Sitka, Alaska
Defining the beginning and end of a day can be difficult in Alaska. Sunrise is early and sunset is late with long periods of soft magical twilight at both ends. In addition to day length every second is filled with something to experience. Massive scenery to capture with the minds eye and cameras, wildlife to observe, plants to appreciate, and history/cultures to understand. This 24-hr period was a prime example of a “Full Day”.
Before breakfast the clouds hung at the mountain tops of Baranof Island as we weaved through the channels just north of Sitka. A light dusting of fresh snow on the forest a few hundred feet above the shoreline and a cool 43ºF temperature proved that the Johnny Horton song was sort of right and “spring time in Alaska” can be refreshingly cool. But our weather had improved to calm winds and only a light dribble of rain. After the Captain deftly brought the ship to dock right at the end of the main street of the town, we were off to visit a few of the sites that Sitka is famous for.
Sitka National Historic Park tells the story of the early days of Russian occupation of the area and the conflicts with the indigenous people. The visitor center also provided an opportunity to learn about the native peoples of the area and to actually visit with one of the local artists who is a basket weaver using traditional methods. A few people braved the rain for a stroll through the totem pole lined trails to the site of the old Russian fort where one of the battles with natives took place. At the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center we had a treat to see Bald Eagles up close and to learn about the center’s work taking care of injured birds and education of both young and older visitors and locals. As a final stop we had a chance to go into St. Michael’s Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church in the center of town.
Leaving Sitka just before lunch the Sea Bird had to pass by a tidal rock literally dotted with Bald Eagles and a large mass of gulls sitting on the water in the middle of the channel. For the rest of the afternoon we cruised slowly through the protected channels north of Sitka. A highlight was going through the very narrow Surgius Narrows which was timed with slack tidal current rather than trying to navigate on an 8 kn maximum flow. Then the day continued with our first Humpback Whale sighting in a bay off the south end of Chichagof Island. I the calm sea surface of the bay the whale could easily be observed. But that was still not the end of the day as our after dinner activity went until it was too dark to see. We ventured out to a location just out of Peril Straits and there a couple of Humpback Whales were very actively feeding. One individual repeatedly flicked its tail above the surface of the water and then two whales would soon surface with their mouths agape gulping large quantities of water and undoubtedyl small fish for food. Indeed it was hard to tell when the day began or ended but for most a head on a pillow filled with information and vivid impressions meant the many experiences during the day’s hours were not going to be forgotten very quickly.
Defining the beginning and end of a day can be difficult in Alaska. Sunrise is early and sunset is late with long periods of soft magical twilight at both ends. In addition to day length every second is filled with something to experience. Massive scenery to capture with the minds eye and cameras, wildlife to observe, plants to appreciate, and history/cultures to understand. This 24-hr period was a prime example of a “Full Day”.
Before breakfast the clouds hung at the mountain tops of Baranof Island as we weaved through the channels just north of Sitka. A light dusting of fresh snow on the forest a few hundred feet above the shoreline and a cool 43ºF temperature proved that the Johnny Horton song was sort of right and “spring time in Alaska” can be refreshingly cool. But our weather had improved to calm winds and only a light dribble of rain. After the Captain deftly brought the ship to dock right at the end of the main street of the town, we were off to visit a few of the sites that Sitka is famous for.
Sitka National Historic Park tells the story of the early days of Russian occupation of the area and the conflicts with the indigenous people. The visitor center also provided an opportunity to learn about the native peoples of the area and to actually visit with one of the local artists who is a basket weaver using traditional methods. A few people braved the rain for a stroll through the totem pole lined trails to the site of the old Russian fort where one of the battles with natives took place. At the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center we had a treat to see Bald Eagles up close and to learn about the center’s work taking care of injured birds and education of both young and older visitors and locals. As a final stop we had a chance to go into St. Michael’s Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church in the center of town.
Leaving Sitka just before lunch the Sea Bird had to pass by a tidal rock literally dotted with Bald Eagles and a large mass of gulls sitting on the water in the middle of the channel. For the rest of the afternoon we cruised slowly through the protected channels north of Sitka. A highlight was going through the very narrow Surgius Narrows which was timed with slack tidal current rather than trying to navigate on an 8 kn maximum flow. Then the day continued with our first Humpback Whale sighting in a bay off the south end of Chichagof Island. I the calm sea surface of the bay the whale could easily be observed. But that was still not the end of the day as our after dinner activity went until it was too dark to see. We ventured out to a location just out of Peril Straits and there a couple of Humpback Whales were very actively feeding. One individual repeatedly flicked its tail above the surface of the water and then two whales would soon surface with their mouths agape gulping large quantities of water and undoubtedyl small fish for food. Indeed it was hard to tell when the day began or ended but for most a head on a pillow filled with information and vivid impressions meant the many experiences during the day’s hours were not going to be forgotten very quickly.
