Alaska Tid Bits

Animals? Did we see animals ~ Oh yes we saw animals or rather mammals

We saw the black and white colors of baby Orcas, fins and spumes several times and once while I was on my own, saw several humpback whales playing in the water. Sad to say, I didn't have my camera with me! Along with seals frolicking in the water, they were much fun to watch. Here is a fin of something, it never did surface.



A pretty island out in the middle of nowhere and the sun 'setting' on the water



We disembarked in Vancouver, Canada, bussed to Seattle for an overnight and then flight home to Atlanta the next day.

Didn't witness any wild bears or calving of icebergs, time to go back to Alaska!

Ketchikan

Saturday May 23, 2009

Ketchikan has an average yearly rainfall of 162 inches. It rains almost 240 days a year. The day we were here it was cloudy, the first we've seen in 2 weeks, but it never rained. We were blessed!



Because of so much rain, their baseball fields look like this. Notice what's missing? (answer is the grass!)



Ketchikan is about a half mile wide and seven miles long. There is 16 to 18 hours of daylight during the summer months. We saw many bald eagles here with their nest high in the air, but no pictures of them flying high from their nest.

Totem Poles are not of interest to either of us. Ketchikan if full of them. Along with master carver Nathan Jackson



Thought it interesting that totem poles were never worshiped as religious objects as the early missionaries believed. They were carved to honor the dead, proclaim wealth and status and support the oral traditions.

We visited The Discovery Center and found these 'babies' ~ in order, a horned owl, falcon and of course our national bird, the eagle!

Juneau

Friday May 22, 2009

Juneau is the capitol of Alaska and is the largest capitol in the USA by land size (3,248 square miles). There are no roads in our out of Juneau, it's only accessible by ship, plane or birth canal :)

The most visited Glacier in the world and quickly shrinking is here, the Mendenhall. I was impressed with the amount of decent sized icebergs in the lake nearby.




The Macaulay Salmon Hatchery was very interesting with a 5,000 gallon salt water aquarium filled with colorful and unique fish. Some aquatic can be touched and that is my specialty. Like this sea cucumber, he looks sharp but actually felt like jello. The star shaped one was soft as well.


















On to the Mount Roberts Tramway and the view of our ship down below.




The town of Juneau

Skagway and the Yukon

Thursday May 21, 2009

We took the "Experience the Yukon" excursion from Skagway and I would highly recommend this!! It was by bus and not the popular White Pass Train. A few words to always remember ... Trains are great BUT they do NOT stop for pictures!

Some of the scenery on the way to the top of the Mt.





At the top. This is how thick the ice still is in late May




Final destination was Caribou Crossing for lunch and sights to see. Then the town of Carcross which is short for the former. We had our passports stamped here since we are in British Columbia, Canada. Next we visited the "World's Smallest Desert" yes in Alaska! The Carcross Desert is 642 acres and has been recognized by Guinness.



Got our pictures taken at each of the 3 signs ~ Welcome to Alaska, Yukon Larger than Life and Welcome to British Columbia, Canada. Remember IF you take the train, you do not stop for these signs!

The history and pictures behind the Gold Rush is fascinating and much to much to go into here. So visit Pictorial History of the Yukon by Carcross Community School You won't be sorry!

And Skagway by it's self?

Glacier Bay

Wednesday May 20, 2009

Much of Glacier Bay is over 1,000 feet deep and does not freeze in the winter due to the tides and wind. It was discovered by Captain George Vancouver in 1794.

The Margerie Glacier shown below is about one mile wide and 250 feet high with a base around 100 feet below sea level. It extends for 21 miles back into the mountain range.



Picture is blue because it was taken thru the ship window. Smaller boat gives better size comparisons.


Nearby is the Grand Pacific Glacier. It is 2 miles wide and is dirty because of the avalanches, rock slides etc causing an accumulation of dirt and rock.



The view around the both of these glaciers while we were idling is magnificent! Very serene. We were not fortunate to witness the calving of an iceberg. Was told it sounds like a gunshot when it cracks.




Glaciers form when the snowfall exceeds the snow melt. Huge icebergs can last up to a week or more and they provide perches for many animals and birds.