Roadie: Whale Watching

7:30 a.m. heading toward the Tracy Arm Fjord and the Dawes Glacier. (7/1/2019)

During our 7 day cruise of Alaska, we had two opportunities intended for whale watching. These were times during which we were all but promised to see humpback whales. While neither disappointed, we also numerous humpback whales while sitting on are balcony drinking coffee or simply walking on deck. The first chance was as our ship passed through the Inside Passage and took a pass by the Tracy Arm Fjord. Later tha day we took part in a three hour whale watching tour off the coast of Juneau. During this time we saw six whales including Flame (a mother) and Bunsen (her calf). Whales are identified by the notches in their fluke (shape of the tale).

The day before going to Juneau was an "at sea day" which meant there would be no leaving the vessel for about 24 hours. At 6:30 a.m. the following morning, guests were invited to go out on deck as the ship moved into the Inside Passage. In addition to getting close to the

Waiting for whales, seals and glaciers. (7/1/2019)

Seals were very common travelers on the pieces of ice--the did not 

stick around to pose too frequently though. (7/1/2019)

When whales are around, every inch of the boat including 

the heli-pad becomes a potential viewing area. (7/1/2019)

Many seals could be seen from the deck bathing in the early 

morning sun. (7/1/2019)

Lots to see... 360 degrees of beauty. (7/1/2019)

The very early morning seemed the best time to get better 

pictures of flukes! (7/1/2019)

Later that day we arrived in Juneau and headed out on a whale watching excursion. Tourism is the primary commodity of Alaska and that is never more apparent than when looking for whales. The captain of our boat chose not to crowd in with other boats of tourists so as to not startle the whales. We came across a number of groups in the same general area all awaiting a peek at the humpbacks.

In Juneau, the humpback's dorsal fin appears first followed ...  (7/1/2019)

.. soon thereafter by the fluke. (7/1/2019)

Television would have you expecting to experience a Free Willy moment wherein a whale jumps over the boat and you can raise your arm to rubs its belly. This is not whale watching but rather, fantasy. Our experience was equally rewarding but not nearly so photogenic at least my this not-so-good photographer. It was incredibly enjoyable to just watch for groups of birds close to the water (a sign of possible whale activity) and wait a glimpse of the amazing creatures.

Many tourist boats hoping to glance a whale. (7/1/2019)

Clean shot of humpback's fluke. Note the unique notching on 

the tail by which individual whales can be identified. (7/1/2019)

Humpback whale fluke just prior to turning up. (7/1/2019)

Humpback resting before diving. (7/1/2019)

Back to shore following three hours at sea... would have happily 

stayed longer! (7/1/2019)

Roadie: Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan

Canopy of Tongass National Forest. (6/30/2019)

Following Downtown Ketchikan, we headed on a guided tour of a trail in the Tongass National Forest, known by the U.S. Forest Service as the "crown jewel". The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is the largest national forest in the United States. Most of its area is part of the temperate rain forest WWF ecoregion, itself part of the larger Pacific temperate rain forest WWF ecoregion, and is remote enough to be home to many species of endangered and rare flora and fauna. The Tongass is managed by the United States Forest Service. (Wikipedia)

The hike we went on focused on the scenery of Tongass National Forest Park as part of an eco tour from Ketchikan. The entire excursion consisted of the hiking tour, a visit to the Raptor Rehabilitation Center and a conversation with a native American artist who still makes totem poles in the traditional manner. We were part of a small group of just 10 people (four of whom were part of our party) which meant we were afforded plenty of time to ask questions of our guide.

Popular among bears, the fruit of the Rubus Spectabilis is popularly referred to
as a “salmonberry” due to its resemblance to salmon eggs. (6/30/2019)

(6/30/2019)

Naturally felled trees would have of other seedlings taking root
on them resulting in a beautiful mix of seedlings coming from a
single stump. (6/30/2019)

Fungus among us. (6/30/2019)

At the base of some trees were small "caves" in which bears would
briefly hide from the elements. Contrary to what is depicted in
movies, bears like small enclosed spaces in which they can snuggle. (6/30/2019)

(6/30/2019)

Devil's club (Echinopanax horridum) is a large understory shrub common in
arboreal rainforests of the Pacific Northwest. The flowers are produced
in dense umbels, each flower small, with five greenish-white petals.
The matured fruit will be red (Wikipedia). The leaves are used by bears coming out
of hibernation as a diuretic. (6/30/2019)

Devil's club is covered with brittle yellow spines that break off easily if the
plants are handled or disturbed thus its common name. (6/30/2019)

Pine cones. (6/30/2019)

Yellow salmonberry. (6/30/2019)

Lichen the wide array of Alaskan lichen. (6/30/2019)

Snapped this pic of Mystery Bird after hearing it call a number of times;
as Alaska's only bird with ear tufts, going to guess it's a Great Horned Owl. (6/30/2019)

Bear Sign One: Scat used to mark territory. (6/30/2019)

Bear Sign Two: claws marks on tree to communicate size to other
bear thereby also marking territory. (6/30/2019)

Bear sign three: trampled trails among high grass from forest to creek. (6/30/2019)

Roadie: Downtown Ketchikan, Alaska

Set at the southernmost entrance to Alaska's famed Inside Passage,
Ketchikan is thought of as the beginning of to "The Last Frontier."(6/30/2019)

My wife and I have not previously thought of ourselves as cruise-type travelers, but after spending five of a seven day cruise "in" Alaska (including three on port excursions to Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway), I am unsure there is any other way to comfortably scratch the complex surface of this non-contiguous state any other way.

Each city was geographically isolated from one another by large bodies of water and lush woodlands. Cruising by ship from port-to-port was much more cost effective and efficient than taking prop planes or small water craft. This mode of travel also allowed for multiple opportunities to view the natural wonders of Alaska's temperate rain forest (as well as glaciers and the resulting mountains) from a distance. First stop, after flying out following a single one night in Seattle, Washington, Ketchikan.

Once a Tlingit fishing camp, Ketchikan is now a sleepy town
and tourist attraction. (6/30/2019)

Ketchikan is located near the southern most tip of Alaska's pan-handle on the eastern coast of Revillagideo Island at the heart of the Tongass National Forest.

"Ketchikan" is Tlingit for "Thundering Wings of an Eagle," hence the statue that greets
visitors immediately after entering town. (6/30/2019)

Numerous totem poles, some of which tell stories and others that
memorialize historic figures are plentiful throughout the village. (6/30/2019)

The majority of totems are replicas of those previously destroyed
by settlers and missionaries. (6/30/2019)

Settlers built their homes, stores and brothels on stilts which have since
been reinforced. (6/30/2019)

Original home of famed "lady of the night" Dolly Arthur. (6/30/2019)

(6/30/2019)

Two of Alaska's most significant financial forces: salmon fishing 

and tourism. (6/30/2019)

Ketchikan Creek Waterfall. (6/30/2019)

Guess what secret path husbands would use to go home following a 

night out? Married Man's Trail, of course! (6/30/2019)

It was good too see that totems were in ready 

supply. (6/29/2019)

Only about 90 minutes of our stop in Ketchikan was spent in the town. There we walked the streets took in some of the local art and partook of some famous coffee. A recurring motif that we first became aware of in these tourist towns was the pervasive presence of (too) many jewelry stores on Main Street. These are apparently owned by the companies that run the cruise ships operations). We were much more interested in the history, wildlife, and landscape than tchotchke, though we did pick-up a few odds-and-ends for family back home.