Alaska, September, 2018
Road Scholar, "Alaska Up Close"
When asked, "Did the trip meet up with my expectations", I said... Well, I expected lots of rain all the time, I expected clouds of mosquitoes, and I expected cold weathewr, even to the point of snow on some days. So I had to admit that the trip did NOT meet up with my expectations. Put another way, I hoped there would be at least some days when I could see the mountain tops (there were LOTS), I hoped for some days free of mosquitoes (I saw a few mosquitoes on only one day), and although the days were often cool on deack, it often gor up into the sixties. And no snow. The scenery was fantastic, the food was absolutely super, the crew was helpful and pleasant, and I loved every moment of it! So the trip did exceed my hopes and expectations. We had unusually splendid weather, super clear September days, a bit of easy rain for a couple of hours on a few days.
 Here's the daily log kept on the boat... Starts in Sitka, of the left side of the map. Ends Day 8, Juneau. Where we were! |
 I'll call this my first view of Alaska, from the airplane, of course. Actually, I doi't know if it was Canada or Alaska, but those mountains were impressive. DSC_1050 |
 First view of Sitka. Airport is on the left, Sitka far right. DSC_1071 |
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 Sitka Russian Orthodox Cathedral. DSC_1117XXX cell phone photo |
 Sitka, Russion Orthodox Cathedral. We traveled a day early, so we had a bit of time to explore the cathedral. DSC_1134 |
 Sitka is surrounded by mountains, and lots of boats. DSC_1222 |
 This little stream was crowded with salmon. After spending a couple of years in the ocean, they return to the place where they hatched. Amazing! DSC_1234 |
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 Sitka squeezes between the mountains and the sea. DSC_1277 |
 Our boat, the Baranoff Dream, putting out kayaks on a fine calm sunny day. A special deck made it easy and safe to launch and retrieve the kayaks. There were six two-person kayaks; everyone had an opportunity to paddle. DSC_1391 |
 We saw quite a few whales. I was wishing that I had brought my telephoto lens. Flukes, going down. Another blowing farther out. Humpback whales. DSC_1320 |
 Reflections in the water: trees and sky. DSC_1390 |
 On the Bridge. We were welcome there to chat and enjoy the view. DSC_1462 |
 Sundown. Sometimes the boat traveled all night to get to our next destination. I resented missing that scenery, but definitely did enjoy our destinations. DSC_1478 |
 Passing this lighthouse at dusk. DCS_1482 |
 Into the Tracy Arm. Don't know why it's called that, but it was spectacular! DSC_1532 |
 Tracy Arm, computer display in the bridge. DSC_1614 |
 Tracy Arm DSC_1564 |
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 This glacier was in the North part of the Tracy Arm. We could get to the quarter mile limit. DSC_1611 |
 Out in the DIB (inflatable boat), we had this picture taken, glacier in the background. DSC_1623 |
 Tracy Arm. DSC_1675 |
 Tracy Arm. The mountains come down to the sea very steeply. The trees cling to wherever they can. DSC_1686 |
 Tracy Arm Are they snow fields or glaciers on those mountains? Some glaciers terminate in tidal waters, other do not. DSC_1689 |
 Tracy Arm, a highlight of the trip. DSC_1716 |
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 Train, out of Skagway. Built in '98 for the gold rush. It was built in only a year, so they say! DSC_1926 |
 The path taken by the gold rushers is still visible on the right. They went up and back many times, usually in very cold weather. I don't think anyone hikes it now; we saw no hikers. DSC_1954 |
 Our ladies! DSC_2000 |
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 This rainbow followed us up the channel, and so did the rain. I could sit on the top deck under the cover and watch the rain scene go by. DSC_2030 |
 Mountain tops spewing clouds. Very rugged. No wonder there's so few roads up there. DSC_2047 |
 Sea lions on the rocks. DSC_2105 |
 Scenery passing the boat. I stayed on the upper deck for hours to watch this. DSC_2151 |
 We watch this glacier as it calved big chunks into the ocean. DSC_2189 |
 Mendenhall Glacier, near Juneau. DSC_2294 |
 Juneau is crowded into the small space between the monntains and the sea. Got good brakes? DSC_2305 |
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 Tiny Russian Orthodox church in Juneau. DSC_2307 |
 Just like the one in Sitka, only smaller. DSC_2307 |
 We didn't see weather THIS cold, but they did the night before we got to Juneau. I saw this in the path to the waterfall at the Menbdenhall glacier. DSC_2273 |
 Airplane windows are not always clean and clear, but I tried this anyway. How huge these glaciers can be! I was told that the Kenai glacier was about 2200 square miles. DSC_2341 |
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 That's us, except for somebody standing right behind someone else. I'm second from the left. |
