Alaska: Sharon And Tom Take A Closer Look

Alaska Sharon and Tom Take a Closer Look

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Glacier Bay Sitka Juneau Skagway Juneau North Bend, WA

Lamplugh Glacier, Glacier Bay

All Aboard!

Jenn, Tom, Sharon

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On board the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry.

Onboard the Republican Presidential ticket.

Glacier Bay Fog

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Glacier Bay Brown Bear (Grizzly)

Glacier Bay Steller Sea Lions

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Glacier Bay Fog

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Glacier Bay Margerie Glacier

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Glacier Bay Margerie Glacier

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Glacier Bay Lamplugh Glacier

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Glacier Bay Marine Life

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Orca dorslal fin.

Humpback blows.

Glacier Bay

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Rainforest Hike

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Beach Hike

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Critters

Heron

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Herene

Porcupine. They have poor vision and hearing. Nevertheless, we kept our distance.

Blueberries. Sharon likes blueberries.

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Salmonberry

Blueberries. Bears like blueberries too.

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Black bear

Turn back a page and take a closer look. Locate the two leaves at bottom right. Note that in this photo, all the blueberries above the two leaves are gone.

Meet Explorita

Explorita was named by the park rangers. Estimated to be a twoyear old female. She has been sighted several times in the vicinity.

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How close?

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Bear

Park Rangers Dormitory

Note location of feet on board walk.

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Too close

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“You’re too close when you can hear the bear breathe.” About 15 feet.

The zoom lens is creating the illusion the bear was much closer than reality.

Black bear

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Early Morning Flight Gustavus to Juneau

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Fjord Flying Service.

Early Morning Flight Gustavus to Juneau

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From the plane we saw a humbpback breeching, about the size of these small boats.

Alaska Marine Highway Juneau to Sitka Ferry

Humpback Whale

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Strait of Peril (no joke)

Sitka

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XtraTuffs

Sitka Architecture

Ludvig’s Bistro. If you are traveling to Sitka, make your reservations in advance. We never got in.

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NPR affiliate

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Details not available.

St. Michael’s Cathedral

Sitka Odds ‘n’ Ends

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Sitka

Souvenirs celebrating Sitka’s Russian roots.

Shopping is king in towns frequented by cruise ships. Independent travelers (like us) are instructed by locals to look for signs in the window specifically stating, “Alaskan owned.” Cruise companies own shops too. They pass out coupons onboard so that their clients get the best “deals.” 58

Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahhidi Dancers. Locals assured us this was the real thing. We weren’t disappointed. A true (modern) Tlingit Clan House.

Sitka Alaska Raptor Center

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Sitka Alaska Raptor Center We watched as raptor center staff applied a little first aid to a bald eagle. Makes trimming cat claws look easy.

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Sitka Alaska Raptor Center

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Free birds dropping by for a visit. They are squawking back and forth with a captive bird (drinking water on a previous page).

Kingfisher on edge of Indian River.

Sitka National Historic Park

The totems outside are re-creations from the 1904 Louisiana Exposition (St. Louis). Originals are in the park building.

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Sitka National Historic Park

“Appears to be a bear holding some type of animal in its mouth.” –Alaska Geographic Association 68

“I brought you a chipmunk” –Bungee.

Yaadaas Crest Pole.

Sitka National Historic Park

First contact.

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Sitka Indian River

“River’s thick with Humpies.” Pink Salmon returning home.

Sitka Sheldon Jackson Aquarium

A hands-on opportunity Jenn could not resist.

Starfish 74

Sea anemone

Juneau Alaskan Bar & Hotel

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“It’s a bit dodgy.” –Jenn

Juneau

Coffeeshops are affordable. Its where the local’s hangout.

Costa’s Diner features an honor pay cash register (its actually a bucket).

Souvenirs galore in Juneau. Photos from the 19thcentury show merchants selling mini-totems similar to these. 78

Flight Juneau to Skagway

Glacial silt pouring into bay from a river.

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Wings of Alaska.

Skagway

Skagway was recreated by cruiseship companies. As independent travelers we had to ask lots of questions, to find the right places. A local artist suggested the Thai restaurant which did have excellent food—and we sat next to the train crew. 82

Skagway before gentrification.

White Pass & Yukon Railroad Skagway

One of the most famous narrow-gauge scenic railroads in the world. We assume its even better when there is no fog. 84

White Pass & Yukon Railroad White Pass

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White Pass & Yukon Railroad White Pass

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White Pass & Yukon Railroad Yukon Territory

Canadian customs.

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We traveled from the rainforest (and fog) to a desert in just a couple hours.

White Pass & Yukon Railroad Lake Bennett

20,000 prospectors moved to Lake Bennett during the Yukon Goldrush. They departed when the pass opened, turning it into a ghost town in a matter of weeks. 96

White Pass & Yukon Railroad Lake Bennett

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Alaska Marine Highway Skagway to Juneau

Solarium. Only a couple of brave souls set out their sleeping bags during the trip. No tents.

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Juneau Mendenhall Glacier

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Juneau Mendenhall Glacier

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Say “Mendenhall Cheese!”

Juneau Alaska State Museum

World Hat. Sitka Kaagwaantann House. Early 19th century. One of the finest spruce root hat in existence

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Kayak framing. All functional, resembles a fish.

Juneau Alaska State Museum

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Juneau Airport

Mendenhall Glacier

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White Pass & Yukon Railroad

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Carcross, Yukon Territory

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Carcross, Yukon Territory

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Alaska Marine Highway

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North Bend, Washington

Anne reacting to brother Tom’s surprise beard.

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Katy, Tom’s sister, struggling to accept the beard.

North Bend, Washington

Christian Melgaard

The Nonnies. Second and third cousins. They all share a great-greatgrandmother.

Ty Brooke

Joe Fotheringham

Wilkins Melgaard

Anne Melgaard

James Brooke

Edwin Fotheringham

Thomas Barnard

Elizabeth Brooke

Barney Fotheringham

Harvie Barnard

Marion Fotheringham

Nonnie Barnard 122

Will Brooke

Catching the school bus.

Dog People North Bend, Washington

Max

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Reuben

Blueberry Picking North Bend, Washington

Sharon and Leigh selecting only the finest berries Anne with the Melgaard lode. Tom swirling a Snoqualmie Merlot.

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