John and Barbara took these great photos on their Alaska journey in 2005. They traveled the Inside Passage on the Alaska State ferry, visited coastal towns on the way, fished, watched whales, and enjoyed the many varied excursions and activities along the way. The pictures are theirs, but we added a bit of commentary.

We picked out a few to show you, but it is a small sample of the wide range of subjects and locations. If you are interested in these or other pictures they took, please contact them via email
WOW - the Inland Passage is a series of waterways that thread between islands in the Tongass National Forest. Mountains are separated by deep fjords, a rich environment for varied plants and animals.

Ketchikan: - is the first place in Alaska that the ferry stops. It started as a Tlingit fish camp, and the name comes from the Tlingit word "Kichxaan". There's rich display of native crafts; Totem Heritage Center shows a large collection of original poles retrieved from abandoned village sites and hosts classes teaching traditional art forms like weaving and regalia making; Southeast Alaska Discovery Center has contemporary poles, examples of native basketry and other crafts plus a traditional Native fish camp exhibit; and you will see dance performances at the Saxman Tribal House and at the Metlakatla Long House, both a short distance away. Of course there's also fishing, hiking, wildlife and boating available.

Wrangell: - located at the mouth of the Stikine River, has Tlingit, Russian and British history. There are interesting petroglyphs (rock carvings) on the beach. It is also home to Chief Shakes Island - in the middle of Wrangell Harbor. On the island, the Chief Shakes Tribal House is a replica of the original and is an example of the impressive architecture of a house of high caste among the Tlingit natives. There is also an historic replica of the intricately carved totems and the hand hewn Community House of the original inhabitants, who are still custodians of the land. You'll also find many trails, fish charters and other activities.


Check out this shot of our national bird - the bald eagle.There's a mature fellow on the left (with the white head) and the young'un on the right.
The ferry is a great way to come to Alaska - you have time to relax and get into the rhythm of the earth and the tides, shed your worries and cares, and open all your senses to the environment around you. This is a shot of sunrise on Chatham Strait in the quiet of early morning - the sea is calm, the sky clear, and the rest of the boat is asleep.

Sitka: - the culturally diverse history of Tlingit and Russian rule is well documented in the local museums, and all around you as you walk around this beautiful town. The Sitka National Historic Park hosts a fine collection of Haida & Tlingit totem poles, and The Cultural Center provides an artist studio for Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimpsian culture bearers to teach cultural arts. The artists are working on contemporary pieces based on traditional art forms, and offer a unique chance to view and ask questions about each artists' culture and craft. The town also boasts a fabulous raptor center, the unrivalled Summer Music Festival, Sheldon Jackson College and Museum, and exceptional hiking, boating and fishing opportunities.

Juneau: - Alaska's capital city and the 3rd largest city in the state, represents a rich history of gold mining, and is home to the state museum, a fish hatchery, an award-winning brewery, and a glacier you can drive to. The State Capital building offers free tours; the University of Alaska Southeast hosts activities; there's a golf course, a botanical garden, and zip-line tours.

Haines: - Located at the head of Lynn Canal, Haines has a road connecting it to the rest of the world. Home of the American Bald Eagle Foundation - an educational foundation dedicated to protection and preservation of bald eagle habitat. You can see the traditional Chilkat Dancers' Show, and Storytelling Theater . The Hammer Museum exhibits History and Progress as viewed through the eye of the Hammer. Would you believe over 1000 different hammers from the colonial era to the present day? OK, I admit that no-one's actually been there… but it sounds interesting.

Skagway: - gateway to the Klondike and the gold fields. The downtown area is a designated historic district, and contains forty to fifty turn-of-the-century wooden structures, housing hotels, saloons and shops restored to evoke the days of the Gold Rush. The former railroad depot, a handsome 1898 building, serves as the Park Service visitor centre and departure point for walking tours conducted by National Park rangers. It also has a road connection to the world, a railroad and it is also the beginning of the Chilkoot trail.

St. Michaels Cathedral in Sitka
Gustavus/Glacier Bay: - Needless to say, we think this is the high point of any trip to Alaska. It is the most spectacular example of the ecology of an ice age you can see on earth. 250 years ago, the entire area was covered by 1,000 feet of ICE. Gustavus is built on the glacial moraine left by the melting glacier. The land is rebounding a foot every decade, and the flora develops from dryas to willow, then alder, pine, and finally a mixed spruce and hemlock forest. This gas station in Gustavus is a museum of an earlier time. This gas station in Gustavus is a museum of an earlier time - not just the pumps, but lots of goodies inside. The town is home to artists, musicians, and accomplished kayak and fishing guides. This is the starting point for boat tours of Glacier Bay National Park, and cruises to Point Adolphus, where the humpback whales actively feed all summer.

Whales

Now you can see whales all along the coast as you come north on the ferry, but Point Adolphus whale watching is different. The whales only feed while they are in the nutrient rich waters of SE Alaska during the summer. That means that they have to eat enough in 4 or 5 months to live on for 12 months, so they find the most abundant area and work it constantly. Point Adolphus, located on the south side of Icy Passage, is one of those areas. The Point juts out into the strait, and produces a back-eddy with each tide change that concentrates the critters the whales feed on, and they don't waste any time. We're lucky that John has the expertise and had his camera at the ready for these shots of a whale breaching.

Glacier Bay:
The boat cruise into Glacier Bay National Park is amazing - you start at Bartlett Cove, where the trees in the rainforest tower hundreds of feet above you. On the way, you'll see sealions and their rookery, puffin and cormorant nesting colonies, an occasional bear, perhaps a goat or a moose. The further you go the younger the land is, until you finally get to land the glacier is about to uncover. Here are some views.

Thanks to John and Barbara for sharing their photos with us. Email them if you want to see more -- jreppler@gmail.com

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