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Alice Harvey | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Alaska Cruise - July 2010 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Alaska Cruise - July 2010

I cruised the Inside Passage of Southeastern Alaska in July 2010 on Cruise West's Spirit of Yorktown for one week, and had an amazing time. Picture can't really convey the beauty of Alaska, but it's a start.
Spirit of Yorktown, our ship, 81 passengers.
Spirit of Yorktown, our ship, 81 passengers.		 On the bridge
On the bridge		 Me and Mom
Me and Mom		 Approaching Juneau
Approaching Juneau		 Juneau City Hall - the first of many murals
Juneau City Hall - the first of many murals
Juneau - the Red Dog Saloon gift shop - yes, the front half of the bear is on the other side of the wall, in the saloon proper!
Juneau - the Red Dog Saloon gift shop - yes, the front half of the bear is on the other side of the wall, in the saloon proper!		 Juneau - Main St.
Juneau - Main St.		 009 Juneau Side St.JPG
009 Juneau Side St.JPG		 Yarn Shop. There seem to be lots of (1) book stores; (2) craft stores; and (3) bars.
Yarn Shop. There seem to be lots of (1) book stores; (2) craft stores; and (3) bars.		 Juneau - typical advertisement
Juneau - typical advertisement
Juneau - I love the directness - typical of Alaska.
Juneau - I love the directness - typical of Alaska.		 Juneau - flowers everywhere, it is summer after all, and Juneau is technically a temperate rainforest
Juneau - flowers everywhere, it is summer after all, and Juneau is technically a "temperate rainforest"		 Heading South from Juneau
Heading South from Juneau		 1st Qtr Moon at 10:40 pm, our 1st night, the sun had just set.
1st Qtr Moon at 10:40 pm, our 1st night, the sun had just set.		 My 1st Alaska Sunset, 10:40 PM
My 1st Alaska Sunset, 10:40 PM
Typical coastline along the Inside Passage coastline
Typical coastline along the Inside Passage coastline		 The sun comes out.
The sun comes out.		 Our 1st iceberg.
Our 1st iceberg.		 The 1st of many waterfalls.
The 1st of many waterfalls.		 A valley cut by receding glacier.
A valley cut by receding glacier.
Another glacial valley. Most of the Inside Passage was built this way.
Another glacial valley. Most of the Inside Passage was "built" this way.		 More glacial work.
More glacial work.		 Approaching an ice field as we get close to a glacier.
Approaching an ice field as we get close to a glacier.		 Snow caps in July - elevation about 5,000 feet.
Snow caps in July - elevation about 5,000 feet.		 South Sawyer Glacier in background.
South Sawyer Glacier in background.
Ice field in front of Sawyer Glacier.
Ice field in front of Sawyer Glacier.		 Zodiac ride to see a berg up close.
Zodiac ride to see a berg up close.		 My first up close look at an iceberg. It was about 6 feet above the water, so maybe 40-50 feet below!
My first up close look at an iceberg. It was about 6 feet above the water, so maybe 40-50 feet below!		 90 percent is under water.
90 percent is under water.		 Exploring seaweeds on the rocks.
Exploring seaweeds on the rocks.
Completely edible to fauna and home to mussels.
Completely edible to fauna and home to mussels.		 Now to look at the waterfall close up.
Now to look at the waterfall close up.		 Lots of VERY cold water.
Lots of VERY cold water.		 Another another berg. It's like clouds, every single one makes you think of something.
Another another berg. It's like clouds, every single one makes you think of something.		 Another sunset - this was was fabulous, and also after 10:30 pm!
Another sunset - this was was fabulous, and also after 10:30 pm!
Welcome to Wrangell, population 2500.
Welcome to Wrangell, population 2500.		 Wrangell harbor.
Wrangell harbor.		 Chief Shakes Lodge, Shakes Island, Wrangell.
Chief Shakes Lodge, Shakes Island, Wrangell.		 Our native Tlingit guide, Dawn, and local busdriver, Karen.
Our native Tlingit guide, Dawn, and local busdriver, Karen.		 Inside the Lodge House. Dawn told us the history of the native people of the area.
Inside the Lodge House. Dawn told us the history of the native people of the area.
Another view of Wrangell Harbor.
Another view of Wrangell Harbor.		 On the beach to see ancient petroglyphs.
On the beach to see ancient petroglyphs.		 one of about a dozen petroglyphs found and preserved on the beach.
one of about a dozen petroglyphs found and preserved on the beach.		 This tree stump washed up a couple weeks ago, and will be gone next storm. It's about 15 feet tall.
This tree stump washed up a couple weeks ago, and will be gone next storm. It's about 15 feet tall.		 Wrangell Museum - Tlingit Arts.
Wrangell Museum - Tlingit Arts.
More from the Wrangell Museum.
More from the Wrangell Museum.		 Still more - Wrangell Museum.
Still more - Wrangell Museum.		 Wood carvings - Wrangell Museum.
Wood carvings - Wrangell Museum.		 Up on the top deck, leaving Wrangell.
Up on the top deck, leaving Wrangell.		 We were treated to a sun halo overhead.
We were treated to a sun halo overhead.
Arriving in Petersburg on a foggy damp day.
Arriving in Petersburg on a foggy damp day.		 Petersburg - lots of low clouds.
Petersburg - lots of low clouds.		 Some of the locals hanging out in Petersburg harbor.
Some of the locals hanging out in Petersburg harbor.		 Eagle on an iceberg ...
