Alaskans deserve break on Russian River parking

A two-hour movie sets you back almost $10. A couple beers consumed in a bar cost the same or more.

The 105-mile drive to the Russian costs about $17 in an automobile getting 25 miles per gallon.

But given Alaskans' disdain for puny, little, fuel-efficient economy cars, the drive will probably cost most of us more than that. With gas above $4 per gallon, a trip south in that Ford F150 four-wheel drive pickup will set you back more than $25 -- with another big bite in the wallet for the drive back.

Let's not even think about the other costs:

• Mid-range graphite fly rod, $250 and up.

• Fly reel, $100 and up.

• Waterproof, breathable waders, $100 and up.

• Wading shoes, $50 and up.

• Fly-fishing vest, $50 and up.

• Flies, fly lines, weights, $50 and up.

And the "ups'' can go way, way, way up.

Just think about a G. Loomis Stream Dance MAX GLX fly rod, $620, with a Waterworks ULA Force fly reel, $410, and some Simms G3 Guide Gore-tex waders, $400.

That little setup would pay your entry to the Russian River Campground parking area for 110 days, which would cover about three seasons for even the most serious fishaholic.

With all that said, let me add this:

Eleven bucks to get into the Russian is an outrageous fee to charge Alaskans.

If the U.S. Forest Service, which oversees this Chugach National Forest facility, wants to stick it to vacationing anglers from warm states, fine.

But there ought to be some benefits come summer for those who endure the long, cold, dark Alaska winters.

Maybe it's time for an Alaska resident discount.

If we can give discounts to old people for surviving, to kids to make their parents happy and to the military for serving their country, why not to Alaskans for doing a winter in-country?

Well, you ask, how would you identify them?

I would settle for anyone holding a resident sportfishing license. You have to live here a year to qualify to buy one, and the one thing the Alaska State Troopers are pretty good at is going through license records and tracking down people who try to cheat on this.

Yes, there are people who get a resident license one year and in future years spend large portions of their winters Outside, but they are a small percentage of the angling population. And at least they did one winter in Alaska.

For those who have done a lot of winters, only to shiver through a chilly June like this one, there ought to be some small reward.

Especially in a year like this.

If you're thinking June has disappointed, don't worry.

It's not you; it's the climate.

Consider this month the exception that makes the rule for global warming.

Temperatures have been so low it appears some of the fish have decided to stay at sea longer, hoping for a change.

Since the start of June, National Weather Service records indicate, only three days have reached the average high of near 60. None of them crept far enough above that mark to be called warm, let alone hot.

Meanwhile, five days dropped below the average low of about 40 degrees.

There's nothing quite like being able to see your breath on a June day to remind you we don't live in Kansas.

Too bad we don't. The "prime season" access fee to Kansas parks is $4.20 -- not $11.

Kansas offers no special rates for state residents, but other places do.

For $2, the city of Missoula, Mont., offers a "resident discount card'' that provides a 20 percent discount at city facilities.

Twenty percent off at the Russian would knock the fee down to $8.80 -- a reasonable 80 cent increase over what parking was last year.

But why should the resident discount stop at one fishing hole?

The governor has been talking about giving Alaskans a debit card for gasoline. Why not a debit card for recreation?

Personally, I would rather the state cover my parking at Glen Alps than pay for the gas to get there. The parking lot is close enough to my house that I often ride the bike anyway.

So hey, how about a debit card for bike parts? The more you ride, the more you wear things out -- chains, cassettes, tires, chain rings.

A debit card for bike parts would not only help needy Alaskans, it would encourage them to go green.

Of course, a buddy of mine thinks the debit card should really be for beer. Then we could all afford to sit around, lift a few and bemoan the loss of the good old days. That's when you could get into the Russian for 5 bucks, the salmon always ran thick, there was never a wait for a parking spot, and there was hardly ever another angler in sight on the river.

Like that ever happened.

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Outdoors editor Craig Medred is an opinion columnist. Find him online at adn.com/contact/cmedred or call 257-4588.