It's almost Christmas, we've been home about 8 weeks and it seems as though we will never get caught up on all the things that need to be done around the house. Six months is a long time to be gone when you have to return home and take care of all the chores that went unattended. I'm sure we will eventually get ahead of the curve ;)
We're going to Charleston, SC the day after Christmas, to Inverness, FL for New Years and then to Tampa for the RV Show and on to South Florida the middle of January. Our plans are to take small trips throughout the Winter and Spring.
We wish everyone a Very Happy Holiday and a Safe and Prosperous New Year.
Take care,
Pat & Judy
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
We Have Come to The Conclusion of This WILD and WONDERFUL Adventure...
This FANTASTIC trip has finally come to an end. At 3:30PM today we pulled into our driveway in Flagler Beach. It has been an INCREDIBLE journey and we have seen some of the MOST BEAUTIFUL scenery imaginable. Words are truly inadequate when trying to explain this experience.
Some of the mind-boggling numbers are:
· We have been gone 5 ½ months (167 days);
· We drove 12,467 miles in the motorhome and hundreds more in the car;
· We visited 2 countries, including 17 states, 2 provinces and one territory;
· We traveled from the extreme southeastern United States to the northern most point in North America:
· We flew to the highest point in North America and sailed on countless rivers and seas;
· We have met hundreds of people and had countless wonderful experiences;
and
· We took over 4,000 pictures!!!!
Our original intention was to share this once-in-a-lifetime trip with all of you. Thank you for taking the time to view our posts and be part of this experience with us. We hope you have enjoyed this Blog and truly hope that you have found it to be both informative and entertaining.
Please keep in touch. We would love to hear from you and enjoy your feedback. Send us an email or post a comment or give us a call…
This last link is a collection of some of our “favorite” photos; remember there are over 4,000 so it is a daunting task to pick “just a few”.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMZ8&emid=sharshar&linkid=link5
Stay safe,
P&J
PFerraro1@cfl.rr.com
Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.
Some of the mind-boggling numbers are:
· We have been gone 5 ½ months (167 days);
· We drove 12,467 miles in the motorhome and hundreds more in the car;
· We visited 2 countries, including 17 states, 2 provinces and one territory;
· We traveled from the extreme southeastern United States to the northern most point in North America:
· We flew to the highest point in North America and sailed on countless rivers and seas;
· We have met hundreds of people and had countless wonderful experiences;
and
· We took over 4,000 pictures!!!!
Our original intention was to share this once-in-a-lifetime trip with all of you. Thank you for taking the time to view our posts and be part of this experience with us. We hope you have enjoyed this Blog and truly hope that you have found it to be both informative and entertaining.
Please keep in touch. We would love to hear from you and enjoy your feedback. Send us an email or post a comment or give us a call…
This last link is a collection of some of our “favorite” photos; remember there are over 4,000 so it is a daunting task to pick “just a few”.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMZ8&emid=sharshar&linkid=link5
Stay safe,
P&J
PFerraro1@cfl.rr.com
Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
This Wild and Wonderful Adventure is Winding Down...
Today is the 8th of October, marking the beginning of the 6th month that we have been "on the road". It seems like a very long time ago that we left Flagler Beach - on May 7th - but, concurrently, it has been the MOST exciting and fascination experience of our lifetimes!
We are still wending our way back to Florida and expect to pull into our driveway some where around the 25th. There are a few more stops to make along the way; we're visiting Pat's Great Aunt in Humeston, Iowa for a few days and then on to Moscow, IA to have the jacks worked on, and then to Oshkosh, WI to visit friends, and then to Nappanee, IN to stop at the Newmar factory to pick up some items for the RV, and then to Tennessee to visit a friend of Pat's Mom and a last stop in Atlanta to visit some friends. As long as we're up here it makes sense to do these errands and visit these friends on the final leg home.
During the last couple weeks we have continued to visit some interesting places and see some fascinating sites. In Montana we stopped at the Little Bighorn Battlefield which memorializes one of the last armed efforts of the Northern Plains Indians to preserve their ancestral way of life. It was here at the Little Bighorn, in June 1876, that more than 260 soldiers and attached personnel of the US Army met defeat and death at the hands of several thousand Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. Among the dead were Lt. Col. George Custer and every member of his immediate command. Although the Indians won the battle, they subsequently lost the war against the white man's efforts to end their independent, nomadic way of life. We also went to Pictograph State Park and Pompey's Pillar. The latter is a rock outcropping that rises 200' above the Yellowstone River . In 1806 Captain William Clark carved his signature and the date in this stone. Along the entire Lewis & Clark Trail there is just one spot where you don't have to imagine the famed explorers having been there. It was kind of neat to see this early graffiti.
Next stop was Wall, SD, home of the world-famous Wall Drug which earns much of its fame from its self-promotion. Billboards advertising the establishment can be seen in all 50 states. In addition, many visitors of Wall Drug have erected signs throughout the world announcing the miles to Wall Drug from famous locations. Wall Drug promotes "Free Ice Water" to parched travelers and gives away 20,000+ glasses daily during the height of the tourist season. The facility, located in a small plains town, 60 miles from Mt Rushmore, is a sprawling shopping mall consisting of a drug store, gift shops, restaurants and various other stores and tourist attractions. Unlike a traditional shopping mall, all the stores at Wall Drug operate under a single entity and is still family-owned by the original founders from 1931.
Also in Wall, SD we went to the Wounded Knee Museum, a narrative museum which tells the story of a small band of Lakota families who became the focus of the last major military operation of the US Army in its centuries-long effort to subdue the Native American tribes. Exhibits and photographs provide a vivid picture of the events surrounding the Wounded Knee Massacre. The museum presents a carefully researched, thoroughly documented history of the flight of Big Foot's band of Minneconjou Lakota through the wintry South Dakota landscape, their capture by the 7th Cavalry, and the horrors of the morning of December 29, 1890, when up to 300 Lakota men, women and children died in a hail of bullets. It was NOT one of the proudest moments of our nation's history. But it is a story that must be told and NEVER forgotten.
And lastly, in Wall we also visited the MinuteMan Missle National Historic Site. This location consists of three facilities: a main office and two significant Cold War-era sites, a Launch Control Facility and a missile silo/launch facility, formerly operated by the 66th Strategic Missile Squadron. The facilities represent the only remaining intact components of a nuclear missile field that once consisted of 150 Minuteman II missiles, 15 launch control centers, and covered over 13,500 square miles of southwestern South Dakota. The sprawling missile complex remained on alert for nearly 30 years, until the site was de-activated following the signing of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) by President George Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1992. Minuteman missiles held the power to destroy civilization. Yet the same destructive force THANKFULLY acted as a deterrent which kept the peace for three decades. At Minuteman Missile it was possible to revisit the Cold War and learn how nuclear war came to haunt the world.
Our next stop was Pender, NE where a stop at Blue Ox enabled us to have some preventive maintenance done on our hitch and tow system and then it was on to Iowa. We stopped in Des Moines to have lunch with several of Pat's cousins and then came on into Humeston where we are spending several days with Pat's 97-year-old Great Aunt Maxine.
Here is the link for the pictures from Montana and South Dakota.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMZe
Since we are ALMOST home there will probably be just one more entry to this Post as our ALASKA 2008 ADVENTURE is, indeed, concluding.
Stay tuned for the FINAL installment,
P&J
We are still wending our way back to Florida and expect to pull into our driveway some where around the 25th. There are a few more stops to make along the way; we're visiting Pat's Great Aunt in Humeston, Iowa for a few days and then on to Moscow, IA to have the jacks worked on, and then to Oshkosh, WI to visit friends, and then to Nappanee, IN to stop at the Newmar factory to pick up some items for the RV, and then to Tennessee to visit a friend of Pat's Mom and a last stop in Atlanta to visit some friends. As long as we're up here it makes sense to do these errands and visit these friends on the final leg home.
During the last couple weeks we have continued to visit some interesting places and see some fascinating sites. In Montana we stopped at the Little Bighorn Battlefield which memorializes one of the last armed efforts of the Northern Plains Indians to preserve their ancestral way of life. It was here at the Little Bighorn, in June 1876, that more than 260 soldiers and attached personnel of the US Army met defeat and death at the hands of several thousand Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. Among the dead were Lt. Col. George Custer and every member of his immediate command. Although the Indians won the battle, they subsequently lost the war against the white man's efforts to end their independent, nomadic way of life. We also went to Pictograph State Park and Pompey's Pillar. The latter is a rock outcropping that rises 200' above the Yellowstone River . In 1806 Captain William Clark carved his signature and the date in this stone. Along the entire Lewis & Clark Trail there is just one spot where you don't have to imagine the famed explorers having been there. It was kind of neat to see this early graffiti.
Next stop was Wall, SD, home of the world-famous Wall Drug which earns much of its fame from its self-promotion. Billboards advertising the establishment can be seen in all 50 states. In addition, many visitors of Wall Drug have erected signs throughout the world announcing the miles to Wall Drug from famous locations. Wall Drug promotes "Free Ice Water" to parched travelers and gives away 20,000+ glasses daily during the height of the tourist season. The facility, located in a small plains town, 60 miles from Mt Rushmore, is a sprawling shopping mall consisting of a drug store, gift shops, restaurants and various other stores and tourist attractions. Unlike a traditional shopping mall, all the stores at Wall Drug operate under a single entity and is still family-owned by the original founders from 1931.
Also in Wall, SD we went to the Wounded Knee Museum, a narrative museum which tells the story of a small band of Lakota families who became the focus of the last major military operation of the US Army in its centuries-long effort to subdue the Native American tribes. Exhibits and photographs provide a vivid picture of the events surrounding the Wounded Knee Massacre. The museum presents a carefully researched, thoroughly documented history of the flight of Big Foot's band of Minneconjou Lakota through the wintry South Dakota landscape, their capture by the 7th Cavalry, and the horrors of the morning of December 29, 1890, when up to 300 Lakota men, women and children died in a hail of bullets. It was NOT one of the proudest moments of our nation's history. But it is a story that must be told and NEVER forgotten.
And lastly, in Wall we also visited the MinuteMan Missle National Historic Site. This location consists of three facilities: a main office and two significant Cold War-era sites, a Launch Control Facility and a missile silo/launch facility, formerly operated by the 66th Strategic Missile Squadron. The facilities represent the only remaining intact components of a nuclear missile field that once consisted of 150 Minuteman II missiles, 15 launch control centers, and covered over 13,500 square miles of southwestern South Dakota. The sprawling missile complex remained on alert for nearly 30 years, until the site was de-activated following the signing of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) by President George Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1992. Minuteman missiles held the power to destroy civilization. Yet the same destructive force THANKFULLY acted as a deterrent which kept the peace for three decades. At Minuteman Missile it was possible to revisit the Cold War and learn how nuclear war came to haunt the world.
Our next stop was Pender, NE where a stop at Blue Ox enabled us to have some preventive maintenance done on our hitch and tow system and then it was on to Iowa. We stopped in Des Moines to have lunch with several of Pat's cousins and then came on into Humeston where we are spending several days with Pat's 97-year-old Great Aunt Maxine.
Here is the link for the pictures from Montana and South Dakota.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMZe
Since we are ALMOST home there will probably be just one more entry to this Post as our ALASKA 2008 ADVENTURE is, indeed, concluding.
Stay tuned for the FINAL installment,
P&J
Friday, September 26, 2008
Jasper, Banff and Yoho National Parks and The Icefields Parkway Have Presented Non-Stop Beauty
It has been another week of INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL scenery. On Monday we arrived in Jasper National Park, our first stop in the Canadian Rockies. This land of craggy mountain peaks, lush valleys and mirror-smooth, glacial lakes provides a photographer’s dream. Maligne, Medicine Patricia, Edith, Annette and Pyramid Lakes, Maligne Canyon and Athabasca and Sunwapta Falls are all indicative of nature’s unbelievable beauty. Our visit to the Miette Hot Springs was both invigorating as well as relaxing. They are the hottest mineral springs (104 degrees) in the Canadian Rockies and to bask in the therapeutic pools while viewing the incredible landscape and wildlife is truly an unforgettable experience.
These parks are home to wildlife as diverse as their peaks and valleys. Fall is when the elk (or wapiti) are in rutting season and the loud bugling of these immense creatures is unmistakable and frequently heard.
After Jasper we traveled on the Icefields Parkway, which is undeniably one of the most beautiful highways in the world. National Geographic calls it “One of the World’s Ten Greatest Drives” and, believe us, it more than lives up to its reputation. To travel the Icefields Parkway is to be immersed in a vast wilderness of magnificent peaks, ancient glaciers, diverse wildlife, waterfalls, pristine mountain lakes and broad sweeping valleys. The road passes within viewing distance of seven icefields, comprising the largest concentration of glacial ice below the Arctic Circle, the centerpiece being the Columbia Icefield. This stunning geographical feature is a high alpine basin of accumulated snow that straddles the Great Divide. At Mount Snow Dome one encounters a TRIPLE Continental Divide, which is scientifically unique. It is at this hydroponic apex where water flows into THREE different directions across the continent to ultimately empty into THREE different oceans (The Atlantic, The Pacific and The Arctic!). It was near Mount Snow Dome, at the Athabasca Glacier, a tongue of the Columbia Icefield, that we had one of the most phenomenal experiences of our entire trip. We know, we have said that MANY times over the last five months but this REALLY was fantastic. From the toe of the Athabasca Glacier we drove ON THE ICE in a giant, six-wheeled, specially designed Ice Explorer almost all the way to the wall of the icefield. We then disembarked and experienced an awe-inspiring glimpse of icy-crevasses and miles of desolate glacial expanse. The temperature was ZERO degrees Celsius and the wind was VERY blustery. To see and walk on this glaciated ice field formed by snow that fell as long as 400 years ago provided a true Ice-Age opportunity.
The Icefields Parkway led us to Banff National Park where we have spent the last few days. Once again, the majestic beauty is inescapable. The mountains and the forces of nature inspire awe and command respect. We viewed Lake Louise, an icy blue-green lake fed by the springs from Victoria Glacier. It quite possibly may look familiar in our pictures as it is frequently seen in movies, on TV and in print. This and many of the lakes in this region have a phenomenal opaque turquoise color due to the silt and rock flour that is carried from the glacial meltwater. They are indescribably beautiful. In addition to Lake Louise we went to Lake Minnewanka, Bow Lake, Two Jack Lake, Peyto Lake and Moraine Lake within the Valley of the Ten Peaks.
From Banff we went to Yoho National Park where we saw Takakkaw Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Canada, Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge on the Kicking Horse River and the Spiral Tunnels of Kicking Horse Pass. These tunnels are a railway-engineering marvel that enables a train to descend a very steep grade by traveling in circles inside the mountain. At one point we actually viewed the same train on three different levels as it passed over and under itself.
