After leaving Valdez, we embarked on the long journey to Haines, Alaska. Along the way, we made overnight stops in Tok and Destruction Bay. The drive through the Wrangell Mountains was beautiful, but we encountered a delay at the Canadian border before entering the Yukon. Despite this, we still managed to enjoy the scenic drive.
In Tok, we had a group dinner and a potluck meal in Destruction Bay. Despite the bad section of the Alaska Highway we had to drive through, we were much more experienced this time around. After crossing back into Alaska and navigating a short section of major road construction, we finally arrived at the Haines Hitch-up RV Park. We were relieved to have made it to our destination and excited to explore the area.
After getting settled in at the RV park, we freshened up and set out to explore the area. Our first stop was Chilkoot Lake, where we were on the lookout for eagles and bears fishing in the river. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any luck with sightings, but we didn’t let that dampen our spirits.
Next, we headed down to the marina, where we were treated to a spectacular show by the resident eagles. We watched in awe as they gracefully swooped and soared above the water, hunting for fish. After the eagle show, we headed to the Harbor Bar for dinner. This local favorite was packed with locals and tourists alike, and we enjoyed some delicious seafood and a few drinks while chatting with the locals. Click on thumbnail to view image
Haines, Alaska
Trip to Juneau by Boat
The next day, we set off from Haines on a catamaran, heading towards Juneau despite the poor weather and rough seas. As we left the harbor, we were watched by several eagles. Along the way, we passed the Eldridge Rock Lighthouse, an historic lighthouse built in 1882 to guide ships through the treacherous waters in the area.
With clouds spoiling the mountain views we suddenly came upon a pair of whales who came very close to the boat and put on an amazing display of “fluking”. We were all grateful for such an amazing close encounter that the weather became a non-issue as we continued on to Juneau.
Juneau, the capital city of Alaska, is located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the state. It was founded in 1880 during a gold rush and was named after gold prospector Joe Juneau.
Juneau became the capital of Alaska in 1906 and has remained so ever since. The city is only accessible by boat or plane from Skagway by the Lynn Canal Highway. The city’s economy has traditionally been based on mining, fishing, and government, but in recent years, tourism has become an increasingly important industry.
When we arrived in Juneau we found three massive cruise ships in port – the town was packed, After a brief walk around we boarded a bus and set off to visit the Mendenhall Glacier. Despite the cloudy weather, we a brief were fortunate enough to have clear views of the glacier. The Mendenhall Glacier is a 12-mile-long glacier that is located just 13 miles from downtown Juneau, Alaska. It’s one of-the ness the beautiful blue ice formations and explore the surrounding area.
After our visit to the glacier, we headed back into town to explore the local shops. Patty found a lovely wooden goose carving for the RV that she affectionately named “Alyeska”. The day was long and the ride back on the catamaran was even longer, but overall, it was a lot of fun. Click on thumbnail to view image
Trip to Skagway by Boat
After a good night’s rest, we all returned to the marina for another boat trip, this time to Skagway. The sea was calmer, but the rain continued all the way to Skagway. Skagway is a small town located in the panhandle of Alaska, it was founded in the late 1800s during the Klondike Gold Rush. It was a bustling port town during the gold rush and served as the starting point for many prospectors heading to the goldfields of the Klondike.
When we arrived in Skagway, there was one cruise ship docked, so the town was busy with tourists. We found a good bar and lots to drink while we waited for the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad (WP&YRR) to board. The WP&YRR is a narrow-gauge railway built during the Klondike Gold Rush, it was considered an engineering marvel of the time. Click on thumbnail to view image
As we climbed out of Skagway, the clouds began to rise, and the views improved all the way to the old border crossing at Summit Pass. The railway climbs from sea level in Skagway to almost 3000ft at the summit, providing spectacular views of the mountains, glaciers and gorges.
When the train returned to Skagway, we caught our boat and headed back to Haines, dodging the commercial fishermen’s nets along the way. What an AWESOME day!