

Spring is the morning of the year,
And summer is the noontide bright;
The autumn is the evening clear,
That comes before the winter’s night.

This is the opening verse of a poem titled “The Golden Rod” written by Frank Dempster Sherman.

What does a poem have to do with dock installation at Beaver Creek Cabins and Guide Service? Well, it happens in the spring, and it’s always in the morning. And, there’s some other nonsense about noontide bright, whatever that means.

My very useful tide app indicated the highest tide of the month would happen on May 8th. The height of the tide would be at least a foot higher than what I would need to float the dock out.

As a reference, this is where the dock was stored last fall. 

Here’s how it looked at 4:45am on May 8th at the peak of a 24.1 foot high tide.  

Unlike last year, this year’s installation was a breeze. Once slack tide hit, Dan, Greg, and I finished in less than 10 minutes. I honestly think I could have done it alone this year, but extra hands are always welcome. Thanks guys! 

This is what Beaver Creek looks like after the tide drops out. 

The water might seem low, but this is normal at this time of year. With added daylight and summer heat, glacier melt from Skilak and Snow glaciers will fill the river to its banks. By mid August, the river will begin to recede, unless we are inundated with fall rains. This is a usual cycle for a glacier fed river.

Interesting factoids. Upper Cook Inlet (Turnagain Arm) has the second highest tides in the world. Beaver Creek is nearly ten miles from the ocean and the tidal influence reaches all the way to mile 14 of the Kenai River.

Bonus points for those who know where the highest tides in the world are. If you don’t know, click on this link for the answer.

I wonder if there are poems about springtime moose after a dock goes in?