Mount Edgecumbe, Sitka, Alaska
Captain James Cook of the Royal Navy saw this splendid cone on his way north to explore the Bering Strait in 1778. Why he named it, and its associated cape, Edgecumbe is not known. There are three, equally plausible possibilities: Another Mount Edgecumbe rises behind the English port of Plymouth, that would have been Cook’s last glimpse of England as he left on his three voyages of exploration. The admiral commanding the Plymouth fleet was Lord Edgecumbe. Lastly, and my personal choice, would be John Edgecumbe, the sergeant who led the contingent of Royal Marines guarding Cook and his officers both from unfriendly natives encountered while ashore and from the crew, at times mutinous. On Cook’s recommendation, for the third voyage Edgecumbe, the Marine, had been promoted to lieutenant
Early this morning we sailed into Sitka – one of the few places on this coast to carry its aboriginal name: Sheet-ka, meaning “the village behind the islands” in Tlingit. The light was glorious as we passed Mount Edgecumbe, decorated with its last vestiges of winter snow. As we entered the harbor channel, dozens of Bald eagles inspected us from strategic posts or from the air. After breakfast we toured this historic and charming town of 8,500 souls. We visited the Raptor Rehab Center and learned about their work in caring for and releasing back to the wild whenever possible, eagles, hawks, falcons and owls. We discovered the town’s historic Russian connection: admiring the icons of St. Michaels Orthodox Cathedral. We climbed Baronof Castle Hill, to find twin Russian Imperial cast-iron guns and flags commemorating the 1867 formal handover of “Seward’s Folly” – as the purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million was ridiculed at the time.
Before leaving Sitka, we were treated to a traditional dance performance. At its conclusion, we learned a Tlingit phrase: Goonalh-Cheesh- Ho Ho! meaning “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts”. Our sentiments exactly!
Captain James Cook of the Royal Navy saw this splendid cone on his way north to explore the Bering Strait in 1778. Why he named it, and its associated cape, Edgecumbe is not known. There are three, equally plausible possibilities: Another Mount Edgecumbe rises behind the English port of Plymouth, that would have been Cook’s last glimpse of England as he left on his three voyages of exploration. The admiral commanding the Plymouth fleet was Lord Edgecumbe. Lastly, and my personal choice, would be John Edgecumbe, the sergeant who led the contingent of Royal Marines guarding Cook and his officers both from unfriendly natives encountered while ashore and from the crew, at times mutinous. On Cook’s recommendation, for the third voyage Edgecumbe, the Marine, had been promoted to lieutenant
Early this morning we sailed into Sitka – one of the few places on this coast to carry its aboriginal name: Sheet-ka, meaning “the village behind the islands” in Tlingit. The light was glorious as we passed Mount Edgecumbe, decorated with its last vestiges of winter snow. As we entered the harbor channel, dozens of Bald eagles inspected us from strategic posts or from the air. After breakfast we toured this historic and charming town of 8,500 souls. We visited the Raptor Rehab Center and learned about their work in caring for and releasing back to the wild whenever possible, eagles, hawks, falcons and owls. We discovered the town’s historic Russian connection: admiring the icons of St. Michaels Orthodox Cathedral. We climbed Baronof Castle Hill, to find twin Russian Imperial cast-iron guns and flags commemorating the 1867 formal handover of “Seward’s Folly” – as the purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million was ridiculed at the time.
Before leaving Sitka, we were treated to a traditional dance performance. At its conclusion, we learned a Tlingit phrase: Goonalh-Cheesh- Ho Ho! meaning “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts”. Our sentiments exactly!