As you can see, it has been another FANTASTIC week. Tomorrow we leave the Canadian Rockies and head east toward Calgary, Alberta. Within a couple days we’ll be back in the States but there are still more things to see and do.
Here is the link to view some pictures from this past week. Again, there is NO WAY that the camera is able to capture the awesome beauty and majesty of all that we are seeing.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMWi
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
These parks are home to wildlife as diverse as their peaks and valleys. Fall is when the elk (or wapiti) are in rutting season and the loud bugling of these immense creatures is unmistakable and frequently heard.
After Jasper we traveled on the Icefields Parkway, which is undeniably one of the most beautiful highways in the world. National Geographic calls it “One of the World’s Ten Greatest Drives” and, believe us, it more than lives up to its reputation. To travel the Icefields Parkway is to be immersed in a vast wilderness of magnificent peaks, ancient glaciers, diverse wildlife, waterfalls, pristine mountain lakes and broad sweeping valleys. The road passes within viewing distance of seven icefields, comprising the largest concentration of glacial ice below the Arctic Circle, the centerpiece being the Columbia Icefield. This stunning geographical feature is a high alpine basin of accumulated snow that straddles the Great Divide. At Mount Snow Dome one encounters a TRIPLE Continental Divide, which is scientifically unique. It is at this hydroponic apex where water flows into THREE different directions across the continent to ultimately empty into THREE different oceans (The Atlantic, The Pacific and The Arctic!). It was near Mount Snow Dome, at the Athabasca Glacier, a tongue of the Columbia Icefield, that we had one of the most phenomenal experiences of our entire trip. We know, we have said that MANY times over the last five months but this REALLY was fantastic. From the toe of the Athabasca Glacier we drove ON THE ICE in a giant, six-wheeled, specially designed Ice Explorer almost all the way to the wall of the icefield. We then disembarked and experienced an awe-inspiring glimpse of icy-crevasses and miles of desolate glacial expanse. The temperature was ZERO degrees Celsius and the wind was VERY blustery. To see and walk on this glaciated ice field formed by snow that fell as long as 400 years ago provided a true Ice-Age opportunity.
The Icefields Parkway led us to Banff National Park where we have spent the last few days. Once again, the majestic beauty is inescapable. The mountains and the forces of nature inspire awe and command respect. We viewed Lake Louise, an icy blue-green lake fed by the springs from Victoria Glacier. It quite possibly may look familiar in our pictures as it is frequently seen in movies, on TV and in print. This and many of the lakes in this region have a phenomenal opaque turquoise color due to the silt and rock flour that is carried from the glacial meltwater. They are indescribably beautiful. In addition to Lake Louise we went to Lake Minnewanka, Bow Lake, Two Jack Lake, Peyto Lake and Moraine Lake within the Valley of the Ten Peaks.
From Banff we went to Yoho National Park where we saw Takakkaw Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Canada, Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge on the Kicking Horse River and the Spiral Tunnels of Kicking Horse Pass. These tunnels are a railway-engineering marvel that enables a train to descend a very steep grade by traveling in circles inside the mountain. At one point we actually viewed the same train on three different levels as it passed over and under itself.
As you can see, it has been another FANTASTIC week. Tomorrow we leave the Canadian Rockies and head east toward Calgary, Alberta. Within a couple days we’ll be back in the States but there are still more things to see and do.
Here is the link to view some pictures from this past week. Again, there is NO WAY that the camera is able to capture the awesome beauty and majesty of all that we are seeing.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMWi
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Saturday, September 20, 2008
We’ve Bade a Sad Farewell to Alaska But We’re Now Traveling Through Beautiful British Columbia.
Last Sunday we landed at Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the end of our four-week travels down the Inside Passage as well as the termination of our stay in Alaska. The trip on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system afforded a great opportunity to visit several stops that are accessible only by air or water. While it is certainly sad to know that our Alaska trip is over, we are content in knowing that we have truly experienced a trip of a lifetime AND there is always the possibility of returning to this awesome land.
Now we are in British Columbia and this week have traveled from Prince Rupert to Kitwanga, Stewart, Hyder, and we’re currently in Smithers.
Prince Rupert, known as the “Gateway to Alaska”, is one of Canada’s major seaports, the terminus of the Canadian National (Grand Trunk Pacific) Railway, the Alaska Marine Highway System and the BC Ferry System. For more than 5000 years before the coming of the railroad, the area has been home to the Tsimpsean and Haida cultures that are renowned for their stylized artworks, the most familiar of which are totem poles. We enjoyed our stay in Prince Rupert and while in the campground we had a pleasant visit from some Sitka black-tail deer that you’ll see in a photo on our link.
Kitwanga (previously know as Gitwangak) is a Native reserve home to some of the finest authentic totem poles in the area. As our photos attempt to show, the totems are extremely intricate with very defined carvings. St Paul’s Anglican Church is also in Kitwanga with a very unique bell tower. Next we went to Gitanyow (formerly Kitwancool), a small Indian village that has one of the highest concentrations of standing totems in northwestern British Columbia. Once again, the intricate detail of these carvings is phenomenal.
After Kitwanga we went north on the Cassiar Highway to Stewart and Hyder, which are at the head of the Portland Canal, a narrow 90-mile saltwater fjord that forms a natural boundary between Canada and the United States. Hyder is actually in Alaska; so for a few hours we left British Columbia and traveled in the 49th state again. In route we saw bears alongside the road and viewed the Bear Glacier. We also went to Fish Creek and watched a grizzly chase down its dinner. After bear watching we drove 20+ miles up a very narrow, windy, mining road to view Salmon Glacier. It was an interesting perspective of the glaciations because we were actually several hundred feet ABOVE the actual surface. Thus, it truly resembled a “River of Ice” meandering for miles down from the icefield to the lake. As our pictures show, the glacier is immense (several miles wide and thousands of feet thick. The dark lines that are visible are know as moraines and are actually huge deposits of giant rocks and debris that are being carried along by the “flow” of the glacier. It Was VERY impressive.
Currently we are in Smithers, BC, known as the “Little Switzerland” of BC with its alpine-themed storefronts and building murals. There is even an alpenhorn player statue, as you’ll see in our pics. It is situated amidst rugged mountains and is home to a popular ski resort. This area lies within the Bulkley Valley, which is home to several large cattle farms and many vegetable gardens. Saturday morning we went to the local Farmer’s Market and REALLY enjoyed being able to get some fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and baked goods. If there is one thing that we’ve really missed this summer, it has been fresh produce.
Here is the link to some pictures from this past week:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMWA
From here we drive to Prince George, BC and then head toward Alberta, the Canadian Rockies and several days in Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff and the incredible Icefields Parkway.
Stay tuned and stay safe,
P&J
Now we are in British Columbia and this week have traveled from Prince Rupert to Kitwanga, Stewart, Hyder, and we’re currently in Smithers.
Prince Rupert, known as the “Gateway to Alaska”, is one of Canada’s major seaports, the terminus of the Canadian National (Grand Trunk Pacific) Railway, the Alaska Marine Highway System and the BC Ferry System. For more than 5000 years before the coming of the railroad, the area has been home to the Tsimpsean and Haida cultures that are renowned for their stylized artworks, the most familiar of which are totem poles. We enjoyed our stay in Prince Rupert and while in the campground we had a pleasant visit from some Sitka black-tail deer that you’ll see in a photo on our link.
Kitwanga (previously know as Gitwangak) is a Native reserve home to some of the finest authentic totem poles in the area. As our photos attempt to show, the totems are extremely intricate with very defined carvings. St Paul’s Anglican Church is also in Kitwanga with a very unique bell tower. Next we went to Gitanyow (formerly Kitwancool), a small Indian village that has one of the highest concentrations of standing totems in northwestern British Columbia. Once again, the intricate detail of these carvings is phenomenal.
After Kitwanga we went north on the Cassiar Highway to Stewart and Hyder, which are at the head of the Portland Canal, a narrow 90-mile saltwater fjord that forms a natural boundary between Canada and the United States. Hyder is actually in Alaska; so for a few hours we left British Columbia and traveled in the 49th state again. In route we saw bears alongside the road and viewed the Bear Glacier. We also went to Fish Creek and watched a grizzly chase down its dinner. After bear watching we drove 20+ miles up a very narrow, windy, mining road to view Salmon Glacier. It was an interesting perspective of the glaciations because we were actually several hundred feet ABOVE the actual surface. Thus, it truly resembled a “River of Ice” meandering for miles down from the icefield to the lake. As our pictures show, the glacier is immense (several miles wide and thousands of feet thick. The dark lines that are visible are know as moraines and are actually huge deposits of giant rocks and debris that are being carried along by the “flow” of the glacier. It Was VERY impressive.
Currently we are in Smithers, BC, known as the “Little Switzerland” of BC with its alpine-themed storefronts and building murals. There is even an alpenhorn player statue, as you’ll see in our pics. It is situated amidst rugged mountains and is home to a popular ski resort. This area lies within the Bulkley Valley, which is home to several large cattle farms and many vegetable gardens. Saturday morning we went to the local Farmer’s Market and REALLY enjoyed being able to get some fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and baked goods. If there is one thing that we’ve really missed this summer, it has been fresh produce.
Here is the link to some pictures from this past week:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMWA
From here we drive to Prince George, BC and then head toward Alberta, the Canadian Rockies and several days in Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff and the incredible Icefields Parkway.
Stay tuned and stay safe,
P&J
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Petersburg, Wrangell & Ketchikan – “Little Norway”, The Mighty Stikine River & Misty Fjord
This blog covers our last three stops along the Alaska Marine Highway. First “port”, Petersburg, on Mitkoff Island, is a picturesque little town also referred to by the Alaskans as “Little Norway” for its beautiful fjord-like setting and neat, white Scandinavian-style homes and storefronts. This idyllic place is nestled within the Tongass National Forest, which also encompasses Wrangell and Ketchikan. The Tongass is the largest national forest at just over 17 MILLION acres!
The big cruise ships do not put in at Petersburg, or Wrangell, because of their narrow harbors; thus, they are unspoiled by the throngs of tourists and seasonal gift shops. In Petersburg, as we walked along Sing Lee Alley, Nordic Drive and across Hammer Slough, we had an opportunity to enjoy the picturesque, and sometimes quirky, nature of this beautiful little town. The wooden streets with their beautiful, family-owned stores and homes are built on wooden pilings and slats and still serve utilitarian purposes, making them far more appealing than if they were prettied up as tourist areas. It is more insular and authentic, so instead you see Norwegian fishermen in pickup trucks and blond-haired kids on bikes.
While in Petersburg we camped next to Louie and John, two elderly gents from Oregon, who have been spending every summer here for the last 15 years or so. They left, heading South, on the same ferry as we did, but on our last evening they gave us a beautiful, 10-lb silver salmon that they caught just hours before. We slapped it on the grill and WOW, was it delicious. Speaking of the ferry, we embarked at 1:00am and since we were only traveling one stop we had to board last. AND, we had to BACK down the ramp and onto the ship. Did we mention that the ramp is the LONGEST on the entire ferry system (more than 100 yards), it has TWO turns in it, we also had to back around inside the ship AND it was DARK? Pat now feels fairly qualified to back up just about any where. Truth be known: the guys that direct you while they load the vehicles are really good and without them Pat really couldn’t back up at all!!
Next stop, Wrangell, valued for its position near the mouth of the Stikine River, which drains all the way from British Columbia to the sea. It is one of the most famous fishing rivers in the Pacific Northwest and, like many of the towns in the region, it owes its existence to the rich cultural influence of the Tlinget and Haida Indians and the expansive Russian fur empire of the 18th and 19th centuries. Wrangell also was instrumental in the three Alaskan gold rushes, but after that, time pretty much stopped. While the world outside changed, Wrangell has pretty much stayed the same from the mid-20th century on. It’s predominately a logging and fishing town with many people also involved in the administration of Tongass National Forest.
Wrangell is home to Chief Shakes Island, a tiny islet in the middle of the small-boat harbor, which is the site of a Tlinget clan house and a nice collection of totems. The beach north of town has an impressive set of petroglyphs. Most believe that these 50 stone carvings, scattered across the rocks, represent the work of forgotten indigenous people, pre-dating the Tlingets, and perhaps made over a period of time more than 10,000 years ago. The images, chipped into rocks, are of animals and geometric forms. Their purpose is lost to time. We found great pleasure in searching for the carvings – they’re just scattered all over – and to wonder at their meaning and age.
Our last stop within Alaska was Ketchikan whose economy is based on salmon fishing, logging and tourism. It began as a Tlinget salmon fishing camp “Kitsch-Hin” or “The Creek of the Thundering Wings of an Eagle”. It subsequently became the center of an immense number of salmon canneries and, as such, evolved into a rather wild waterfront town. Remnants of those days still are evident in Creek Alley, which was the red-light district and Dolly’s House, a fine bordello turned museum. Ketchikan, and nearby Saxman, are home to two excellent Totem Parks with associated Community Houses.
Our biggest treat while in Ketchikan, was to take a float plane trip to Misty Fjords National Monument. These 2.3 million acres are at the southern end of Tongass National Forest and offer an incredible journey into an absolutely awesome area. The name Misty Fjords powerfully evokes the place – perpetually misty and characterized by a multitude of deep fjords. We were fortunate to have a beautiful day in which to experience this phenomenal place. Imagine flying over thundering waterfalls that drop hundreds of feet from sheer rock cliffs, while mountains rise vertically from the cold salt water to the snowfields. Everywhere the northern rain forest vegetation is lush and green. Our UNBELIEVABLE visit to this INCREDIBLE place was on a flight piloted by Michelle Masden, owner and operator of Island Wings. Her passion, knowledge and sincere commitment to her passengers made this one of the most unforgettable experiences of our entire summer. There is no way that our humble photographs can show the shear beauty and majesty of Misty Fjords. The picture at the top of this blog was taken at one of the lakes where we landed and believe us when we say that it was truly breath-taking.
The big cruise ships do not put in at Petersburg, or Wrangell, because of their narrow harbors; thus, they are unspoiled by the throngs of tourists and seasonal gift shops. In Petersburg, as we walked along Sing Lee Alley, Nordic Drive and across Hammer Slough, we had an opportunity to enjoy the picturesque, and sometimes quirky, nature of this beautiful little town. The wooden streets with their beautiful, family-owned stores and homes are built on wooden pilings and slats and still serve utilitarian purposes, making them far more appealing than if they were prettied up as tourist areas. It is more insular and authentic, so instead you see Norwegian fishermen in pickup trucks and blond-haired kids on bikes.
