Temperate Rainforest, India Creek
August 17, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
The cool temperate rainforest shows all the characteristics of this type of vegetation. Trees are mostly Western Hemlock and White Spruce.
Sitka National Historical Park
August 17, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
The Tlingit people's culture is retained in the totems poles housed here. The museum exhibition has the original which are more than 100 years old. The ones outside are more recent carved totems.
Sitka, AK
August 17, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Sitka is the old Russian Capitol. It is where the Russian flag was taken down and the US flag hoisted.
Mt Edgecombe, AK, from Sitka Sound
August 17, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Mt Edgecombe is a cone volcano close to the town. We see it standing high above the surrounding mountains as we sail in Sitka Sound.
Icy Strait Point, AK
August 18, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Sailing into Icy Strait Point, we have a full day planned which is turned upside down because the wind is howling. Most shore excursions are cancelled including our whale watch. Nevertheless we enjoyRead more
Hoonah....Eagle feasting in the river
August 18, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
We pull up by the side of a river at the end of town. There's a bald eagle close to us, struggling to fly away with a salmon in its talons. The salmon is too heavy for the raptor to fly. It manages toRead more
Hoonah.....Bald Eagle's nest
August 18, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
High in a tree near the Hoonah School, we spot an eagles nest, just as the raptor returns.
The Cannery, Hoonah
August 18, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
The Cannery is now a museum and store. It's very interesting to walk through the story of salmon and how they were canned in this area
Salmon Shop, Hoonah
August 18, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Check out the labels on all these products!
5 Types of Salmon - King, Chum, Coho, Pink, Sockeye
Tlingit Cultural Performance
August 18, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
The Tlingit have built a cultural centre here in Hoonah and perform their native stories and dance. We watch the story of how the Raven got his black feathers. We are unable to take photos during theRead more
Hoonah Scenes
August 18, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
The air is crystal clear in Hoonah. We spot a tree with "Old Man's Beard" growing on it. This moss only grows in pristine environmental conditions. It's all over the place here.
Sailing into Disappointment Bay
August 19, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 3 °C
Disappointment Bay is where the Hubbard Glacier reaches the ocean. Small floating ice is all around us as we progress as close as we can. Over the 2 1/2 hours we are here, we get to within 1.5Read more
Hubbard Glacier
August 19, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C
The Hubbard Glacier is named after Gardiner Hubbard, who was the founding president of National Geographic. It is 76 miles long and the ice takes around 400 years to reach Disappointment Bay. The faceRead more
Face of the Glacier
August 19, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C
At the face of the glacier, it is about the same height as a ten storey building. You hear the creaking and then a sound like a rifle shot, soon after a chunk of ice falls off the face. This is calledRead more
Floating ice
August 19, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C
The calved ice floating in Disappointment Bay is all different sizes...and there's lots of it floating right. out to Yakutat Bay.
Wrangell-St Elias Mountain Range
August 19, 2019, Gulf of Alaska ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
As we leave Hubbard Glacier behind and head out to Yakutat Bay, we are treated to the magnificent peaks of the Wrangell-St Elias National Park. This park boasts most of the highest peaks in NorthRead more
Valdez in Prince William Sound
August 20, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
Set amongst the Chugach mountains on Prince William Sound is Valdez - a fisherman's paradise in these calm, deep waters. There are around 4,000 people who live in this ice-free port. The Alaska OilRead more
In and around Valdez
August 20, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Wildlife around Valdez
August 20, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
As depicted in the Valdez Museum exhibit.
First Nations, the sea and fishing
August 20, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
We visit 3 museums in town, so have divided this up into themes. The Whitney Museum is a private collection attached to the Prince William Sound College; Valdez Museum and Old Valdez Museum. OldRead more
Fire and Rescue in Valdez
August 20, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
In the museums here they have historic fire engines on display.
Bear Warnings right in town.
Going for Gold - Mining in Valdez.
August 20, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Valdez was seen as an easy way to access the goldfields of the Klondike in 1898. Easy access by ship to the foot of Valdez Glacier, but the traverse of the glacier was perilous and arduous.
Quirky bits from the Museums of Valdez
August 20, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
Valdez Glacier
August 20, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Valdez Glacier, so close to town.
The locals put on a BBQ lunch for the crew of Viking Orion - nice touch.
