The same 7000 ft peak I saw from the Stikine River, but now flying over Sitka, Baranoff Isl
Friday, June 24, 2016
Coastal Brown Bear
I learned the Coastal Brown Bear is very big compared to his cousin in the interior of Alaska. The Grizzlie is a sub species of the brown bear.
USCGC Maple
This buoy tender is a blast from the past for me as I served on one many years ago. As the Colombia was approachimg Sitka, I was on the fantail taking in the views as we navigated the narrows. Up from behind and at low altitude, flew a Coast Guard helo! I decided to mess with them, and signalled to it with my Boatswain 'two fingers twisting in the air" for the helo crew to 'turn to' their work and quit playing around. They waved to me from the helo as they passed and then decided to mess with me. They turned the helo back around to come up the rear of the Colombia again, but this time they opened the side door of the helo with the rescue swimmer dressed in an orange survival suit looking like he was ready to jump out. It was awesome! There is definitely a 'brotherhood' having served in the Guard.
Road Sign to the outside
Skagway and Haines are the only two towns accessible from the outside by road. The two towns are only 45min apart by boat
Skagway, AK
Now a fabricated tourist town but previously the primary gateway for those pursuing the Klondike gold rush back in the day
Fantail of the Colombia
The Colombia is one of two ships that make the trip up from Bellingham. I started with the Kennicott in Bellingham, which while 16 years newer, is not as elegant and passenger friendly as the Colombia. The Kennicott is a multi function boat designed to serve as a distaster relief command center (ie Exxon Valdez). Plus the Kennicott is rated for open water (ie Gulf of Alaska) and has a massive elevator in the aft designed for auto servicing remote villages like Yakutat subject to big tidal swings.
M/V Colombia
Departed Petersburg to Sitka by way of Skagway. The Colombia is the longest of the Alaskan ferry boats
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Midnight off Petersburg
Petersburg, called 'Little Norway' because of its Scandanavian heritage, was strategically located near Le Conte Glacier. The locals would drag glaciel icebergs to Petersburg (20 or so miles away) to use for transporting the fish catch down to the US lower 48.