While in Petersburg we camped next to Louie and John, two elderly gents from Oregon, who have been spending every summer here for the last 15 years or so. They left, heading South, on the same ferry as we did, but on our last evening they gave us a beautiful, 10-lb silver salmon that they caught just hours before. We slapped it on the grill and WOW, was it delicious. Speaking of the ferry, we embarked at 1:00am and since we were only traveling one stop we had to board last. AND, we had to BACK down the ramp and onto the ship. Did we mention that the ramp is the LONGEST on the entire ferry system (more than 100 yards), it has TWO turns in it, we also had to back around inside the ship AND it was DARK? Pat now feels fairly qualified to back up just about any where. Truth be known: the guys that direct you while they load the vehicles are really good and without them Pat really couldn’t back up at all!!
Next stop, Wrangell, valued for its position near the mouth of the Stikine River, which drains all the way from British Columbia to the sea. It is one of the most famous fishing rivers in the Pacific Northwest and, like many of the towns in the region, it owes its existence to the rich cultural influence of the Tlinget and Haida Indians and the expansive Russian fur empire of the 18th and 19th centuries. Wrangell also was instrumental in the three Alaskan gold rushes, but after that, time pretty much stopped. While the world outside changed, Wrangell has pretty much stayed the same from the mid-20th century on. It’s predominately a logging and fishing town with many people also involved in the administration of Tongass National Forest.
Wrangell is home to Chief Shakes Island, a tiny islet in the middle of the small-boat harbor, which is the site of a Tlinget clan house and a nice collection of totems. The beach north of town has an impressive set of petroglyphs. Most believe that these 50 stone carvings, scattered across the rocks, represent the work of forgotten indigenous people, pre-dating the Tlingets, and perhaps made over a period of time more than 10,000 years ago. The images, chipped into rocks, are of animals and geometric forms. Their purpose is lost to time. We found great pleasure in searching for the carvings – they’re just scattered all over – and to wonder at their meaning and age.
Our last stop within Alaska was Ketchikan whose economy is based on salmon fishing, logging and tourism. It began as a Tlinget salmon fishing camp “Kitsch-Hin” or “The Creek of the Thundering Wings of an Eagle”. It subsequently became the center of an immense number of salmon canneries and, as such, evolved into a rather wild waterfront town. Remnants of those days still are evident in Creek Alley, which was the red-light district and Dolly’s House, a fine bordello turned museum. Ketchikan, and nearby Saxman, are home to two excellent Totem Parks with associated Community Houses.
Our biggest treat while in Ketchikan, was to take a float plane trip to Misty Fjords National Monument. These 2.3 million acres are at the southern end of Tongass National Forest and offer an incredible journey into an absolutely awesome area. The name Misty Fjords powerfully evokes the place – perpetually misty and characterized by a multitude of deep fjords. We were fortunate to have a beautiful day in which to experience this phenomenal place. Imagine flying over thundering waterfalls that drop hundreds of feet from sheer rock cliffs, while mountains rise vertically from the cold salt water to the snowfields. Everywhere the northern rain forest vegetation is lush and green. Our UNBELIEVABLE visit to this INCREDIBLE place was on a flight piloted by Michelle Masden, owner and operator of Island Wings. Her passion, knowledge and sincere commitment to her passengers made this one of the most unforgettable experiences of our entire summer. There is no way that our humble photographs can show the shear beauty and majesty of Misty Fjords. The picture at the top of this blog was taken at one of the lakes where we landed and believe us when we say that it was truly breath-taking.
Hopefully the pictures on this link will give you a small idea of all the exciting things we have seen and done:
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As you can tell, we have had ANOTHER incredible two weeks. Today we board the ferry and sail south, leaving Alaska and arriving in British Columbia. Our trip is far from over; there are still bears to be seen in Stewart-Hyder; the majesty of Jasper, Banff, and Lake Louise; stops in Montana and South Dakota; and visits in Iowa again. So, don’t leave us yet, there’s still another 4-6 weeks to go. BUT, we must admit, as we sail from Ketchikan there will be some pensive thoughts. It has truly been a trip of a lifetime this summer as we have experienced just a small part of what this Last Great Frontier has to offer.
Take care, stay safe, and soon,
P&J
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Sitka, Rich in Tlinget and Russian Heritage
We arrived in Sitka on August 30th and spent four days in this beautiful and culturally rich town. Tlinget Indians inhabited these islands, and developed practical ways of survival and subsistence, centuries before the Russians attempted to settle the Alaskan panhandle. The Tlingets enjoyed a bountiful existence with a rich cultural life. Sociable people, they gathered for all kinds of occasions, including weddings, births and deaths, and they danced before setting out on fishing and trading expeditions. In 1799 the Russians arrived at “Shee Atika” (Sitka) and found the Tlinget survival skills and their access to a bountiful fur supply were valuable. The relations between the Russian-American Company and the Tlinget Kiks.adi clan went from bad to worse. The Kiks.adi soon realized that submission to the Russians meant providing free labor to the company and allegiance to the Tsar. In 1802 hostile submission turned to violence. Again in 1804 hostilities developed and the result was the withdrawal of all Tlingets from the area. The Russians lost no time in building a fortified town on the very spot where “Shee Atika” had stood. Sitka became the “Paris of the Pacific” and prospered for more than 85 years. However, over-hunting diminished the fur trade and by 1867 the Tsar decided to sell Russian America to the United States for 7.2 million dollars. Sitka was the site of the official Transfer and remained the capital of the Territory of Alaska until it was moved to Juneau in the midst of the gold flourish.
Among the places we visited were:
· Totem Park, a tranquil setting along the Indian River with a two-mile path that winds through a peaceful rainforest. Contrary to a common misconception, totems were never used as items of worship, but rather were erected to record a clan’s history, or herald a historic or significant event or even to ‘ridicule’ someone who had wronged the clan. The totems stand tall and majestic along a pathway that winds through massive spruce and hemlock where misty rain often floats down from an unseen sky somewhere above the trees. Attached are pictures of some of the more than 25 totem poles that we viewed.
· The Russian Bishop’s House, which was built in 1843, and was the home of Bishop Innocent Veniaminov, who translated scriptures into Tlinget and other native languages. He also trained his Deacons to carry Russian Orthodoxy back to their Native villages, which was a key element to saving native cultures.
· Sheldon Jackson Museum, home to a vast collection of artifacts representative of all Native tribes indigenous to Alaska.
· St Michael’s Cathedral, the first Orthodox Cathedral in the New World.
· Alaska Raptor Center, which takes in injured birds of prey, rehabilitates them and grooms them for re-entry into their natural habitat. Before release, the birds are put into their “flight-training center” where they learn to fly again. The Raptor Center features four convalescent mews, two vertical flight mews to test and condition for lift, and a clinical aerobic flight tube in which birds demonstrate their stamina and maneuverability before release into the wild. Watching these giant birds fly from such a close distance is awesome.
· Castle Hill, Pioneer’s Home and Sheldon Jackson Hatchery.
Sitka’s history is among Alaska’s richest, its beauty is unparalleled and we had a truly enjoyable time there. Now it’s on to Petersburg, the Little Norway of Alaska.
Here are some pictures for your enjoyment:
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Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Friday, August 29, 2008
Juneau, the Capital of Alaska: What an INTERESTING Week…
We have been in Juneau for seven days, arriving last Saturday, the 23rd, and it has certainly been quite a week. We took a fantastic glacier cruise on Tracy Arm Fjord where we saw incredibly beautiful icebergs and witnessed calving on Sawyer Glacier. We viewed Mendenhall Glacier, up close and spectacular. We spent several days taking in all the sights of this, the capital city of Alaska, and it’s environs, including two museums, The Capital and The Governor’s Mansion. Lastly, we had the “honor” of being here in Juneau today when the Governor, Sarah Palin, was named by John McCain to be his Vice Presidential running mate. It has been quite interesting (chaotic?) to say the least!
So, to start at the beginning:
Last Sunday we sailed on the 56’ Adventure Bound for a 9-hour cruise to Tracy Arm Fjord located within the Tongass National Forest. It was truly another day of indescribable beauty. We marveled at magnificent rivers of ice running many miles from icefields to the sea, we viewed some of the largest icebergs we’ve ever witnessed, saw waterfalls that dropped thousands of feet and witnessed incredible mountains surrounded by emerald green water. Believe us when we tell you that the attached photos cannot even begin to convey the awesome sights. One of the attached photos shows "calving" on Sawyer Glacier. Calving occurs when a colossal chunk of ice breaks off a thick ice shelf to become an iceberg. A glacier calves when there is insufficient ice below the water line of the glacier's facade to support the weight of the corresponding ice above the water line. The undermining is caused by the comparatively warm seawater, which slowly melts the ice it touches. Sawyer Glacier is a tidewater glacier which is a glacier that flows into the sea. As the ice reaches the sea pieces break off, or calve, forming icebergs. Most tidewater glaciers calve above sea level, which often results in a tremendous splash as the iceberg strikes the water. This is accompanied by very loud, thunderous sounds. Additionally, loud cracks and noises are frequently heard as the glacier "groans" and "growls" on it's journey to the sea.
We were due to follow that fantastic day with another exciting adventure: a helicopter ride landing on the Juneau Icefield and then experiencing a dog sled ride on the glacier. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and the trip was cancelled due to rain and heavy fog. As a matter of fact, the weather for most of the week has been rainy and foggy, however, with the exception of the glacier flight, we have not allowed it to deter us.
Juneau, a “metropolis” of about 30,000 people, is located on the Gastineau Channel, nestled on the side of the mountains, and is only accessible via sea or by air. Atop the surrounding mountains is the Juneau Ice Cap, a large ice mass from which about 30 glaciers flow; including the Mendenhall Glacier, which is visible from the local road system. As the capital of Alaska, the primary employer in Juneau, by a large margin, is government. Another significant contibutor to the local economy is the tourism industry, with several cruise ships docking in town daily during the summer months.
Imagine a state capital that has NO roads leading into or out of the city!! We spent Wednesday traveling the “entire” length (40 miles) of what the locals refer to as “The Road”. It is the sum total of the local highway system! We enjoyed a sunny and warm day - it ALMOST reached 70 degrees! We saw many, many eagles, a bear, whales, assorted sea birds and even a porcupine (as our photos will show). Part of our ‘road-trip’ included a visit to the Shrine of St Therese, the Patron Saint of Alaska. The peace and serenity of this special place, overlooking Lynn Canal, was magnificent. The last couple days have been spent taking in the sights of “downtown” Juneau including a GREAT State Museum, the Juneau-Douglas Museum, the State Capital, the Governor’s Mansion and many sights along the wharf, including the statue of Patsy Ann. Patsy Ann was a deaf bull terrier, born in Oregon in 1929. After coming to Juneau as a puppy, she demonstrated an uncanny instinct for when a ship was going to arrive at the town wharf. Her presence was a treat to those arriving, and she was often followed by townspeople. Having gained fame back in the "lower 48," Patsy Ann was named the "Official Greeter of Juneau" in 1934, and she continued to run to the docks for every ship arrival. She finally passed away in 1942 and her funeral was well-attended; her coffin was placed into the Gastineau Channel. In 1992, a statue was erected on the wharf where Patsy Ann so frequently sat to greet sailors. Attached is a photo of Patsy Ann.
The really BIG news today was, as we mentioned above, and we’re sure you have all heard, the announcement of the Governor being selected to run on the Republican Presidential ticket. As you can imagine, this is monumental news here in a state of only 600,000 people. The shock of the inhabitants is incredible. We’re not going to get into all the political scuttle-butt and ramifications but, let us suffice to say that the reactions have been “interesting”, to say the least. Ironic that yesterday we were in Gov. Palin’s office and believe us when we say “No one knew – or expected – this"!
So, as you can see, it has been another incredible week! Tomorrow we take the Ferry to Sitka where we will spend three days.
Below is the link to some photos of this week’s adventure. Next post will be from Sitka.
So, to start at the beginning:
Last Sunday we sailed on the 56’ Adventure Bound for a 9-hour cruise to Tracy Arm Fjord located within the Tongass National Forest. It was truly another day of indescribable beauty. We marveled at magnificent rivers of ice running many miles from icefields to the sea, we viewed some of the largest icebergs we’ve ever witnessed, saw waterfalls that dropped thousands of feet and witnessed incredible mountains surrounded by emerald green water. Believe us when we tell you that the attached photos cannot even begin to convey the awesome sights. One of the attached photos shows "calving" on Sawyer Glacier. Calving occurs when a colossal chunk of ice breaks off a thick ice shelf to become an iceberg. A glacier calves when there is insufficient ice below the water line of the glacier's facade to support the weight of the corresponding ice above the water line. The undermining is caused by the comparatively warm seawater, which slowly melts the ice it touches. Sawyer Glacier is a tidewater glacier which is a glacier that flows into the sea. As the ice reaches the sea pieces break off, or calve, forming icebergs. Most tidewater glaciers calve above sea level, which often results in a tremendous splash as the iceberg strikes the water. This is accompanied by very loud, thunderous sounds. Additionally, loud cracks and noises are frequently heard as the glacier "groans" and "growls" on it's journey to the sea.
We were due to follow that fantastic day with another exciting adventure: a helicopter ride landing on the Juneau Icefield and then experiencing a dog sled ride on the glacier. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and the trip was cancelled due to rain and heavy fog. As a matter of fact, the weather for most of the week has been rainy and foggy, however, with the exception of the glacier flight, we have not allowed it to deter us.
Juneau, a “metropolis” of about 30,000 people, is located on the Gastineau Channel, nestled on the side of the mountains, and is only accessible via sea or by air. Atop the surrounding mountains is the Juneau Ice Cap, a large ice mass from which about 30 glaciers flow; including the Mendenhall Glacier, which is visible from the local road system. As the capital of Alaska, the primary employer in Juneau, by a large margin, is government. Another significant contibutor to the local economy is the tourism industry, with several cruise ships docking in town daily during the summer months.
Imagine a state capital that has NO roads leading into or out of the city!! We spent Wednesday traveling the “entire” length (40 miles) of what the locals refer to as “The Road”. It is the sum total of the local highway system! We enjoyed a sunny and warm day - it ALMOST reached 70 degrees! We saw many, many eagles, a bear, whales, assorted sea birds and even a porcupine (as our photos will show). Part of our ‘road-trip’ included a visit to the Shrine of St Therese, the Patron Saint of Alaska. The peace and serenity of this special place, overlooking Lynn Canal, was magnificent. The last couple days have been spent taking in the sights of “downtown” Juneau including a GREAT State Museum, the Juneau-Douglas Museum, the State Capital, the Governor’s Mansion and many sights along the wharf, including the statue of Patsy Ann. Patsy Ann was a deaf bull terrier, born in Oregon in 1929. After coming to Juneau as a puppy, she demonstrated an uncanny instinct for when a ship was going to arrive at the town wharf. Her presence was a treat to those arriving, and she was often followed by townspeople. Having gained fame back in the "lower 48," Patsy Ann was named the "Official Greeter of Juneau" in 1934, and she continued to run to the docks for every ship arrival. She finally passed away in 1942 and her funeral was well-attended; her coffin was placed into the Gastineau Channel. In 1992, a statue was erected on the wharf where Patsy Ann so frequently sat to greet sailors. Attached is a photo of Patsy Ann.
