We flew from Merrill Field to a camp on Lone Creek, which is a tributary to Chuit Creek. First we flew across the mouth of the Knik Arm and then along the Susitna flats, crossing the Little and Big Susitna rivers. After crossing the Big Su we started heading southwest along the western shore of Cook Inlet. We flew over the Ivan, Lewis, Theodore and Beluga rivers. Once we reached the small community of Beluga we turned west and headed towards Lone Creek, following the Chuit River most of the way.

Robert Kirchner works for LGL Alaska Research as a seasonal field biologist, mostly participating in fisheries and marine mammal studies.