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.

Alaska Trip: Ketchican, Saxman Village Day 4

Ketchican

Saxman Village

After a couple of days at sea we were pleased to put into the tiny town of Ketchican, Nicola had prebooked us on a visit to Saxman Village, a proper native village rather than just a recreation or mock up we saw else where.

We were treated to a history of the local people and then they put on a show of tribal dances in a beautifully hand crafted lodge,

Nicola could not help joining in at the end of the performance. (third picture)

The other thing we saw in this impressive village was totem poles.  They are still made here by craftsmen using only hand tools.  They going rate was between $500 -1000 per foot!  I am in the wrong job.

Truly stunning works of art.

Alaska Trip: Fishing in Denali. Day 11

Grayling Fishing

Spent a fantastic evening having guided grayling fishing in Denali. I was given a light #2 rod with a short leader and alternated between goldhead, pink buzzer and a black and white stonefly. All caught well on the small rivers. Fished the Jack river and Fish Creek. Fish Creek was particularly good.

As I am used to an 8 weight rod this little 2 weight took some getting used to, also you can see that long casts were not necessary! just a little roll cast upstream then let the fly float naturally down and wait for the lightning takes of the fish.  For every one I managed to hook I missed at least four, the were just too fast for me.

Greg from the fishing guide company that Princess Cruise use was very good and did not shout too much when I kept missing the strikes early on.  We started with a strike indicator on, but I am not used to this and was better with it off.  

A real red letter fishing experience.

Alaska Trip: Seattle Smith Tower Day 1

Seattle

Arriving early in Seattle we found breakfast in the Histiric Area in a lovely little cafe right next to Smith Tower.  This was the tallest building back in the 20's and housed the great , good and very bad,  The Mobs banker Jerry Finch worked out of this building.

Smith Tower from the road

Nicola listening in to the gossip

Tudor Making friends

View from the top.  Seattle has lots of roof gardens.

Alaska Trip: Vancouver Day 2

Vancouver

After a night in Seatle we flew into Vancouver.  An interesting place, marred by the number of down and outs, mentally ill and drug addicts on the streets.  Despite that it is a city full of Art, from the quirky as below:

To the skilled.
Below is the Spindle Whirl Art of Susan Point. An incredible native artist, her website can be found here Susan Point.

She works in a vast arrey of materials and managed to raise a faimily and work at the same time.  A truly remarkable woman.

Views from the top of one of Vancouver's highest buildings.  In the first is the Princess Coral which we would board later in the day for a cruise through the inner passage and on to Whittier.

Nicola at the top of the building after a 'scarey' ride in the glass elevator, not her favourite thing!

Alaska Trip: Grizzly.

Traveling on the train from Whittier to Denali, we saw this bear, caught out on the mud flats. It was not happy with the train slowing to watch.