The really BIG news today was, as we mentioned above, and we’re sure you have all heard, the announcement of the Governor being selected to run on the Republican Presidential ticket. As you can imagine, this is monumental news here in a state of only 600,000 people. The shock of the inhabitants is incredible. We’re not going to get into all the political scuttle-butt and ramifications but, let us suffice to say that the reactions have been “interesting”, to say the least. Ironic that yesterday we were in Gov. Palin’s office and believe us when we say “No one knew – or expected – this"!
So, as you can see, it has been another incredible week! Tomorrow we take the Ferry to Sitka where we will spend three days.
Below is the link to some photos of this week’s adventure. Next post will be from Sitka.
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Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Sailing South on The Inside Passage: Haines to Skagway and On To Juneau
Today is Sunday, August 24th and yesterday we arrived in Juneau, the capital of Alaska.
A week ago we drove from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory back into Alaska and on to Skagway. It was another GORGEOUS drive, this time on the Klondike Highway, where we passed Emerald Lake (which is the picture at the top of this Post). Yes, the colors are REAL; they result from blue-green light waves reflecting off the marl (white sediment) on the bottom. Further down the highway was the Yukon Suspension Bridge, which offered a dramatic bird’s-eye view of the Tutshi River. Next we drove through an area known as the Tormented Valley, which was VERY different from any topography we had encountered thus far. It is a rocky, desolate, “moonscape” of stunted trees and small lakes. Pictures of all these sights are included by going to the link below.
We arrived in Skagway on Saturday afternoon, the 16th, for a four-day stay. While there we toured the area, rich in Klondike Gold Rush history, and surrounded by amazing scenery. Skagway is located at the north end of Lynn Canal and was the beginning of the Chilkoot and White Pass Trails to the Yukon goldfields. It is the ancestral home of the Tlingits and its first white resident was Capt. William Moore whom we are sure is a distant relative of Judy Moore Barger! We also traveled on the White Pass & Yukon Railway which, even though the day was foggy, provided a beautiful ride up to the White Pass Summit in a bit more comfort than the early gold-seekers experienced! Another fun outing was the Yellow Streetcar Tour where we were introduced to many of the famous (and infamous) sights of Skagway. At the conclusion of our day we were “officially” inducted into the Artic Brotherhood, a fraternal organization of Alaska and Yukon pioneers. Local members of the Brotherhood built the headquarters and adorned the front with 8,833 pieces of driftwood and flotsam gathered from local beaches. The result, as you can see in one of the attached photos, is one of the most unique (and highly photographed) buildings in all of Alaska. Skagway is the northern terminus of the Alaska Marine Highway and, after an enjoyable stay, we boarded the first of seven ferry connections we will make on our continued tour of the southcentral coast of Alaska.
First stop, Haines, located on the Chilkoot Inlet and ANOTHER location of spectacular beauty as the attached photos will attest to. Short drives allowed us to view a couple glaciers and more bears up-close-and-personal! We also made a stop at The Hammer Museum. Yep, there’s a museum for EVERYTHING; but this one was REALLY fun, with more than 1200 different types of hammers of all shapes and functions. We were thrilled to have an opportunity to watch and talk with Wayne Price, a local Tlinget artisan, who is carving a thirty foot totem for a high school in Juneau.
After a GREAT time in Haines we boarded the ferry again and sailed on to Juneau, where we will stay for a week. There will be another Post and some more spectacular (we’re sure) photos from here, so check back in a few days. For now, check out the link below and rest assured that we are having an AWESOME time.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMSQ&emid=sharshar&linkid=link5
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Today is Sunday, August 24th and yesterday we arrived in Juneau, the capital of Alaska.
A week ago we drove from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory back into Alaska and on to Skagway. It was another GORGEOUS drive, this time on the Klondike Highway, where we passed Emerald Lake (which is the picture at the top of this Post). Yes, the colors are REAL; they result from blue-green light waves reflecting off the marl (white sediment) on the bottom. Further down the highway was the Yukon Suspension Bridge, which offered a dramatic bird’s-eye view of the Tutshi River. Next we drove through an area known as the Tormented Valley, which was VERY different from any topography we had encountered thus far. It is a rocky, desolate, “moonscape” of stunted trees and small lakes. Pictures of all these sights are included by going to the link below.
We arrived in Skagway on Saturday afternoon, the 16th, for a four-day stay. While there we toured the area, rich in Klondike Gold Rush history, and surrounded by amazing scenery. Skagway is located at the north end of Lynn Canal and was the beginning of the Chilkoot and White Pass Trails to the Yukon goldfields. It is the ancestral home of the Tlingits and its first white resident was Capt. William Moore whom we are sure is a distant relative of Judy Moore Barger! We also traveled on the White Pass & Yukon Railway which, even though the day was foggy, provided a beautiful ride up to the White Pass Summit in a bit more comfort than the early gold-seekers experienced! Another fun outing was the Yellow Streetcar Tour where we were introduced to many of the famous (and infamous) sights of Skagway. At the conclusion of our day we were “officially” inducted into the Artic Brotherhood, a fraternal organization of Alaska and Yukon pioneers. Local members of the Brotherhood built the headquarters and adorned the front with 8,833 pieces of driftwood and flotsam gathered from local beaches. The result, as you can see in one of the attached photos, is one of the most unique (and highly photographed) buildings in all of Alaska. Skagway is the northern terminus of the Alaska Marine Highway and, after an enjoyable stay, we boarded the first of seven ferry connections we will make on our continued tour of the southcentral coast of Alaska.
First stop, Haines, located on the Chilkoot Inlet and ANOTHER location of spectacular beauty as the attached photos will attest to. Short drives allowed us to view a couple glaciers and more bears up-close-and-personal! We also made a stop at The Hammer Museum. Yep, there’s a museum for EVERYTHING; but this one was REALLY fun, with more than 1200 different types of hammers of all shapes and functions. We were thrilled to have an opportunity to watch and talk with Wayne Price, a local Tlinget artisan, who is carving a thirty foot totem for a high school in Juneau.
After a GREAT time in Haines we boarded the ferry again and sailed on to Juneau, where we will stay for a week. There will be another Post and some more spectacular (we’re sure) photos from here, so check back in a few days. For now, check out the link below and rest assured that we are having an AWESOME time.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMSQ&emid=sharshar&linkid=link5
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Friday, August 15, 2008
Full Circle Through the Interior - Now on to The Inside Passage
Today is Friday, August 15th and we are once again in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. A little over two months ago, on June 10th ,we left Whitehorse in a snowstorm – you remember those pictures! Today it was a gorgeous, 70-degree day with just a “hint” of Autumn in the air.
We have come full-circle and are back here to start our voyage on the Alaska Marine Highway through the Inside Passage. It has been an INCREDIBLE two months. We can barely fathom all of the absolutely AWESOME things that we have seen and done thus far. However, while we have completed a circuit of the Interior, our adventure is far from over. From here we will go southwest to Skagway and begin the trip by ferry down the Inside Passage. We will be stopping at Haines, Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell, Ketchikan and disembarking in Prince Rupert one month from now. These towns can ONLY be reached by either boat or plane; there are NO roads to the “Southeast” (as it is called). Juneau is the capital of Alaska. Can you imagine having a state capital that cannot be reached by automobile? This will be another adventure.
This past week we have taken a cruise on the Copper River, once again “visited” the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, witnessed the beginning of Autumn, had an ‘up-close’ encounter with a local black bear and viewed the World’s Largest Weather Vane, among other things.
Attached are a few pictures showing these events.
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Sorry that it has been a while since our last Post but we have not had sufficient Internet access and no cell service in Canada, thus, we’ve been unable to update this blog. Hopefully, as we return to Alaska, (in the good ole’ US of A) this will not be an issue.
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
We have come full-circle and are back here to start our voyage on the Alaska Marine Highway through the Inside Passage. It has been an INCREDIBLE two months. We can barely fathom all of the absolutely AWESOME things that we have seen and done thus far. However, while we have completed a circuit of the Interior, our adventure is far from over. From here we will go southwest to Skagway and begin the trip by ferry down the Inside Passage. We will be stopping at Haines, Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell, Ketchikan and disembarking in Prince Rupert one month from now. These towns can ONLY be reached by either boat or plane; there are NO roads to the “Southeast” (as it is called). Juneau is the capital of Alaska. Can you imagine having a state capital that cannot be reached by automobile? This will be another adventure.
This past week we have taken a cruise on the Copper River, once again “visited” the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, witnessed the beginning of Autumn, had an ‘up-close’ encounter with a local black bear and viewed the World’s Largest Weather Vane, among other things.
Attached are a few pictures showing these events.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMR-
Sorry that it has been a while since our last Post but we have not had sufficient Internet access and no cell service in Canada, thus, we’ve been unable to update this blog. Hopefully, as we return to Alaska, (in the good ole’ US of A) this will not be an issue.
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Monday, August 4, 2008
The Awesomely Beautiful World of Glaciers and Icebergs...
We arrived in Valdez last Thursday and have had a great time in this village at the headwaters of Prince William Sound.
Valdez, also known as "Little Switzerland", is surrounded by five glaciers and the towering, snow-covered, Chugach mountains rising next to a beautiful blue sea. It all contributes to making it absolutely picturesque. The growth and settlement of Valdez was attributed to fur trading, salmon canning, and gold and copper mining. Throughout recent history it has certainly sustained its share of hardships. The residents are weary of Good Friday, and probably for good reason. In 1964 they were the closest locale to the devastating Alaska Earthquake which registered 9.2 on the Richter Scale and qualifies as the third strongest and single longest lasting earthquake in history. As a result of the devastation, the entire town was moved 4.5 miles to a safer location. Then good fortune appeared to shine on the residents of Valdez when, in the early 1970's, Valdez became the staging area for work on the lower portion of the Trans Alaska Pipeline. This enabled the Port of Valdez to be the terminus of the 799 mile pipeline which transports crude oil from Prudhoe Bay. Valdez harbor became the beginning of the marine shipping route. However, on March 24, 1989, AGAIN a Good Friday, the Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker owned by Exxon Corporation, ran aground in Prince William Sound. The tanker spilled an estimated 10.8 million gallons of crude oil which has been recorded as one of the largest spills in U.S. history and one of the largest ecological disasters. Fortunately, 19 years since, the area has recovered and is, once again, a truly gorgeous and pristine area.
On Sunday we took a cruise on the LuLu Belle to explore the Sound and view some of the glaciers and wildlife. We saw eagles, puffins, sea lions, seals, Dall porpoises and humpback whales. It was a great cruise and we've included some photos of the trip.
While here in Valdez we have also visited a couple museums, drove a scenic drive in Mineral Creek Canyon, viewed Bridal Falls, watched hundreds of salmon coming in to spawn and observed some bears eating salmon in the river.
Here is the link for this Post's photos. Enjoy and visit again as we are off to Glenallen tomorrow and exploration of Wrangell-St Elias national Park.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMRc¬ag=1
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Valdez, also known as "Little Switzerland", is surrounded by five glaciers and the towering, snow-covered, Chugach mountains rising next to a beautiful blue sea. It all contributes to making it absolutely picturesque. The growth and settlement of Valdez was attributed to fur trading, salmon canning, and gold and copper mining. Throughout recent history it has certainly sustained its share of hardships. The residents are weary of Good Friday, and probably for good reason. In 1964 they were the closest locale to the devastating Alaska Earthquake which registered 9.2 on the Richter Scale and qualifies as the third strongest and single longest lasting earthquake in history. As a result of the devastation, the entire town was moved 4.5 miles to a safer location. Then good fortune appeared to shine on the residents of Valdez when, in the early 1970's, Valdez became the staging area for work on the lower portion of the Trans Alaska Pipeline. This enabled the Port of Valdez to be the terminus of the 799 mile pipeline which transports crude oil from Prudhoe Bay. Valdez harbor became the beginning of the marine shipping route. However, on March 24, 1989, AGAIN a Good Friday, the Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker owned by Exxon Corporation, ran aground in Prince William Sound. The tanker spilled an estimated 10.8 million gallons of crude oil which has been recorded as one of the largest spills in U.S. history and one of the largest ecological disasters. Fortunately, 19 years since, the area has recovered and is, once again, a truly gorgeous and pristine area.
On Sunday we took a cruise on the LuLu Belle to explore the Sound and view some of the glaciers and wildlife. We saw eagles, puffins, sea lions, seals, Dall porpoises and humpback whales. It was a great cruise and we've included some photos of the trip.
While here in Valdez we have also visited a couple museums, drove a scenic drive in Mineral Creek Canyon, viewed Bridal Falls, watched hundreds of salmon coming in to spawn and observed some bears eating salmon in the river.
Here is the link for this Post's photos. Enjoy and visit again as we are off to Glenallen tomorrow and exploration of Wrangell-St Elias national Park.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMRc¬ag=1
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Just "Chillin' Out" ... literally
We left Cooper Landing on Saturday and drove to Palmer. While there we met again with Pat's cousin Becky and her husband Mike. We had a great lunch and then went back to the rig and shared some of our Alaska pictures. It was GREAT to connect with Becky and talk "family".
While in Palmer we also drove up to Hatcher Pass and the Independence Mine State Historical Park. It features the abandoned buildings and machinery of a 200-worker camp and hardrock gold mining operation which was one of Alaska's greatest gold producers. Independence Mine, high in the mountains east of Wasilla, was a working gold mine from the early 1930s until after World War II. We also traveled the Farm Loop, watched reindeer and viewed Knik Glacier.
Today, Wednesday, we traveled to Glacier View about 80 miles east of Palmer. After arriving, we hiked to Matanuska Glacier. What an EXCITING experience. We were actually walking across the glacier and traversing the ice. Matanuska is 24 miles long and 4 miles wide at it's terminus. It is still an active glacier advancing 1 foot per day. It was humbling to realize that we were walking on ice that had formed 250 years ago!
Below is a link with a couple pictures from Cooper Landing and Palmer and some shots from today at Matanuska Glacier.
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Enjoy and stay safe,
P&J
While in Palmer we also drove up to Hatcher Pass and the Independence Mine State Historical Park. It features the abandoned buildings and machinery of a 200-worker camp and hardrock gold mining operation which was one of Alaska's greatest gold producers. Independence Mine, high in the mountains east of Wasilla, was a working gold mine from the early 1930s until after World War II. We also traveled the Farm Loop, watched reindeer and viewed Knik Glacier.
