Mike & Jan's Great Escape: Into Juneau, Alaska's Capital City

Juneau looked magical, high mountains with snow on the tops, A large Glacier coming down almost to the level of the town and islands all over. Seaplanes are constantly taking of from the water and it has an air of respectability and plenty of money although we have seen lots of the indigenous population struggling for work and money. Our campsite is up towards the glacier and by the lake so a great setting but out in the country. We have electricity and water but no internet here so we have to go into “Downtown” Juneau, some 15 miles away for internet. We have been too busy exploring for that to happen too much though.

On our first day we went up to the Glacier and found out about a salmon stream nearby and got our first fishing bears. Here you are on a walkway a few feet about the river and the bears. So far we have seen several including a mother and her 3 cubs fishing. These are black bears in this area although we have been told that Brown Bears (Grizzlies) are also around occasionally. It is the main Salmon running season and the ones seen up by the Glacier are the Sockeye Salmon but those just starting the run up from the sea are the Pink and the Chum salmon. Hopefully more bears will be seen elsewhere. Also spotted by the Glacier was a cute Porcupine snoozing in the sun up a tree.

Bear got salmon

Bear looking for salmon

Bear at speed after salmon

Just Chillin' Porcupine totally chilled

Hunt the eagle in the pine cones

Friday was an early start down to the airport for a very short but spectacular flight across to Gustavus. As the skies were clear the pilot said we could go the scenic way. With a full plane (9 of us) someone had to sit in the co pilot’s seat and guess who got that privilege. Yep but he wouldn’t let me fly it this time. Once in the air I could see why as we headed for a mountain range at a height below the top. As we got nearer we could see a small gap (they call it “the notch” and we went through it twisting as it was not straight and it seemed like the wings were touching the hills each side at one point and the mountains either side higher than we were flying at.

Glacier Bay was our destination and a short transfer on landing to a smallish catamaran and off we went. A really great trip with Humpbacks, and Killer Whales plus sea lions, sea otters and loads of birds to see as well as the really spectacular scenery and glaciers that come right down to the sea. We sat at the face of one watching huge chunks break of (calving it is called) and producing Icebergs. The sound of the glacier breaking was just like gunshot.