Alaska Trip: Mount Mc Kinley Lodge. Day 10

Mount Mc Kinley Lodge.

A slower morning, which was much appreciated after a long day, yesterday.  There is just so much to see and do up here in Alaska the temptation is to pack the days full.  This morning we went for a quiet stroll around the lodge, taking in the incredible scenery, bird life, and amusing signs.

We were blessed with really good weather.  Apparently it is rare to see the Top of Denali, but we saw it for three days in a row.  Later in Seattle we we talking to a chap would had just come back from a similar tour and it rained the whole time.

Denali in the background and me holding my stomach in in the foreground.

Dangerous and Tasty!

Alaska Trip: Talkeetna and Rafting. Day 9

Talkeetna and Rafting.

The town of Talkeetna, is where old hippies go to spend the summer.  It is fairly unspoilt by tourism and has many fine features including one of the original old boarding houses.  This town is the starting point for anyone who is going to climb Mount Denali.

Says it all really.

After enjoying one of the best pizza's we have had anywhere, we got ready to go rafting, not the white water, white knuckle ride, but a relaxed float down a tame river to enjoy nature.

Ready for anything

Beaver Dam.  All around us the banks had been felled by Beavers who were obviously doing very well in this part of Alaska.

The raft was a goof way to sneak up on animals and birds, it silence helped a great deal.

A Bald eagle was nesting near by.  Here he is keeping an eye on us, or waiting for one of us to fall in the water.

Alaska Trip: Whittiker to Mount McKinley Day 9

Train Day

We got of the ship first thing in the morning and went up through Alaska.  A very bossy ex headmistress was the tour guide, and quickly irritated me with here endless stories.  However I was in the minority and others thanked her profusely for her wittering.

As she was telling us that hardly anyone sees bears from the train, someone shouted bears!  Two black bears were rambling over by the woods.  Bad picture as It was quite far away.

Then a little further on we came across this grizzly, very annoyed we had caught him out on the mud flats.

After a four and a bit train journey we arrived at Talkeetna, one of my favourite places on the whole trip.

Alaska Trip: College Fjord Day 8

College Fjord  Glaciers

Going through Prince William Sound and into Colllege Fjord the scenery was mangnificent.  Sea otters once again abounded in the surrounding waters.

You can see how massive this Glacier was by the size of the balconies on the ship.  While we watched the glacier was cracking and groaning and large chunks falling of into the water.  I am reliably informed this is known as calving.

Alaska Trip: Fashion Model Day 7

Fashion Model

While in the little general store on board one evening Nicola was pounced upon by an enthusisatic shop assistant who was looking for models to appear in her fasion show on the 1st of June.  After a lot of begging and pleading Nicola gave way and agreed.  She was given the dress to wear and 'runway pointers'; five different moves and poses before being escorted onto the red carpet by the Captain of the ship.

I think she scrubbed up well.

The Dress

 A natural, as Nic ditches the Captian and takes to the runway.

Nicola and the other models line up at the end.  Something she never thought she would do, and probably won't be ever talked into it again.  Great fun though, as most of the ladies and gents were clearly mortified to be up there; more worring were the few who were well practiced and took it very seriously!

Alaska Trip: Glacier Bay National Park Day 7

Glacier Bay

Early in the morning the ship took on a couple of Park Rangers as we entered Glacier Bay National Park.  This serves two purposes; it keeps us informed by the experts and they make sure the ship keeps to the rules while in the Park.

 

There was a sharp dip in temperature when we got closer to the glaciers, up until then we had been in shorts and T shirts.  Glaciers grind away the stone to dust and so are seldom clean and when they hit the sea water the whole area appears milky. 

This Sea Lion was unimpressed we were on his turf.

This is the area where John Muir, the great American naturalist, toured in 1880.  He fought for its preservation and its good to see that eventually came about.

As we left Glacier bay, we passed a number of Islands with Stella Sea Lions taking a rest.  This photo is of South Marble Island.  Later we saw a pod of Orca heading up the fjord so I suppose getting out onto the rocks is a good thing.

We were also amazed by the number of sea otters we saw,  twenty or so were on their backs floating along with no concern in the world.  They were difficult to photograph but below is my attempt.

Alaska Trip: Skagway, Dog Sled Day 6

Dog Sledding

Near Skagway, up in the hills is a summer camp where mushers from all around the US send there dogs for strength training.  There are around 300 dogs at the camp we visited.

Our ride up the steep track to the camp was in an old Unimog, converted to passenger use.  I notice the driver put the fattest Americans in the cab with him, to balance the truck?

We were in six man trucks which weighed 600lb plus the weight of us meant the dogs were pulling quite a bit.  The dogs obviously love it, barking and howling as we got in the truck, and taking a lot of holding back by the handlers.

Nicola's favourite part, petting the dogs and the puppies.

A really good trip out with the Mushers giving a good overall history of Mushing, the breeding of Sled dogs, and the Iditarod race.  Dog sledding is Alaska's national sport and it was good to see so many youngsters learning the skill.

Alaska Trip: Skagway Day 6

Skagway

The town itself is a persevered 1890's street that makes it look a bit like a film set.  I did however find a really good quilt shop where I spent way too much on material! (Quilt Shop)

The railway was the main form of transport and there is still a working line that can take you up into the mountains.  Below is the huge snow blower used to cut a path for the train.

Above one of the original cabins

The town street today. The front of this shop was covered in drift wood.

Alaska Trip: Juneau, Whale watching Day 5

Whale Watching.

After a short bus trip we boarded a whale watching boat, shallow drafted this boat could reach 40 knots so could get into position quickly.

Nic enjoying the speed.

Below Hump back Whales feeding on Krill.

The scientists here can identify which hump back whale they are watching by the different shape and colour of the whales tails.

A truly incredible experience.  We continued to see hump back whales and Orca from the cruise ship as we sailed up through these waters.

Alaska Trip: Juneau, Mount Roberts Day 5

Juneau

Mount Roberts

Another early morning, we got off ship and headed for the tramway to get up onto Mount Roberts and go for a short hike.  

On the way into town we saw these patriotic Bald Eagles.  Bald eagles were in plentiful supply around Juneau and it was good to see them doing so well.

Juneau is the Capitol of Alaska.  You can't get to it by road, due to the high mountains surrounding it, and every now and then there is call to move the Capitol to somewhere a bit more accessible, but so far it remains here.

Above was the first snow we had come across in Alaska and we thought we ought to stop and record the moment.  Nic looking cold is for show, it was actually very pleasant weather for walking.

At our stop point safely, no bears to run away from and safe from wolves.

Alaska Trip: Ketchikan Day 4

Ketchikan Town

Most of the towns in Alaska were formed during the various gold rushes of the past couple of centuries, and as the gold was worked out they petered back into little fishing towns.  Ketchican main industry after tourism is salmon fishing.  A large cannery stands in the town waiting for the salmon to run.

The old red light district has been gentrified and restored and is now the tourist area.

We took the tram to the top pf the town where we had a an excellent lunch away from the cruise crowds and an incredible view.

The towns best known carver made this eagle statue as a sign of welcome.  I am not so sure of that.

A good first trip off the ship.