Today, Wednesday, we traveled to Glacier View about 80 miles east of Palmer. After arriving, we hiked to Matanuska Glacier. What an EXCITING experience. We were actually walking across the glacier and traversing the ice. Matanuska is 24 miles long and 4 miles wide at it's terminus. It is still an active glacier advancing 1 foot per day. It was humbling to realize that we were walking on ice that had formed 250 years ago!
Below is a link with a couple pictures from Cooper Landing and Palmer and some shots from today at Matanuska Glacier.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMQY¬ag=1
Enjoy and stay safe,
P&J
Monday, July 28, 2008
This is NOT a "Fish Story"
This Post deals with several fishing forays we've had thus far and their individual "success" stories.
First, in Seward, Pat, Freddie and Alice went in search of Salmon on the shores of Resurrection Bay. The type of tackle was a heavy treble-hook which is cast and then yanked back toward shore. This is intended to literally "snag" the fish and it does not exactly involve a lot of finesse. Pat was successful in landing two fish, which turned out to be Chum Salmon, also known as a Dog Salmon. The latter name is because the locals and Native Peoples do not eat these fish. Due to their inferior quality they are instead fed to the dogs.
Next it was off to Soldotna where, after a couple days, the Sockeye (or Reds) began their run up the Kenai. Pat did well at this style of fishing, where your "tackle" is a piece of brightly colored yarn, which is cast out, bounced downstream on the current and then pulled back, hopefully, catching a fish in the process. The first day resulted in Pat landing two fish, one weighed in at approximately 12 pounds and was one of the larger ones caught on the river that day. On the second day she landed another 8-10 pounder and had several more "hits" but, with no net, it was difficult to land them.
We then moved on to Homer where we went fishing on the Anchor River. This time we all fished and caught Dolly Varden, a variety of Char. They are smaller than Salmon and are caught by using salmon egg clusters and employing a fly-fishing cast.
Lastly, Pat, Judy and Alice went deep-sea Halibut fishing. The weather was not particularly cooperative; as a matter-of-fact, many of the sport-fishing charters did not even go out. This was the most difficult of all the fishing. The waters were rough and the tackle consists of herring baited on a round hook with a three-pound weight and lowered down 200 to 250 feet! Then, when you get a Halibut to hit the line, this FLAT fish, which is fighting, has to be hauled all the way back up and into the boat. It is truly an exhausting ordeal. However, we did, after a rather slow start, prevail with all three of us bringing in a quota of 2 per person.
So, thus far, we have fished four different styles and caught a variety of fish. It has been great fun and we have learned a lot about fishing here in Alaska. We are hoping to do more Salmon fishing in Palmer and Valdez and will hopefully have more success.
Attached is a collection of pictures from all of the different fishing forays.
P&J
First, in Seward, Pat, Freddie and Alice went in search of Salmon on the shores of Resurrection Bay. The type of tackle was a heavy treble-hook which is cast and then yanked back toward shore. This is intended to literally "snag" the fish and it does not exactly involve a lot of finesse. Pat was successful in landing two fish, which turned out to be Chum Salmon, also known as a Dog Salmon. The latter name is because the locals and Native Peoples do not eat these fish. Due to their inferior quality they are instead fed to the dogs.
Next it was off to Soldotna where, after a couple days, the Sockeye (or Reds) began their run up the Kenai. Pat did well at this style of fishing, where your "tackle" is a piece of brightly colored yarn, which is cast out, bounced downstream on the current and then pulled back, hopefully, catching a fish in the process. The first day resulted in Pat landing two fish, one weighed in at approximately 12 pounds and was one of the larger ones caught on the river that day. On the second day she landed another 8-10 pounder and had several more "hits" but, with no net, it was difficult to land them.
We then moved on to Homer where we went fishing on the Anchor River. This time we all fished and caught Dolly Varden, a variety of Char. They are smaller than Salmon and are caught by using salmon egg clusters and employing a fly-fishing cast.
Lastly, Pat, Judy and Alice went deep-sea Halibut fishing. The weather was not particularly cooperative; as a matter-of-fact, many of the sport-fishing charters did not even go out. This was the most difficult of all the fishing. The waters were rough and the tackle consists of herring baited on a round hook with a three-pound weight and lowered down 200 to 250 feet! Then, when you get a Halibut to hit the line, this FLAT fish, which is fighting, has to be hauled all the way back up and into the boat. It is truly an exhausting ordeal. However, we did, after a rather slow start, prevail with all three of us bringing in a quota of 2 per person.
So, thus far, we have fished four different styles and caught a variety of fish. It has been great fun and we have learned a lot about fishing here in Alaska. We are hoping to do more Salmon fishing in Palmer and Valdez and will hopefully have more success.
Attached is a collection of pictures from all of the different fishing forays.
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Enjoy, take care and we'll send another Post soon,P&J
Monday, July 21, 2008
Un – BEAR – lievable…
Today we went to Brooks Falls in the Katmai National Park. You may not recognize this by name but when you click on the photo link and look at the pictures you will probably recognize the scenes. THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTELY AWESOME DAY !!!! I know we’ve said this about MANY things thus far, but imagine wandering through a habitat occupied by more than 4000 bears. Each year millions of salmon burst from the Bering Sea into the lakes and streams of Katmai National Park. These fish provide a food source for the world's largest population of brown bears. You are a guest in their home and MUST abide by their rules and adhere to strict behaviors that give the bear absolute freedom and right-of-way.
We started our day by taking a floatplane flight from Homer to Naknek Lake. After a brief orientation (to acquaint us with proper bear etiquette) we hiked a short distance to Brooks Falls. We had already encountered bears on the beach. We had to delay docking of the floatplane until the sow and her calves vacated the area. Remember, bears have absolute right-of-way. Upon arrival at the Falls we were awe-struck by the sight of more than 20 Grizzly (Brown) Bears. In the summer, North America’s largest land predators gather at these Falls and the surrounding streams to feast on salmon runs, build weight from the wealth of protein and fat, and prepare for the coming long winter. There were many female (sows) with their cubs (babies) and many large male (boars) present. Their many techniques of “fishing”, as well as a large variety of posturing, positioning, growling and even fighting, was unbelievable. We were within 15-20 feet sometimes as the bears walked past our platform to the stream. We literally could smell their musky odor. It was one of the most incredible experiences we have ever encountered. A grizzly is a majestic animal and it was both exciting and humbling for us to be privileged to share their world.
We have dedicated this entire Blog posting to Brooks Falls, because it certainly deserves the undivided attention. Click on the link below and view some of the amazing sights that we were privileged to share.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMNK¬ag=1
Over the last few days we have been salmon, trout and halibut fishing; ALL with success. The next Blog post will share those experiences.
We are here in Homer for three more days and then it’s on to Cooper Landing.
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
We started our day by taking a floatplane flight from Homer to Naknek Lake. After a brief orientation (to acquaint us with proper bear etiquette) we hiked a short distance to Brooks Falls. We had already encountered bears on the beach. We had to delay docking of the floatplane until the sow and her calves vacated the area. Remember, bears have absolute right-of-way. Upon arrival at the Falls we were awe-struck by the sight of more than 20 Grizzly (Brown) Bears. In the summer, North America’s largest land predators gather at these Falls and the surrounding streams to feast on salmon runs, build weight from the wealth of protein and fat, and prepare for the coming long winter. There were many female (sows) with their cubs (babies) and many large male (boars) present. Their many techniques of “fishing”, as well as a large variety of posturing, positioning, growling and even fighting, was unbelievable. We were within 15-20 feet sometimes as the bears walked past our platform to the stream. We literally could smell their musky odor. It was one of the most incredible experiences we have ever encountered. A grizzly is a majestic animal and it was both exciting and humbling for us to be privileged to share their world.
We have dedicated this entire Blog posting to Brooks Falls, because it certainly deserves the undivided attention. Click on the link below and view some of the amazing sights that we were privileged to share.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMNK¬ag=1
Over the last few days we have been salmon, trout and halibut fishing; ALL with success. The next Blog post will share those experiences.
We are here in Homer for three more days and then it’s on to Cooper Landing.
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Seward, nestled between forested mountains on the shore of Resurrection Bay
We left Anchorage on Thursday and traveled south down the Seward Highway. The day before we had driven the first sixty miles of the same route to explore Turnagain Arm where, from beginning to end, there are dramatic views of mountain scenery and Cook Inlet. Turnagain Arm's bore tide is the second highest in North America, behind only to the tide in Canada's Bay of Fundy. We stopped at Portage Glacier, walked the harbor front at Whittier and visited the ski resort town of Girdwood. We also hiked a short distance to Creek Falls.
After arriving in Seward, Pat, Freddie and Alice set out for the Fish House (the local hunting and fishing purveyors) to get “geared-up” for their planned fishing expeditions. They learned that the only salmon running right now, without going out on a charter, were to be caught at the mouth of the creeks where they empty into Resurrection Bay. This “technique” is known as snag fishing where one casts out a large treble hook and literally snag the fish as they enter the creeks. Pat caught two fish, a small (less than 4 lb) one and a larger (approx. 8 lb) one. They were both, however, Chum (or Dog) salmon that are NOT keepers so they were released. We still, never-the-less- have great hopes of catching the desired Sockeye and Coho as we continue down the Kenai Peninsula to Soldotna and Homer. All was not lost on the salmon front though. Our neighbors in the campground, a great family from Eagle River, Alaska – Jim, Andrea, Abby and Joshua – come here to Seward every summer and fish from their boat in Resurrection Bay. After their first successful day (where they caught 10 silvers) they graciously gave us three of them. We cooked them on the grill Saturday night and they were, by far, the VERY BEST fish we have ever had.
While here in Seward we visited the Alaska SeaLife Center where underwater viewing tanks enabled us to witness sea lions swimming and acrobatic sea birds diving just inches away. It was a very interesting and informative facility with a neat “touch tank” and some great exhibits and films.
Clearly the highlight of Seward has been our all-day cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park. We sailed on a catamaran that had a Park Service Ranger on board to narrate and inform. We saw humpback whales, sea otters, Stellar sea lions, Dall’s porpoise, puffins, mountain goats, bald eagles and more, in addition to MANY glaciers. We sailed within a few hundred feet of Aliaka Glacier and witnessed the cracking and creaking of this giant ice mass. We were also fortunate to see the glacier calve or shed huge slabs of ice into the water. It was a spectacular sight and, hopefully, some of the attached photos will give you some idea of it’s awesome size.
Today, Sunday, we relaxed in the morning and then hiked to Exit Glacier in the afternoon. This glacier is within Kenai Fjords National Park and affords one of the few opportunities to hike with a few feet of an active glacier.
Attached are several photographs, showing Portage Lake & Glacier, Judy at Creek Falls, some fishing shots, several sights viewed from the glacier cruise and Exit glacier. While the pictures are certainly nice, we repeatedly comment that the camera does not adequately capture the beauty and grandeur of this land. Hopefully, however, they will serve to afford you a glimpse into some of the awesome sights that we are enjoying.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMMs¬ag=1
Tomorrow we’re off to Soldotna to spend several days relaxing AND fishing.
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
After arriving in Seward, Pat, Freddie and Alice set out for the Fish House (the local hunting and fishing purveyors) to get “geared-up” for their planned fishing expeditions. They learned that the only salmon running right now, without going out on a charter, were to be caught at the mouth of the creeks where they empty into Resurrection Bay. This “technique” is known as snag fishing where one casts out a large treble hook and literally snag the fish as they enter the creeks. Pat caught two fish, a small (less than 4 lb) one and a larger (approx. 8 lb) one. They were both, however, Chum (or Dog) salmon that are NOT keepers so they were released. We still, never-the-less- have great hopes of catching the desired Sockeye and Coho as we continue down the Kenai Peninsula to Soldotna and Homer. All was not lost on the salmon front though. Our neighbors in the campground, a great family from Eagle River, Alaska – Jim, Andrea, Abby and Joshua – come here to Seward every summer and fish from their boat in Resurrection Bay. After their first successful day (where they caught 10 silvers) they graciously gave us three of them. We cooked them on the grill Saturday night and they were, by far, the VERY BEST fish we have ever had.
While here in Seward we visited the Alaska SeaLife Center where underwater viewing tanks enabled us to witness sea lions swimming and acrobatic sea birds diving just inches away. It was a very interesting and informative facility with a neat “touch tank” and some great exhibits and films.
Clearly the highlight of Seward has been our all-day cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park. We sailed on a catamaran that had a Park Service Ranger on board to narrate and inform. We saw humpback whales, sea otters, Stellar sea lions, Dall’s porpoise, puffins, mountain goats, bald eagles and more, in addition to MANY glaciers. We sailed within a few hundred feet of Aliaka Glacier and witnessed the cracking and creaking of this giant ice mass. We were also fortunate to see the glacier calve or shed huge slabs of ice into the water. It was a spectacular sight and, hopefully, some of the attached photos will give you some idea of it’s awesome size.
Today, Sunday, we relaxed in the morning and then hiked to Exit Glacier in the afternoon. This glacier is within Kenai Fjords National Park and affords one of the few opportunities to hike with a few feet of an active glacier.
Attached are several photographs, showing Portage Lake & Glacier, Judy at Creek Falls, some fishing shots, several sights viewed from the glacier cruise and Exit glacier. While the pictures are certainly nice, we repeatedly comment that the camera does not adequately capture the beauty and grandeur of this land. Hopefully, however, they will serve to afford you a glimpse into some of the awesome sights that we are enjoying.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMMs¬ag=1
Tomorrow we’re off to Soldotna to spend several days relaxing AND fishing.
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Monday, July 7, 2008
A Week in the BIG City
We arrived here in Anchorage a little over a week ago.
Anchorage, is Alaska's metropolis, the largest city in the state, with about 360,000 inhabitants within the greater metropolitan area. This comprises about 58% of the total population of the entire state. Even though Juneau is the capital, Anchorage is not only the largest but perhaps the most cosmopolitan of the two and this unique destination is truly located in one of the world's most spectacular settings. The city is surrounded by six mountain ranges, many of which are still snow-capped. The area is warmed by a maritime climate and appears to be alive year round with adventure, recreation, seasonal festivities, sporting events and more. It has been recognized as a four-time All-America City and yet it is surrounded by spectacular wildnerness. Today, while returning from the grocery store, we had to stop and wait for a moose to cross the street in front of us, and we were right in the middle of town! There are many parks and hiking trails throughout the area and the people share their neighborhoods with moose AND bears.
The days seem endless with 20+ hours of daylight and everywhere we look there are dazzling displays of flowers adorning homes, storefronts and lightpoles. It is estimated that there are more than 10,000 hanging flower baskets in addition to countless gardens and plantings EVERYWHERE. As one walks around, live music fills the air, painted salmon sculptures appear along city blocks and king and silver salmon are caught right in the heart of downtown in Ship Creek.
