Alaska – Inside Passage (May, 2014)

Sitka, a small fishing town, was the original capital of Alaska.

Mistaken Jewish star in their stained glass window

Parlor of the Russian bishop from the days of Russian rule

An official welcome to Alaska

Beginning the cruise with a day cruise on Sitka Sound

The beauty is overwhelming

A mother and calf humpback put on a show for us right next to the boat.

Saying good-bye to Sitka Sound

Gloomy Knob is a sheer rocky bluff that is a known safe haven for mountain goats.

The park ranger travelling with us could not figure out how a family of bears could have gotten up to Gloomy Knob.

Beautiful spring snow on the mountains and bergie bits in the water

U-shaped glacial valley formed by a long gone glacier; what looks like sand is truly glacial residue

Marjorie Glacier in the distance

Lone wolf trotting along the shoreline next to us

Marjorie Glacier calving

Breath-taking beauty

Glaciers are blue because of light refraction off the very dense ice crystals.

Soft marshmallow looks belie the dangerous rugged terrain.

North Marble Island, a favorite of seals

Also a favorite for cormorants

A pair of puffins graced our boats wake.

Looks like a stuffed animal

Sea otters are surprisingly very large animals.

Our home away from home at Bartlett Cove in Glacier Bay National Park

Devil’s Club was used by natives for many medicinal and spiritual purposes.

Welcomed into Allen dock in Juneau

Exploring Mendenhall Glacier away from the crowds

Mendenhall Glacier with Nugget Falls

Juneau, the only state capital with no roads leading in or out

Pussywillow in bloom

Mendenhall framed by still winter branches

Back to the beauty of the passage

Bergie bits are very small icebergs which have calved off glaciers.

Bergie bits quickly became my favorite sight to watch for. They are beautiful artistic sculptures.

A nice perch from which to go fishing

Water erosion of the bergie bit creates interesting patterns.

Seals find a resting place.

Dawes Glacier

Bergie bit or iceberg depends on size, as this one floats in front of Dawes.

Dark ribbons are rocks and dirt ground up by the flowing glacier.

This black bear continued eating its sedge as we were in a zodiak on the water.

Surprising that it didn’t care, as it was there with cubs.

A second cub

Guillemots are heavy bodied, pigeon-like water birds.

Iconic Alaska – an eagle soaring over the mountains

I believe this to be an Indian paintbrush, but not sure. Very pretty regardless.

Our captain found a lovely bay to sit and enjoy the sunset.

The bay was filled with a pod of humpbacks.

The reflecting sunset is called alpine glow.

A gull in the sunset

Last tip of the alpine glow

Petersberg is a delightful Norwegian fishing village.

We arrived at low tide; by the time we left, sea level was level with the land.

The stilts allow for the tide differential.

Fishing dorms give the fishermen somewhere to stay at night while fishing during the days.

Ravens are one of the mother figures of Tlingit tradition.

Eagles are the other.

We were fortunate to have come to Petersberg on the day of their festival!

This little one was proud to show off her costume (with her dad’s permission of course).

Petersberg historical museum gave the history of the area beginning with their totem poles.

Traditional Norwegian rosemaling

Town was very quaint and scenic.

Town cannery for all the fish that are caught

The festival parade begins.

They even brought out a Viking boat.

Festive way to spend a bachelorette party!

Not an egg toss. Not a water balloon toss. A herring toss! Started frozen but defrosted and split by the end!

Next stop was Kake, a small Tlingit village home to the world’s tallest totem pole.

A demonstration from the village master totem pole carver, who was a retired scientific engineer.

Interesting mixture of spiritual culture

Kake is known for its tribal dancing. Dancers always enter backwards to introduce their family history which is on their costume.

Everyone is expected to participate – young…..

and old……

mother and …..

children.

One of many old canneries

A flock of guilemots trying to lift themselves up and out of the water

Family totem pole of Betty Allen, native Tlinglit and wife of Bob Allen, owner of cruise line

Bob Allen’s contribution to the totem pole – his first boat building attempt and a tribute to his boat building heritage

Young eagles do not get their iconic coloring until they are 4 or 5 years old.

Several eagles of varying ages and coloring

A warm good-bye from eagles and a raven, signifying all life of the Tlingits