Tag: Alaska

  • Somewhere Between Juneau and Sitka

    Inside Passage, Southeastern Alaska, USA (August 1995) One of the benefits of small-ship sailing was our ability to fit through tight spaces where ordinary cruise ships would never dare to venture. To prove the point our ship threaded a needle between a rocky island and the shoreline, barely wider than the boat. The wall on…

  • Sitka Points of Interest

    The City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska, USA (August 1995) American history recognizes the 60-foot high promontory known as Castle Hill for a significant event (map). It marks the spot where Russia transferred Alaska to the United States after its purchase for $7.2 million in 1867. It also has a notable history from earlier times.…

  • Downtown Juneau, Alaska

    The City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, USA (August 1995) Juneau, Alaska (map) is one of the smallest state capitals in the United States. It has a genuinely small town feel and it is easily walkable. This image shows one of the best shopping streets, lined with numerous stores, restaurants and bars to wander among…

  • Panoramic Views of Juneau

    The City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, USA (August 1995 and July 2000) We stayed at the Hotel Baranof during our 1995 visit to Juneau (map). We had a room on the top floor with a full harbor view. This was the scene that presented itself each morning as we woke up. This shot looks…

  • “Out the Road”

    The City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, USA (August 1995) We drove straight out of Juneau about 40 miles until we ran out of road. Juneau is not an island. However, it’s wedged between the Gastineau Channel and the Coast Mountains that completely cut it off from the rest of mainland North America. The only…

  • Mendenhall River Rafting

    The City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, USA (August 1995) We have a lot of experience with whitewater rafting so we were excited to hear about rafting in Juneau (map). There are indeed float trips down the Mendenhall River. They from the glacier with the same name down to the Gastineau Channel, and are available…

  • Various Points Around Juneau

    The City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, USA (August 1995 & July 2000) Mount Roberts The Mount Roberts Tramway  delivers visitors 1800 feet up the side of the mountain, above Juneau (map). On a clear day the view extends for miles along the Gastineau Channel. Snow still clings to mountaintops in July. Trails radiate from…

  • Glacier Bay Scenery

    Hoonah–Angoon Census Area Census Area of the Unorganized Borough, Alaska, USA (August 1995) Mt. Fairweather This grand view points down Johns Hopkins Inlet, the home of numerous impressive glaciers. It is framed at back by Mt. Fairweather (map), which is somewhat of a misnomer since the weather can be quite nasty. Mt. Fairweather towers more…

  • South Marble Island

    Glacier Bay: Hoonah–Angoon Census Area Census Area of the Unorganized Borough, Alaska, USA (August 1995) South Marble Island (map) is a small protrusion within the main channel of Glacier Bay as one sails from the Visitors Center at Glacier Bay National Park up towards the major glaciers. It would be unremarkable except that it houses…

  • Grand Pacific & Reid Glaciers

    Glacier Bay:  Hoonah–Angoon Census Area of the Unorganized Borough, Alaska, USA (August 1995) Grand Pacific Glacier The Grand Pacific Glacier heads in the St. Elias Mountains and trends east into British Columbia. From there it flows southeast to the head of the Tarr Inlet along the Alaska – Canada border. The glacier completes its slow-motion…