Sunday, August 14, 2011

Douglas Island Camping Pt1, Ice Caves, Douglas Island Pt. 2



Went camping on the adjacent island to Juneau, called Douglas Island. Pretty much drove out about as far as you can go to find this trail. Camped out by the beach. Then

Juneau - Chum Salmon carcass.

Juneau - Low tide out the road. Beach is littered with dead salmon after their mating run.

Camping spot in Douglas

Love the Balanced Rocks. That Island out there is Shaman Island, and is the Part 2 of this post.....

My first FISH! Ever. Big ol' Dolly Varden. Notice the hook in its mouth. I caught it with a part from a Subaru Justy. It was a hose clamp we fashioned into a snagging hook. Chased the fish up the river and snagged this guy in his dorsal fin. But it in his mouth to carry him back.

Jason's Suburu Justy. Minus one extra hose clamp.

Sat Morning on the early shift. Best part of working at 5am is the sun peaking over the mountains shining on the glacier. Juneau had the best weather on this day, everywhere else was rain storms and fog. A good beginning to the morning.

Was actually fueling this plane and saw the clouds. Stopped fueling, took picture, continued fueling. Haha

After a hour or so hike up to this peak of a hill, right side of the peak.

Left side of the peak.

Jason, Jp, and Zach with his border collie mix. Hiking the glacier!


Random couple from Texas. They were just hiking around, leaving until Jason convinced them to follow us to these caves. They were skeptical.

Blue Blue Blue


The colors would change the deeper we got.

It looks like the drop went through the ice? Not sure how the domes were formed.

River Cutting through, carving the caves.

A good shot showing the dimensions of the caves. They were domed, like an igloo. Could stand in some places, had to crawl in others.



Leaping across a cravine

Second cave Jason found. How old is that tree stump! Was buried under the glacier for thousands of years.
Remember that island in the background of the Balanced Rocks? Shaman Island. Well we camped on it.                                 Was late when were getting there. By the time we get out kayaks down the 5 minute trail. ( took 20min ) sun was setting and needed head lamps. Had to train them down from the car through to woods. Were 4 people carrying these and they were heavy with gear. Jason rides off first, and me second as we only have 2 paddles for the three boats. As all of you know. I hate water. I was in a one man kayak, unbalanced on the ocean paddling to an island with a 20 pound back trying to tip me over with every right paddle. I almost did tip as I took the pack off my back to my lap. I also had no life vest. I would have been done if I fell.  I made it over, I'm all jittery so Jason goes back to get the other two people, towing my kayak back and then him and his brother-in-law tow the third boat with the 4th over to the island.
Saw the stars for the first time in 3 months! And this would be the third time seeing the moon. Camped under the stars with no rainfly. However this is Juneau, and I had half set the fly so I could throw it on quick if I needed to. Needed it a 7am! Silly Juneau.
So.... low tide happened. Apparently you can walk to Shaman Island during low tide. I might not have drowned if I had flipped! ( P.S. I still would have )

Monday, August 1, 2011

Back to Gustavus, and One Pic from Haines

Mendenhall Glacier : From a helicopter. I still haven't gone on the helicopters, but I let someone borrow my camera.

Top of the glacier

Need to get rid of the reflection! But a view seen from our Cessna 206 on the way to Gustavus.

Beautiful Lake

Gustavus Airport

My camp site for the night! See how its not raining? Next picture is rain. I didn't have tent stakes, and the tent blew over in rain and swamped. I was smart enough to tie the tent to a tree for it didn't blow away.

Kayaking. In the rain. Was alot of fun!

A Japanese family who went with us on the tour.

This whale was tail slapping! The video I shot was out of focus, but this picture turned out perfectly! The whale did this over and over close to twenty times.

Boat harbor dock.

Our kayak! Two person plastic.

Still don't know why they have these in Gustavus. I forgot to ask.

I remembered. Gustavus used to be called something like Strawberry Ville. They were know for the small pale variety.

A shelter built on the beach. Ferry and marine dock in the background.

Haines Airport.  pt 1

Haines Airport. pt 2. Only pics I took of the city!

Glacier and Cloud.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Skagway, Yukon Pass Train


 
Skagway. Felt alot like CO. An Alaskan Georgetown almost.

 I'll type about trip later, too tired. 
A house over looking the runway! What a house.  

The port as seen of a trail towards Dewey Lake.

Dewey Lake

My Esbit stove and dinner. Love that stove.

Yukon Express Train

A Summit Express train that went before ours. Its higher up on the mountain.


The Sawtooth Mountain Range

THIS MAN'S ELBOW ruined this shot.

If you look really hard, you can see a cruise ship in the harbor down in Skagway.

Old Steel Bridge.


The Summit, had a awesome lake






Skagway is 45 minutes north of Juneau.