Next year marks Alaska's 50th Anniversary of Statehood so there are also a lot of celebration activities going on.
While here we have relaxed, shopped and enjoyed much of what this wonderful city has to offer.
Anchorage, is Alaska's metropolis, the largest city in the state, with about 360,000 inhabitants within the greater metropolitan area. This comprises about 58% of the total population of the entire state. Even though Juneau is the capital, Anchorage is not only the largest but perhaps the most cosmopolitan of the two and this unique destination is truly located in one of the world's most spectacular settings. The city is surrounded by six mountain ranges, many of which are still snow-capped. The area is warmed by a maritime climate and appears to be alive year round with adventure, recreation, seasonal festivities, sporting events and more. It has been recognized as a four-time All-America City and yet it is surrounded by spectacular wildnerness. Today, while returning from the grocery store, we had to stop and wait for a moose to cross the street in front of us, and we were right in the middle of town! There are many parks and hiking trails throughout the area and the people share their neighborhoods with moose AND bears.
The days seem endless with 20+ hours of daylight and everywhere we look there are dazzling displays of flowers adorning homes, storefronts and lightpoles. It is estimated that there are more than 10,000 hanging flower baskets in addition to countless gardens and plantings EVERYWHERE. As one walks around, live music fills the air, painted salmon sculptures appear along city blocks and king and silver salmon are caught right in the heart of downtown in Ship Creek.
Next year marks Alaska's 50th Anniversary of Statehood so there are also a lot of celebration activities going on.
While here we have relaxed, shopped and enjoyed much of what this wonderful city has to offer.
- We visited the village of Eklutna, which is the oldest continuously inhabited Athabascan settlement, where there is a cemetary complete with Spirit Houses. These unique structures are a mix of Russian Orthodox and native funeral practices, built over a deceased person's grave to hold essentials for the afterlife. They are only a couple of feet high, painted in bright family colors and often decorated with fences (which signify the final resting place of an Elder), blankets and family-specific markings.
- We hiked Thunderbird Falls, Earthquake Park and The Coastal Trail.
- We went to the Native Heritage Center where we spent the day learning a great deal about the five groups of Alaska Natives: 1) the Athabascan, 2) the Yup’ik and Cup’ik, 3) the Inupiaq and St. Lawrence Island Yupik, 4) the Aleut and Alutiiq and 5) the Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. While there we enjoyed singing, dancing, demonstrations of Native Olympic games, arts and crafts, a tour of many indigenous dwellings and several movies.
- We attended two movies detailing the Good Friday Earthquake of 1964 in which significant damage was done in Anchorage, Seward, Valdez and much of the surrounding area. The quake registered 9.2 on the Richter scale which makes it the second strongest earthquake ever!
- We attended the Sled Dog Rodeo which is a comedic, as well as informative, presentation that concentrates on the importance of sled dogs in Alaska and also the Iditarod.
- We have taken several scenic drives and have continued to be dazzled by the awesome views.
Below is a link to some pictures that show several of the things mentioned above. All of the flower pictures were taken while walking around town.
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Tomorrow we're going to a couple museums and then visit with Pat's cousin who lives in Eagle River, a suburb of Anchorage. On Wednesday we're driving down Turnagain Arm to Portage Glaciar and through the Whittier Tunnel. It is deemed to be quite a spectacular drive.
More coming soon...
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Flight to the Summit of Mount McKinley
When we awakened Sunday morning it was cloudy and drizzly and we were not very confident that our 11:00am flight to Mount McKinley was going to take off. After contacting Talkeetna Aero we were elated to hear that, in spite of the fact that ground level was socked in, Mt McKinley was visible above 9,000 feet and we were good to go.
We took off with nine passengers, and Pilot Dave, right on schedule and immediately began the ascent. The first 15 minutes we flew through a heavy cloudbank that was just a white wall. The Pilot (along with “co-pilot Pat”) flew purely by instruments. Due to the altitude we all had to don oxygen masks and wear them throughout the flight. We were also wearing headsets, which kept us “tuned in” to Dave’s narration, each other and also Air Traffic Control instructions.
At approximately 10,500 feet we ascended out of the clouds and there, immediately before us, was the incredible sight of Mount McKinley. For the next hour we flew circles around the mountain, eventually climbing above the summit of 20,320 feet. We flew within a mile of the surface and were treated to views of both the north and south peaks, the sheer rock faces, the “hanging glaciers”, Wickersham’s Wall, Pioneer Ridge, McKinley Pass and several glaciers replete with moraines, which are long dark stream-like deposits of rock and debris pushed up by the tremendous pressure of the ice. The pilot would fly in both directions and repeatedly dipped the wings so everyone was treated to an up-close and unobstructed view of Denali in all her majesty.
We also checked out the mountaineer base camps at both 14,000 and 17,000 feet and followed several climbers attempting one of the final ascents of the year. Due to mountain conditions, McKinley can only be climbed in April, May and June. For the last couple days the climbers have been stuck in their camps due to unfavorable conditions. Today was their first clear day and, as you’ll see in the attached photos, more than a dozen people are still on the mountain trying to get to the summit. From where we viewed the climbers, at base Camp 14, they still had more than 6,000 feet to ascend. Less than 50% of all people who attempt the climb are successful and, this late in the season, from what we were told, it will be extremely difficult to make it all the way to the summit of the North Peak. It also goes without saying that this is an extremely treacherous endeavor. This year alone, two climbers have perished and another experienced a free-fall of more than 2,000 feet and had to be airlifted off the mountain. It was a tad frightening to see how daunting the mountain was and how tiny the climbers were.
It is absolutely impossible to come up with words that sufficiently describe the sheer beauty and majesty of Mount McKinley. It is truly an awe-inspiring sight. Attached are several photos that we hope will show you the extraordinary panorama that unfolded before us.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMK0¬ag=1
Enjoy and “stay-tuned”. Tomorrow we’re taking a Jet Boat tour up the Talkeetna, Chulitna, and Susitna rivers.
Take care,P&J
We took off with nine passengers, and Pilot Dave, right on schedule and immediately began the ascent. The first 15 minutes we flew through a heavy cloudbank that was just a white wall. The Pilot (along with “co-pilot Pat”) flew purely by instruments. Due to the altitude we all had to don oxygen masks and wear them throughout the flight. We were also wearing headsets, which kept us “tuned in” to Dave’s narration, each other and also Air Traffic Control instructions.
At approximately 10,500 feet we ascended out of the clouds and there, immediately before us, was the incredible sight of Mount McKinley. For the next hour we flew circles around the mountain, eventually climbing above the summit of 20,320 feet. We flew within a mile of the surface and were treated to views of both the north and south peaks, the sheer rock faces, the “hanging glaciers”, Wickersham’s Wall, Pioneer Ridge, McKinley Pass and several glaciers replete with moraines, which are long dark stream-like deposits of rock and debris pushed up by the tremendous pressure of the ice. The pilot would fly in both directions and repeatedly dipped the wings so everyone was treated to an up-close and unobstructed view of Denali in all her majesty.
We also checked out the mountaineer base camps at both 14,000 and 17,000 feet and followed several climbers attempting one of the final ascents of the year. Due to mountain conditions, McKinley can only be climbed in April, May and June. For the last couple days the climbers have been stuck in their camps due to unfavorable conditions. Today was their first clear day and, as you’ll see in the attached photos, more than a dozen people are still on the mountain trying to get to the summit. From where we viewed the climbers, at base Camp 14, they still had more than 6,000 feet to ascend. Less than 50% of all people who attempt the climb are successful and, this late in the season, from what we were told, it will be extremely difficult to make it all the way to the summit of the North Peak. It also goes without saying that this is an extremely treacherous endeavor. This year alone, two climbers have perished and another experienced a free-fall of more than 2,000 feet and had to be airlifted off the mountain. It was a tad frightening to see how daunting the mountain was and how tiny the climbers were.
It is absolutely impossible to come up with words that sufficiently describe the sheer beauty and majesty of Mount McKinley. It is truly an awe-inspiring sight. Attached are several photos that we hope will show you the extraordinary panorama that unfolded before us.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMK0¬ag=1
Enjoy and “stay-tuned”. Tomorrow we’re taking a Jet Boat tour up the Talkeetna, Chulitna, and Susitna rivers.
Take care,P&J
Friday, June 27, 2008
Mt. McKinley or Denali (as the Athabaskans call it) is AWESOME !!!
We have now been at Denali National Park for a week and have, literally, run out of words to describe the incredible beauty. The park, which was originally established in 1917 and expanded in 1980, comprises more than 6 million acres. It's centerpiece is, of course, Mt McKinley, but the park is also a hiker's and wildlife-watcher's paradise. There is only one "official" road into the park, coincidentally named Park Road, and no private vehicles are permitted past milepost 16. In order to venture the remaining 74 miles, to the base of Mt. McKinley, one must take a designated park shuttle bus. This certainly cuts down on congestion and pollution and enables Denali to remain pristine and support a complete eco-system - the ONLY place in the United States that remains, essentially undisturbed and unchanged since the first human contact. The Denali that one sees today is EXACTLY as it has always been. For anyone that has visited Smokey Mountain, or Yellowstone, or Yosemite or Grand Canyon National Parks they can REALLY appreciate this unique jewel.
The mountain is not visible very often (most estimates hover around 30% of the time) BUT we have now seen it on THREE different occasions! How lucky is that? For the first 4 days we were here "The High One" was totally enshrouded in clouds. It is so tall, 20,320 feet, that it actually creates it's own weather. Often it is socked in with clouds when the rest of the area is sunny and bright.
On Tuesday, Judy had a hunch at about 11:00pm that Denali, the mountain, just might be visible. Sure enough, after driving the 16 miles to the first vantage point, there it was in all its glory. Attached are several pictures from different times and different locales. Notice the two shots at sunset and then at sunrise - just a little more than 3 hours later.
We also went on a Jeep Safari where WE actually drove the Jeeps through the backcountry. Well, Pat and Freddie drove, Judy and Sally were the, sometimes willing, passengers ;) Notice the one picture taken from Freddie's Jeep forward toward Pat's which is going through a "puddle". Don't miss the "Safety First" decal on the dash; does that include going through water that's halfway up the doors? It was a blast. Pat must have done fairly well because the Jeep Safari company offered her a job IMMEDIATELY. Perhaps next year...
Yesterday we took a Monster Truck tour and traversed the only other road into Denali. This is the "unofficial" route into the Park that has to be accessed via a private railroad crossing. We went through forests, across streams, forded rivers, traveled to the tundra and ended in an alpine meadow. We saw caribou, moose, eagle, trumpeter swans and much more. It was incredible to spend 7 hours, surrounded by such vast wilderness and NEVER encounter another human being.
Today is our last day here in Denali and tomorrow, Saturday, we head to Talkeetna where, if the weather cooperates, we will take a flightseeing tour around Mt McKinley. On Sunday we're taking a jet boat tour up three different rivers where, hopefully, we will again see the mountain.
Stay tuned, more to come...
Today's pictures: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMKW¬ag=1
Take care,
P&J
The mountain is not visible very often (most estimates hover around 30% of the time) BUT we have now seen it on THREE different occasions! How lucky is that? For the first 4 days we were here "The High One" was totally enshrouded in clouds. It is so tall, 20,320 feet, that it actually creates it's own weather. Often it is socked in with clouds when the rest of the area is sunny and bright.
On Tuesday, Judy had a hunch at about 11:00pm that Denali, the mountain, just might be visible. Sure enough, after driving the 16 miles to the first vantage point, there it was in all its glory. Attached are several pictures from different times and different locales. Notice the two shots at sunset and then at sunrise - just a little more than 3 hours later.
We also went on a Jeep Safari where WE actually drove the Jeeps through the backcountry. Well, Pat and Freddie drove, Judy and Sally were the, sometimes willing, passengers ;) Notice the one picture taken from Freddie's Jeep forward toward Pat's which is going through a "puddle". Don't miss the "Safety First" decal on the dash; does that include going through water that's halfway up the doors? It was a blast. Pat must have done fairly well because the Jeep Safari company offered her a job IMMEDIATELY. Perhaps next year...
Yesterday we took a Monster Truck tour and traversed the only other road into Denali. This is the "unofficial" route into the Park that has to be accessed via a private railroad crossing. We went through forests, across streams, forded rivers, traveled to the tundra and ended in an alpine meadow. We saw caribou, moose, eagle, trumpeter swans and much more. It was incredible to spend 7 hours, surrounded by such vast wilderness and NEVER encounter another human being.
Today is our last day here in Denali and tomorrow, Saturday, we head to Talkeetna where, if the weather cooperates, we will take a flightseeing tour around Mt McKinley. On Sunday we're taking a jet boat tour up three different rivers where, hopefully, we will again see the mountain.
Stay tuned, more to come...
Today's pictures: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMKW¬ag=1
Take care,
P&J
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Denali - a TRUE wilderness within "The Last Frontier"
We arrived in Denali on Friday, June 20th and will be here until Saturday, the 28th. It is an INCREDIBLY beautiful place. We have yet to see Mt McKinley, or Denali (the "Tall One"), as the Athabaskans refer to it. The mountain is only visible about 10-15% of the time and, thus far, the weather has not cooperated. We are, however, optimistic that we will see the great mountain. Believe us, the entire Alaska Range is awe-inspiring, so we can only imagine what we are in for (hopefully).
On Sunday we took a 12 hour bus tour to Kantishna at the end of the park road. There is only one road that goes the 90 miles into Denali and to the base of Mt McKinley. No private vehicles are allowed past the first 16 miles, so one must take a park bus. It was an incredible trip with LOTS of wildlife and park history. The bus had a naturalist and a park ranger and we received a lot of interesting information. There was an abundant amount of wildlife - bears, moose, caribou, eagles, wolves, fox and much more. We have included several pictures within this Blog as we're having difficulty getting a sufficient Internet connection to publish photos to ShutterFly. Perhaps we'll be able to catch up with some additional pics in the future.
We have done several hikes, gone to the Denali NPS Dog Sled Kennels and viewed them in "action", attended some interesting Park Ranger presentations and taken a couple wildlife drives. In the next couple days we're going to take a Jeep safari into the Park where WE actually drive the jeeps and also go on a Monster 4X4 Truck that goes deep into the backcountry. Lot's of fun coming up.
