Adventures In and Around Haines Alaska

Haines, AK (60 degrees, cloudy)

We have had a great time in Haines, a small fishing town enjoying the  beautiful scenery and amazing wildlife. It's such a tranquil place and there are some beautiful and challenging hikes here. Our first day we hiked part of the Seduction Point Trail (Chilkat State Park) thru a pristine dark forest with wild mushrooms, ferns and eventually a beautiful meadow filled with wild flowers. 

Bob and Patsy

We planned way in advance a boat trip with Alaska Fjord Lines down the Lynn Canal to Juneau. It was an all day trip and although the weather did not always cooperate, it was very enjoyable. We saw lots of glaciers, Stellar and Harbor Seals, and a few humpback whales. The town of Juneau was busy with several cruise ships at the dock.

Our high speed ferry to Juneau

While in Juneau we took a cab out to the Mendenhall Glacier. It's spectacular!  Unfortunately, it's retreating at the rate of 200 feet a year. I saw it in the 80's with my parents and the glacier went past the waterfall you see in the picture to the right. 

Mendenhall Glacier

This blue area was caused by a recent calving of the glacier this week

Humpback Whale

Whale Tail

Stellar Sea Lions 

Look at the power of this glacier

Eldred Lighthouse 

Wildlife viewing is a big attraction here. In the evening Kodiak Brown Bears are known to come out along the river and roads. One evening we went out and had an amazing wildlife encounter. This huge bear was very interested in a bundling which we later found out has a smoker for salmon. His sharp nose must have sniffed something he could not resist. We watched him for some time trying to gain access and despite the high windows and his rather large posterior was able to access.  It was so much fun to watch him (inside our jeep from a good distance).

Note his two humps

He had a beautiful coat

What is in there?

Is my butt too big?

There is some yummy stuff in here

We have really enjoyed our stay here in Haines. It's a special place and one we will always remember. 

The Alaska We've Been Dreaming About - Haines

Haines, Alaska (5 degrees, blue skies with lots of clouds, occasional rain)

We found it!  As we were planning our trip to Alaska there were visions of blue, gray mountains, cascading waterfalls, glacial fields, and running streams. Today when we arrived by ferry we found it. After the hustle and bustle of Skagway arriving here to this tranquil, peaceful place was such a respite.

Ferry to Haines

It didn't actually start off all that blissful. We all arrived (four rigs) to the ferry port in Skagway with our reservations in hand. The agent told us right away one of our rigs may not fit. Really!  I'm not sure why they waited until this moment to tell us. The alternate was to drive all the way around to Haines which was over an eight hour drive. So, we waited and waited for the ship to arrive and for the crew to make a decision. Our friends, Bob and Patsy have a 37 foot fifth wheel and the challenge was the height of their rig. Bob was the second rig to go on the ferry...backwards...with two 90 degree turns!  Not as easy feat for the faint of heart. The trick is to listen to what the crew tell you and  keep your cool. It took them an hour to get our friends on, but the good news was they made it. The rest of us had to back in too but it was not as difficult for all of us.

Bob going on the ferry ...backwards

The alternate 8 hour route if you can't take the ferry

John getting ready to back on

Not much head room for Bob's rig

All nice and cozy together

It was a quick 40 minute ferry ride from Skagway to Haines and once we arrived and saw this beautiful place it all seemed worth it. 

Ferry ride over to Haines down the Lynn Canal

Town of Haines in the distance

Campground Review: Hitch-up RV Park, 4 stars, full hook ups, level grass sites, immaculate, well cared for park, Good WYFI, slow Verizon signal, picnic table, sites are close together, very friendly and helpful staff. They even sent us a packet of information in the mail after we made our reservation

We are really looking forward to our next five days here. 

Gateway To The Klondike - Skagway Alaska

Skagway, Alaska (72 degrees, blue skies, windy, great weather)

It's Skagway's Gold Rush history which makes this city so fascinating. We have really enjoyed our visit and we immersed ourselves in finding out more about what happened during this time period (1898-1900). Over 11,000 cruise passengers disembark here everyday and overwhelm the main street and shops. However, this is small compared to the 100,000 men and women who arrived during the Gold Rush hoping to get rich. Only about 70 of them actually did. The rest definitely suffered many hardships trying to do the same.

Most of the buildings in Skagway are original along an eight block area on Broadway. There are lots of shops and restaurants and most everyone has arrived for the day by cruise ships.

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

Ranger Cayla

We signed up for two walking tour at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Both our rangers did an excellent job telling us about the Gold Rush times. Our first tour was downtown and Cayla gave the best interpretive program I've ever watched. She really was so dynamic and included everyone in the talk. She told us how newspapers glamorized the discovery of gold in the Yukon and lured thousands of people who were convinced it would be so easy to strike it rich. Few of them did. In fact, most found after this arderous journey all the claims had been staked and they were out of luck.

First home in Skagway

We stopped at several historical places as she continued to weave the story. These tours are free and can be signed up for in advance with Reserve America for $3/booking. Or if you go early in the morning it may be possible ti get a ticket. We ordered ours in advance.










Our second walking tour did not require a reservation and went out to a ghost town called Dyea. This was once a bustling boom town and Tlingit community during the gold rush. Now it has mostly disappeared and been reclaimed by nature. This is also near the famous Chilkoot Trail. It was an alternate trail used by the prospectors to haul their ton of food and goods over the mountains. Our ranger also did a great job telling us about the town We were astounded to hear of the long pier which the prospectors had to hustle their good down before the tide came in.

All that remain of the pier

Teddy (our jeep) sure enjoys exploring this area

Wild Iris

The drive out and back to Dyea from Skagway is breathtaking.

Skagway and the harbor

On another day we also drove out to the Gold Miners Graveyard. Here we found the scoundrel Soapy Smith's grave. He conned probably one too many people in Skagway. Frank Reid who was thought to have killed him died a few days later and was considered a hero by the town. Note the difference in the size of their tombstones.  

Soapy's gravestone

Frank Reid's grave

Pretty waterfall named after Reid

John thinks there may be gold here..What do you think"

On our last day we attended a Summer Solstice Party at the Jewel Gardens. There was food and music and glass blowing demonstrations. The gardens are in a bit of a disarray but we had a good time with the locals.

Campground Review:  Garden RV Park, 3 star, full hookups, no WiFi, flat gravel pull through sites, no shade, on outskirts of downtown. Owned by the city and could use some attention.  Very friendly manager, Verizon signal was weak but good downtown,

Our visit to Skagway was so much fun and packed full of history. Tomorrow we take a ferry from here to Haines.