Eagle on an iceberg ...		 ... and he takes off.
... and he takes off.
Taking a jetboat through the icefield to LaConte Glacier.
Taking a jetboat through the icefield to LaConte Glacier.		 All bundled up - its about 40 and dropping as we get closer.
All bundled up - its about 40 and dropping as we get closer.		 A little chunk - called a growler - that our guide fished out for us to see.
A little chunk - called a growler - that our guide fished out for us to see.		 We pulled up about a quarter mile from the glacier, that's the closest that's safe, and spent an hour.
We pulled up about a quarter mile from the glacier, that's the closest that's safe, and spent an hour.		 Looking across at a valley that the receeding glacier carved.
Looking across at a valley that the receeding glacier carved.
A splash when a good chunk broke off.
A splash when a good chunk broke off.		 We had company.
We had company.		 Some kayakers heading in as we headed out.
Some kayakers heading in as we headed out.		 My first humpback whale, close up.
My first humpback whale, close up.		 And there he goes.
And there he goes.
10:15pm Sunset.
10:15pm Sunset.		 Coming in to Sitka - population 9,000.
Coming in to Sitka - population 9,000.		 Sitka - the Naa Kahidi Dancers.
Sitka - the Naa Kahidi Dancers.		 Traditional paddles displayed.
Traditional paddles displayed.		 Each one has the clan marking of the owner.
Each one has the clan marking of the owner.
The dancers.
The dancers.		 Dancers.
Dancers.		 Dancer - her wrap is woven from goat hair.
Dancer - her wrap is woven from goat hair.		 We are invited to join in the dance.
We are invited to join in the dance.		 One of the littlest dancers.
One of the littlest dancers.
Sitka Totem Park and Museum.
Sitka Totem Park and Museum.		 Tiny orchids with flowers about one-half inch long.
Tiny orchids with flowers about one-half inch long.		 Southeast Alaska is a temperate rainforest.
Southeast Alaska is a temperate rainforest.		 Bear-proof trash cans - even saw these on the main street in Juneau.
Bear-proof trash cans - even saw these on the main street in Juneau.		 Sikta Museum and art center.
Sikta Museum and art center.
Sitka Musuem - traditional ceremonial robe.
Sitka Musuem - traditional ceremonial robe.		 Sitka Musuem - this was completely made by beading on the blue material.
Sitka Musuem - this was completely made by beading on the blue material.		 Sitka Museum - woven baskets.
Sitka Museum - woven baskets.		 Sitka Museum - artists studio.
Sitka Museum - artists studio.		 Sitka Museum - starting a mask.
Sitka Museum - starting a mask.
Sitka Museum - finished masks.
Sitka Museum - finished masks.		 Sitka Roses are amazingly fragrant.
Sitka Roses are amazingly fragrant.		 Sitka Museum - ceremonial robe.
Sitka Museum - ceremonial robe.		 Some of Sitkas interesting whale craft items.
Some of Sitkas interesting whale craft items.		 Sitka - St Michael's Russian Orthodox Church, interior.
Sitka - St Michael's Russian Orthodox Church, interior.
Sitka - St Michael's Russian Orthodox - exterior.
Sitka - St Michael's Russian Orthodox - exterior.		 Point Adolphus - a seal decides to cruise along with us.
Point Adolphus - a seal decides to cruise along with us.		 Point Adolphus - it was a foggy day.
Point Adolphus - it was a foggy day.		 Point Adolphus - a pod of orcas was blowing in the distance.
Point Adolphus - a pod of orcas was blowing in the distance.		 Everyone was on the bow on whale watch.
Everyone was on the bow on whale watch.
The fog lifted and sun came out.
The fog lifted and sun came out.		 Seals reclining. The noise was amazing!
Seals reclining. The noise was amazing!		 The Fairweather Peaks in the distance.
The Fairweather Peaks in the distance.		 Full moon rising at sunset.
Full moon rising at sunset.		 In Glacier Bay National Park.
In Glacier Bay National Park.
One of MANY glaciers! Probably 300 feet high.
One of MANY glaciers! Probably 300 feet high.		 300 feet above the surface, 1000 feet total (700 feet below the surface!).
300 feet above the surface, 1000 feet total (700 feet below the surface!).		 Glacier closeup.
Glacier closeup.		 Everywhere you looked, it was spectacular.
Everywhere you looked, it was spectacular.		 Occasionally (but not often) the glaciers would leave large deposits of soil as they receded, and flat shoreline would develop.
Occasionally (but not often) the glaciers would leave large deposits of soil as they receded, and flat shoreline would develop.
More of Glacier Bay National Park.
More of Glacier Bay National Park.		 and more ...
and more ...		 and more ...
and more ...		 This is an area that was cleared by a major earthquake that sent the entire side of the mountain down into the water.
This is an area that was "cleared" by a major earthquake that sent the entire side of the mountain down into the water.		 Point Fredrick - a pod of orcas.
Point Fredrick - a pod of orcas.
Point Fredrick - down they go.
Point Fredrick - down they go.		 Point Fredrick - they stayed with us for quite a while, but never got too close.
Point Fredrick - they stayed with us for quite a while, but never got too close.		 And I can't leave Alaska without sharing the immortal words of former Gov. Palin. These were available EVERYWHERE!!
And I can't leave Alaska without sharing the immortal words of former Gov. Palin. These were available EVERYWHERE!!

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