We'll keep you posted; we enjoy hearing from you,
Stay safe,
P&J
On Sunday we took a 12 hour bus tour to Kantishna at the end of the park road. There is only one road that goes the 90 miles into Denali and to the base of Mt McKinley. No private vehicles are allowed past the first 16 miles, so one must take a park bus. It was an incredible trip with LOTS of wildlife and park history. The bus had a naturalist and a park ranger and we received a lot of interesting information. There was an abundant amount of wildlife - bears, moose, caribou, eagles, wolves, fox and much more. We have included several pictures within this Blog as we're having difficulty getting a sufficient Internet connection to publish photos to ShutterFly. Perhaps we'll be able to catch up with some additional pics in the future.
We have done several hikes, gone to the Denali NPS Dog Sled Kennels and viewed them in "action", attended some interesting Park Ranger presentations and taken a couple wildlife drives. In the next couple days we're going to take a Jeep safari into the Park where WE actually drive the jeeps and also go on a Monster 4X4 Truck that goes deep into the backcountry. Lot's of fun coming up.
We'll keep you posted; we enjoy hearing from you,
Stay safe,
P&J
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Traveling Deep Into The Alaskan Interior...
What a great week we had in Fairbanks. We saw some interesting sights, did some fun things and had a fair amount of relaxation.
In addition to flying to Barrow last Sunday, we:
In addition to flying to Barrow last Sunday, we:
- went to Creamer's Field Migratory Refuge and saw geese, sandhill cranes, iridescent tree swallows, etc.
- went to the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. It was one of the very best museums we have ever been to. We spent most of the day and could have spent longer.
- went to North Pole, Alaska and saw Santa and Mrs Claus, the elves, his reindeer and managed to do some shopping!
- went to Pioneer Park where there are several restored buildings and exhibits that depict historical Alaska.
- went to the Tanana Valley Farmer's Market. There is a lot of organic and, at this time of year, greenhouse-grown produce here in Alaska, however, we could not quite get ourselves to buy a $5.00 bag of lettuce that contained about a dozen leaves!
- went on the Riverboat Discovery with several stops including the kennels of the late Susan Butcher and an Athabaskan village.
Susan Butcher was a dog musher who rose to fame when she became the second woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1986, and went on to become the second four-time winner in 1990, and the first to win four out of five sequential years. The Iditarod is a grueling 1,131-mile race through arctic blizzard conditions across the Alaska wilderness, which tests the endurance of both mushers and dogs over the course of one to two weeks. Susan lost a courageous battle with cancer in 2006 but her legacy lives on in her Trail Breaker Kennels which are owned and operated by her husband and two daughters.
The Athabaskans traditionally lived in Interior Alaska, an expansive region that begins south of the Brooks Mountain Range and continues down to the Kenai Peninsula. In traditional and contemporary practices Athabaskans are taught respect for all living things. The most important part of Athabaskan subsistence living is sharing. All hunters are part of a kin-based network in which they are expected to follow traditional customs for sharing in the community. It has been very rewarding to learn about these peoples.
I bet you're wondering how we are seeing and doing so much. Well, it's because we never sleep. Just kidding, but it IS a challenge. You see, today, June 21st is the Summer Solstice - the LONGEST day of the year. No, it's still only 24 hours in length but it is the longest daylight of the year. Here in Denali, where we currently are, the sun rose at 2:17AM this morning and will set at 12:58AM tonight. That's 22 hours and 41 minutes of daylight; and the remaining 1 hour and 19 minutes is dusk. It has not really gotten dark for almost a month now!! So, there is LOTS of time to do things. Right now it is 10:16pm and the sun is still coming in the window.
Tonight the 103rd Midnight Sun Baseball Classic is being played in Fairbanks. Yep, the first pitch is not thrown until 12:00 midnight when the Alaska Goldpanners, the home team, will be hosting the California Running Birds (?) for the game which is played in its entirety without any artificial lights. We'll keep you posted on the results :))
Attached is the link to some pictures. Below the photo it explains what it is. Enjoy...
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Tomorrow morning we are setting out on a 12-13 hour tour deep into Denali National Park to the base of Mount McKinley. We will be going as far as the road goes and we anticipate seeing MUCH wildlife and some spectacular scenery.
More soon. Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Monday, June 16, 2008
All the Way to the ARCTIC OCEAN and MORE
WOW, what an exciting week it has been. We left Tok on Wednesday, June 11th, and drove the last 112 miles of the Alaska Highway, which officially ends in Delta Junction. We will now be traveling on Alaska state routes. We traversed the entire ALCAN and had a few exciting times, as our previous Posts have mentioned. It will now be interesting to see what lies ahead of us.
In Delta Junction we had our first glimpse of the 800+ mile long Alaska Pipeline. We have included three pictures of the Pipeline, the first was taken in Delta Junction where it crosses the Tanana River on it's own suspension bridge; the second is an aerial view taken on our flight to Prudhoe Bay; and the third is taken at a viewpoint north of Fairbanks where you can actually "touch" the 4-foot in diameter Pipeline. We'll include more info on the Pipeline the end of July when we head to Valdez, the termination of it's path.
While in Delta Junction we visited a couple Roadhouses, drove the Agricultural Loop and attended a local Farmer's Market.
On Thursday we drove 97 miles and arrived in Fairbanks where we are spending a week. We have visited Pioneer Park, gone to another local Farmer's Market and taken a trip to North Pole, Alaska. While there we made sure that the "Big Guy" (AKA "Santa") knew that we were being good ;))
On Sunday we took an Alaska Air flight from Fairbanks, via Prudhoe Bay (the origination point of the Alaska Pipeline, on the North Slope) and on to Barrow, Alaska.
Barrow is the northernmost settlement on the North American mainland. The population of 4,500+ is comprised of primarily Inupiat who rely heavily on hunting and fishing, including whaling for their subsistence. The capture of a whale benefits each member of the community, as the animal is butchered and its meat and blubber allocated according to a traditional formula. Even city-dwelling relatives thousands of miles away are entitled to a share of each whale killed by the hunters of their ancestral village. Climactic changes, causing thin ice, erosion, and flooding, have affected their livelihood in recent years. Even though they are "allowed" 22 whales a year, this past year they only captured 9 as the ice melt occurred early and drove them from their hunting grounds.
In recent years the exploitation of oil and other resources has, fortunately, been an alternative and important revenue source for the Inupiat.
We toured the villages and went to Nuuvik, the northernmost Point Barrow land mass. As the photos show it is a COLD and desolate place where survival is certainly a test of man's fortitude. The Inupiat's, however, are a sturdy and proud lot. We were treated to a show at the Heritage Center which included traditional dancing, singing, demonstrations and the blanket (or more correctly whale-skin) toss. We also went in search of a Polar Bear that had been spotted earlier in the day on an ice floe near town but he alluded us. It was a fascinating day and one that certainly provided insight into a culture very different from our own.
During our remaining time in Fairbanks we will be taking a Riverboat ride, going on a Gold Train Tour, visiting a gold dredge, hiking around the Migratory Bird Refuge and spending time at the University of Alaska Museum of the North and Musk Ox Research Center.
SO. Lot's more to do here before we drive on to Denali on Friday. Keep "Posted" as we continue our travels.
Here's the link for some photos from Delta Junction, Barrow and Fairbanks;
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMI8&emid=sharshar&linkid=link4
Take care,
P&J
In Delta Junction we had our first glimpse of the 800+ mile long Alaska Pipeline. We have included three pictures of the Pipeline, the first was taken in Delta Junction where it crosses the Tanana River on it's own suspension bridge; the second is an aerial view taken on our flight to Prudhoe Bay; and the third is taken at a viewpoint north of Fairbanks where you can actually "touch" the 4-foot in diameter Pipeline. We'll include more info on the Pipeline the end of July when we head to Valdez, the termination of it's path.
While in Delta Junction we visited a couple Roadhouses, drove the Agricultural Loop and attended a local Farmer's Market.
On Thursday we drove 97 miles and arrived in Fairbanks where we are spending a week. We have visited Pioneer Park, gone to another local Farmer's Market and taken a trip to North Pole, Alaska. While there we made sure that the "Big Guy" (AKA "Santa") knew that we were being good ;))
On Sunday we took an Alaska Air flight from Fairbanks, via Prudhoe Bay (the origination point of the Alaska Pipeline, on the North Slope) and on to Barrow, Alaska.
Barrow is the northernmost settlement on the North American mainland. The population of 4,500+ is comprised of primarily Inupiat who rely heavily on hunting and fishing, including whaling for their subsistence. The capture of a whale benefits each member of the community, as the animal is butchered and its meat and blubber allocated according to a traditional formula. Even city-dwelling relatives thousands of miles away are entitled to a share of each whale killed by the hunters of their ancestral village. Climactic changes, causing thin ice, erosion, and flooding, have affected their livelihood in recent years. Even though they are "allowed" 22 whales a year, this past year they only captured 9 as the ice melt occurred early and drove them from their hunting grounds.
In recent years the exploitation of oil and other resources has, fortunately, been an alternative and important revenue source for the Inupiat.
We toured the villages and went to Nuuvik, the northernmost Point Barrow land mass. As the photos show it is a COLD and desolate place where survival is certainly a test of man's fortitude. The Inupiat's, however, are a sturdy and proud lot. We were treated to a show at the Heritage Center which included traditional dancing, singing, demonstrations and the blanket (or more correctly whale-skin) toss. We also went in search of a Polar Bear that had been spotted earlier in the day on an ice floe near town but he alluded us. It was a fascinating day and one that certainly provided insight into a culture very different from our own.
During our remaining time in Fairbanks we will be taking a Riverboat ride, going on a Gold Train Tour, visiting a gold dredge, hiking around the Migratory Bird Refuge and spending time at the University of Alaska Museum of the North and Musk Ox Research Center.
SO. Lot's more to do here before we drive on to Denali on Friday. Keep "Posted" as we continue our travels.
Here's the link for some photos from Delta Junction, Barrow and Fairbanks;
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMI8&emid=sharshar&linkid=link4
Take care,
P&J
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
YEA - We're REALLY HERE...
We crossed over the border from Canada, re-entering the Unites States, and into the State of Alaska today. Wow, we made it.
We have driven on great roads and we have driven on dirt and gravel that wasn't even a roadway yet. We have driven through beautiful warm sunshine and we have driven through strong winds, tornado warnings, sleet, hail and even snow, but NOW the true adventure begins and getting here has all been worth it.
Tonight we are staying in Tok, Alaska. We all went to Fast Eddie's and had a celebratory dinner and a toast to our accomplishment. This is the culmination of a dream that started several years ago and now we are finally here. It was VERY exciting to come across that border and realize how very far we have come. There are really no two places in this great country of ours that are more diametrically opposed than Florida and Alaska. By just looking at a map it is mind boggling to fathom the distance. And now we set out to explore what is truly the "Last Frontier". The sheer beauty thus far has been awesome and it promises to only get better.
Tonight we also attended a free mini-concert here at the campground. It was a local Tok singer named Dave who really helped in setting the stage for the adventures that lie ahead. He spoke eloquently of the state of mind here in Alaska and all the beauty and grandeur that surrounds us. He sang several original tunes that dealt with living in the 49th state and understanding it's unique place in this land of ours. We found him to be most enjoyable and just the right introduction on our first evening here.
Tomorrow it is off to Delta Junction and then after a couple days of rest we head into Fairbanks.
Here is a link to a couple more pictures from the border.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMIe¬ag=1
Take care, stay safe and come back to this link soon to see our adventure unfold,
P&J
We have driven on great roads and we have driven on dirt and gravel that wasn't even a roadway yet. We have driven through beautiful warm sunshine and we have driven through strong winds, tornado warnings, sleet, hail and even snow, but NOW the true adventure begins and getting here has all been worth it.
Tonight we are staying in Tok, Alaska. We all went to Fast Eddie's and had a celebratory dinner and a toast to our accomplishment. This is the culmination of a dream that started several years ago and now we are finally here. It was VERY exciting to come across that border and realize how very far we have come. There are really no two places in this great country of ours that are more diametrically opposed than Florida and Alaska. By just looking at a map it is mind boggling to fathom the distance. And now we set out to explore what is truly the "Last Frontier". The sheer beauty thus far has been awesome and it promises to only get better.
Tonight we also attended a free mini-concert here at the campground. It was a local Tok singer named Dave who really helped in setting the stage for the adventures that lie ahead. He spoke eloquently of the state of mind here in Alaska and all the beauty and grandeur that surrounds us. He sang several original tunes that dealt with living in the 49th state and understanding it's unique place in this land of ours. We found him to be most enjoyable and just the right introduction on our first evening here.
Tomorrow it is off to Delta Junction and then after a couple days of rest we head into Fairbanks.
Here is a link to a couple more pictures from the border.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZMIe¬ag=1
Take care, stay safe and come back to this link soon to see our adventure unfold,
P&J
Monday, June 9, 2008
WOW! What a Difference 24 Hours Can Make!
On Saturday, June 7th, we arrived in Whitehorse on a beautiful sunny day as the top picture shows. We got set up and then went to Miles Canyon where we crossed the suspension bridge and hiked the canyon rim. It was a lovely day with everyone outside in shorts and tee shirts, hiking, kayaking, canoeing and just generally enjoying the early summer weather on the Yukon River.
Sunday morning, shortly after we awoke, it started to snow and, as you'll see from the attached photos, it came down pretty well for most of the morning. When Alice went to Mass, the Priest commented that this was the FIRST time he could ever remember it snowing in Whitehorse in June. How lucky are we ? It cleared up later in the day and we got caught up on a few errands and had a nice Sunday Supper. In the evening we went to the Frantic Follies, a vaudeville-type review that centers on the Gold Rush days of the 1890s. It was funny and entertaining.
The next morning, Monday the 9th, we left early and set out to drive to Destruction Bay, YT. We had already heard that it was going to be a difficult drive as the roadway had many frost-heaves and construction areas. Little did we know how "difficult" it really was going to be! Before we got out of town it started snowing AGAIN and this time in more earnest! Note the second picture above.
Most of the day was serious snow and even more serious construction. It was an 8 hour day of driving to cover less than 270 miles! We continued past our planned campground at Destruction Bay (because it was not yet fully functional from the harsh winter) and also because we wanted to get as far as we could. We anticipated more of the same construction delays the next day on the way to Tok, AK, and had NO idea what the weather might be! We spent Monday night in Beaver Creek, YT; very tired and stressed from a tough day, but also very excited at the prospect of getting to Alaska the next day.
By the way, frost-heaves are a result of the harsh winter (40-60 degrees BELOW zero) on the roadway. The permafrost thaws and the asphalt develops a series of humps and dips that, in the spring and summer, have to be repaired. There were numerous construction areas and the road was unbelievably dusty. The RV and the car became encased in a cement-like gravel dirt. It was so BAD that after we arrived at the campground we washed the vehicles for three (3) hours and never really removed more than the TOP layer!
