The ALASKA Inside Passage
We headed out from Bellingham, Washington, on the Matanuska. We reserved a state room for the 3 day, 2 night journey to Ketchikan. The trip was smooth because the inside passage between costal islands and the Canada mainland is not exposed to ocean swells. We saw hump back whales, porposes, and dozens of different sea birds.
Michelle and I lost the tour boat crowd and climbed Deer Mountain at Ketchikan. A 3000 Ft mountain but we could make the last 200 feet with all the fog and snow. Heard a Swainson's thrush singing through the fog. Nice July weather near the top.
In Wrangle, we took a jet boat up the Stikine River to the La Conte Glacier. It was fun to run the maze of ice bergs in the sand bars at the end of Shake's Lake, then view the bears and birds, before kayaking back down the river.
Paddling down the Stikine was no problem since it runs at a fast walk. Here, we stopped in a slough to have lunch. Mosquitoes!
Outside of Juneau, we camped at Lake Mendenhall and got lost on a dangerous "unofficial" trail with steep cliffs as we worked our way up to the Mendenhall Glacier. Blue ice, beautiful pink and purple fire weed, and cascades.
The only sunny morning in Juneau, where they get about 100 inches of rain per year. We camped on the Lake Mendenhall nearly by ourselves, great view of the glacier and free hot showers!
Go to the WEDDING page: www.biopatent.com/wedding.html
Go to the HONEYMOON page: www.biopatent.com/honeymoon.html
Go to the BABY SHOWER page: www.biopatent.com/ucbshower.html
E-Mails to Gary and Michelle: Baker@BioPatent.com