Attached are some interesting photos of the two days in Whitehorse and the drive to Beaver Creek. There is a shot of Miles Canyon, some "snow shots" and a picture of Tow-Be before we washed her. Yes, there really is a Honda-CRV underneath all that gunk!
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZPwg&emid=sharshar&linkid=link4
Next Posting, we leave the Yukon Territory and FINALLY enter Alaska.
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Sunday morning, shortly after we awoke, it started to snow and, as you'll see from the attached photos, it came down pretty well for most of the morning. When Alice went to Mass, the Priest commented that this was the FIRST time he could ever remember it snowing in Whitehorse in June. How lucky are we ? It cleared up later in the day and we got caught up on a few errands and had a nice Sunday Supper. In the evening we went to the Frantic Follies, a vaudeville-type review that centers on the Gold Rush days of the 1890s. It was funny and entertaining.
The next morning, Monday the 9th, we left early and set out to drive to Destruction Bay, YT. We had already heard that it was going to be a difficult drive as the roadway had many frost-heaves and construction areas. Little did we know how "difficult" it really was going to be! Before we got out of town it started snowing AGAIN and this time in more earnest! Note the second picture above.
Most of the day was serious snow and even more serious construction. It was an 8 hour day of driving to cover less than 270 miles! We continued past our planned campground at Destruction Bay (because it was not yet fully functional from the harsh winter) and also because we wanted to get as far as we could. We anticipated more of the same construction delays the next day on the way to Tok, AK, and had NO idea what the weather might be! We spent Monday night in Beaver Creek, YT; very tired and stressed from a tough day, but also very excited at the prospect of getting to Alaska the next day.
By the way, frost-heaves are a result of the harsh winter (40-60 degrees BELOW zero) on the roadway. The permafrost thaws and the asphalt develops a series of humps and dips that, in the spring and summer, have to be repaired. There were numerous construction areas and the road was unbelievably dusty. The RV and the car became encased in a cement-like gravel dirt. It was so BAD that after we arrived at the campground we washed the vehicles for three (3) hours and never really removed more than the TOP layer!
Attached are some interesting photos of the two days in Whitehorse and the drive to Beaver Creek. There is a shot of Miles Canyon, some "snow shots" and a picture of Tow-Be before we washed her. Yes, there really is a Honda-CRV underneath all that gunk!
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZPwg&emid=sharshar&linkid=link4
Next Posting, we leave the Yukon Territory and FINALLY enter Alaska.
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Flagler Beach Shall "Live" in Perpetuity !!!!
As you can see from the picture above we made it to the Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake, British Columbia. We added our "Flagler Beach, Florida" sign to the more than 65,000 signs that are displayed there. The first sign was placed by a homesick GI in 1942 while stationed there working on the Alaska Highway. The idea has GROWN over the years (to say the least). Every year the town adds new posts so, with the help of a borrowed ladder, we were able to place our sign (provided by the Flagler Beach Road Dept.) in a very prominent location. We located signs from Orlando, South Daytona, Tallahassee and Starke but no Palm Coast. That doesn't mean that it wasn't there; it's IMPOSSIBLE to view all the signs. We didn't see another Flagler Beach so we hope we're the first.
While in Watson Lake we also attended the Northern Lights Interpretive Center and viewed a great planetarium presentation on the Universe and the Aurora Borealis.
On Saturday we left Watson Lake and stopped at Rancheria Falls on our way to Whitehorse. We got to the falls via a short hike through a boreal forest. EVERYTHING is just beautiful here.
Attached is a link to a couple pictures of The Sign Post Forest and Rancheria Falls.
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We're a couple days behind on these Posts so check back often as we will be adding Whitehorse (Sunday & Monday) AND our entry into Alaska (on Tuesday) very soon.
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
While in Watson Lake we also attended the Northern Lights Interpretive Center and viewed a great planetarium presentation on the Universe and the Aurora Borealis.
On Saturday we left Watson Lake and stopped at Rancheria Falls on our way to Whitehorse. We got to the falls via a short hike through a boreal forest. EVERYTHING is just beautiful here.
Attached is a link to a couple pictures of The Sign Post Forest and Rancheria Falls.
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZP4A¬ag=1
We're a couple days behind on these Posts so check back often as we will be adding Whitehorse (Sunday & Monday) AND our entry into Alaska (on Tuesday) very soon.
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Thursday, June 5, 2008
What a FANTASTIC beginning on the Alaska Highway
We left milepost 0 at Dawson Creek on Tuesday, June 3rd and drove to Fort Nelson, British Columbia. On Wednesday we continued north on the Alaska Highway to Muncho Lake at milepost 442. The scenery has been absolutely stunning. Around every curve (and there are a lot of them :) the view is more incredible. The roadway is sometimes challenging. At one point Pat encountered the following warning signs within a single 20-mile stretch: CAUTION: winding road; CAUTION: narrow road; CAUTION: soft shoulder; CAUTION: rock slides; CAUTION: steep 10% grade; CAUTION: construction (a lot of that); CAUTION: bison on road; CAUTION: caribou on road; CAUTION: moose on road; CAUTION: stone sheep on road; CAUTION: bears on road and CAUTION: horses on road. And every one of them was true!!!
We have spent two days here at Muncho Lake which is an incredible teal blue color due to mineral deposits. The picture at the top of this page is from our campsite and YES that is the REAL color. The lake is surrounded by towering snow-covered mountains. We also went to Smith Falls, a beautiful waterfall, secluded and off the beaten track. We heard about it from the Post Mistress in Dawson Creek, who said it was one of the “best-kept secrets along the ALCAN”. From there we went to Liard Springs, had a picnic lunch, and then walked to the Hot Pools. There are two, Alpha and Beta, and they bubble out of the earth at more than 110 degrees. The first stays hotter because it is not as deep as Beta, which is more than 9 feet in depth. It was VERY luxuriating to just bask in the warm, mineral waters. The air temperature was in the 50s so it was quite tolerable. We spoke to a gent who comes to the Springs in the winter when the outside temp is 30 degrees BELOW zero! Can you imagine? It must be a major shock to your body. We found it wonderfully refreshing and it really eased the aches and stiffness from road fatigue.
Tomorrow we continue north on the highway approximately 180 miles to Watson Lake. That’s where the Signpost City is located. More on that in the next Post…
Below is the link to some more pictures. They include a photo taken at one of our many “construction stops”. We frequently have to wait for tar and gravel to be laid as they are patching the roadway EVERYWHERE. There are a couple pictures taken out the front windshield intended to give you a peek at the beautiful views we have every day. Also, there are a few shots of some of the four-legged friends (and also a two-legged one) that we have “met” along the way. The huskies were part of a truckload of 12 that were moving from Michigan to Alaska to live near the trail for the Iditarod. Seeing wildlife along side the road is becoming more and more of a common occurrence. Travel is slow, which is OKAY by us, because one never knows what will be encountered around the next curve.
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Hope you are enjoying the Posts and the pictures.
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
We have spent two days here at Muncho Lake which is an incredible teal blue color due to mineral deposits. The picture at the top of this page is from our campsite and YES that is the REAL color. The lake is surrounded by towering snow-covered mountains. We also went to Smith Falls, a beautiful waterfall, secluded and off the beaten track. We heard about it from the Post Mistress in Dawson Creek, who said it was one of the “best-kept secrets along the ALCAN”. From there we went to Liard Springs, had a picnic lunch, and then walked to the Hot Pools. There are two, Alpha and Beta, and they bubble out of the earth at more than 110 degrees. The first stays hotter because it is not as deep as Beta, which is more than 9 feet in depth. It was VERY luxuriating to just bask in the warm, mineral waters. The air temperature was in the 50s so it was quite tolerable. We spoke to a gent who comes to the Springs in the winter when the outside temp is 30 degrees BELOW zero! Can you imagine? It must be a major shock to your body. We found it wonderfully refreshing and it really eased the aches and stiffness from road fatigue.
Tomorrow we continue north on the highway approximately 180 miles to Watson Lake. That’s where the Signpost City is located. More on that in the next Post…
Below is the link to some more pictures. They include a photo taken at one of our many “construction stops”. We frequently have to wait for tar and gravel to be laid as they are patching the roadway EVERYWHERE. There are a couple pictures taken out the front windshield intended to give you a peek at the beautiful views we have every day. Also, there are a few shots of some of the four-legged friends (and also a two-legged one) that we have “met” along the way. The huskies were part of a truckload of 12 that were moving from Michigan to Alaska to live near the trail for the Iditarod. Seeing wildlife along side the road is becoming more and more of a common occurrence. Travel is slow, which is OKAY by us, because one never knows what will be encountered around the next curve.
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Hope you are enjoying the Posts and the pictures.
Take care and stay safe,
P&J
Monday, June 2, 2008
3800 Miles and We FINALLY Arrived at Milepost 0 (zero)!!!!
Today we are in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, at the beginning of the Alaska Highway. We have traveled for almost a month and covered more than 3,800 miles and now the ADVENTURE BEGINS.
The Alaska Highway, or ALCAN as it is also known, was constructed in 1942 as an overland supply route, for defense purposes, during World War II. It was built by the US Army in just a little more than 8 months and covers more than 1400 miles. Can you imagine? It took Florida DOT almost two years to build a new bridge on I-95 at Flagler Beach!!!
The scenery continues to be awe-inspiring. Today we shared the road with moose and drove in the foothills of the snow-covered Canadian Rockies. There will be many opportunities for snow, glacier and iceberg photos over the next few months so I'm refraining from posting them here.
Tomorrow it is off to Ft Nelson, BC and then to Muncho Lake where we will spend a couple down days. Among our planned activities will be basking in the Liard Hot Springs which have a 110 degree temperature and therapeutic minerals. Pat's aching body is ready. Even though we try to drive for 2-3 days and then have 2 days down, off-road, it does still get taxing. The bulk of the long-distance driving is over now, we have finally gotten here, so it will not be as arduous from this point on.
Here are a couple pictures from Chetwynd, the Chainsaw Sculpture Capital of the World and also here in Dawson Creek. Chetwynd has more than 50 sculptures displayed throughout town and some of them are really phenomenal considering they have been done ENTIRELY with a chainsaw.
The picture at the top of the BLOG is our "little band of adventurers". Freddie & Sally are in the Northern Star with their cats, Tony & Smokey; Alice is in the Allegro Bay with her cat Sophie and we are in the DutchStar with no pets - Pat is more than enough!!!
Click on the link and enjoy the photos:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZPSg¬ag=1
Post comments or send emails.
Take care, stay safe and love to you all,
P&J
The Alaska Highway, or ALCAN as it is also known, was constructed in 1942 as an overland supply route, for defense purposes, during World War II. It was built by the US Army in just a little more than 8 months and covers more than 1400 miles. Can you imagine? It took Florida DOT almost two years to build a new bridge on I-95 at Flagler Beach!!!
The scenery continues to be awe-inspiring. Today we shared the road with moose and drove in the foothills of the snow-covered Canadian Rockies. There will be many opportunities for snow, glacier and iceberg photos over the next few months so I'm refraining from posting them here.
Tomorrow it is off to Ft Nelson, BC and then to Muncho Lake where we will spend a couple down days. Among our planned activities will be basking in the Liard Hot Springs which have a 110 degree temperature and therapeutic minerals. Pat's aching body is ready. Even though we try to drive for 2-3 days and then have 2 days down, off-road, it does still get taxing. The bulk of the long-distance driving is over now, we have finally gotten here, so it will not be as arduous from this point on.
Here are a couple pictures from Chetwynd, the Chainsaw Sculpture Capital of the World and also here in Dawson Creek. Chetwynd has more than 50 sculptures displayed throughout town and some of them are really phenomenal considering they have been done ENTIRELY with a chainsaw.
The picture at the top of the BLOG is our "little band of adventurers". Freddie & Sally are in the Northern Star with their cats, Tony & Smokey; Alice is in the Allegro Bay with her cat Sophie and we are in the DutchStar with no pets - Pat is more than enough!!!
Click on the link and enjoy the photos:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Sbs27hoxZPSg¬ag=1
Post comments or send emails.
Take care, stay safe and love to you all,
P&J
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Tomorrow, Monday, June 2nd is a BIG Day
Since our last post we have been traveling in British Columbia, Canada. We have stayed in Oliver, Clinton and now Prince George, BC for a couple days. We drove due north, right up the Okanaga Valley. It is an extremely fertile area of Canada with many orchards, vineyards and produce fields, rimmed on the East by the Rockies and on the West by the Cascades, both of which still have snow on them! The scenery has really been beautiful.
Tomorrow we travel approximately 260 miles (otherwise known as 418 kilometers) to Dawson Creek. This is milepost 0 (zero) of the Alaska Highway, which actually begins here in Canada. This truly is where the adventure begins!
We will travel the ALCAN to it's terminus in Delta Junction, Alaska (approximately 1400 miles) with many side trips along the way. At that point we will continue on to Fairbanks and an airplane flight to Barrow, AK, far above the Arctic Circle. Eventually we will start south and the return trip will be a combination of driving, to points like Denali, Anchorage, Homer, Valdez, Kenai, Seward, etc.) and sailing on the Alaska Marine Highway, which is the series of ferry boats that will take us south through the Inside Passage.
As you can see, we have a VERY ambitious, yet EXCITING summer ahead of us.
Please travel along with us via this blog. We will try to update as often as possible, just understand that sometimes the availability of Internet is problematic.
We love to see your comments here and also to receive your emails. Currently, while we are in Canada, we are without cell service, as roaming charges are quite prohibitive. After arriving in Alaska on June 11th we will hopefully have cell phone availability some times.
We miss you all and you are certainly in our thoughts.
Stay safe and take care,
P&J
Tomorrow we travel approximately 260 miles (otherwise known as 418 kilometers) to Dawson Creek. This is milepost 0 (zero) of the Alaska Highway, which actually begins here in Canada. This truly is where the adventure begins!
We will travel the ALCAN to it's terminus in Delta Junction, Alaska (approximately 1400 miles) with many side trips along the way. At that point we will continue on to Fairbanks and an airplane flight to Barrow, AK, far above the Arctic Circle. Eventually we will start south and the return trip will be a combination of driving, to points like Denali, Anchorage, Homer, Valdez, Kenai, Seward, etc.) and sailing on the Alaska Marine Highway, which is the series of ferry boats that will take us south through the Inside Passage.
As you can see, we have a VERY ambitious, yet EXCITING summer ahead of us.
Please travel along with us via this blog. We will try to update as often as possible, just understand that sometimes the availability of Internet is problematic.
We love to see your comments here and also to receive your emails. Currently, while we are in Canada, we are without cell service, as roaming charges are quite prohibitive. After arriving in Alaska on June 11th we will hopefully have cell phone availability some times.
We miss you all and you are certainly in our thoughts.
Stay safe and take care,
P&J
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