Alaska 2009

For ten lovely wet days of September, Emily and I made our way north to visit Juneau and Gustavus. Emily spent her early years in the small bush town of Gustavus situated near the mouth of Glacier Bay and much of the rest of her pre-college life in Juneau. Below are a links to a few photos of our travels and adventures.

• Preparations for Alaska: We go shopping at a store in Oregon to find some proper attire for the Alaskan bush.

Gustavus Adventure

• Flying to Gustavus: The only practical way in and out for short-term visitors is by air. We took the short hop from Juneau out to Gustavus on an air taxi.
• The Homestead: Emily’s brother has a great little homestead out in Gustavus. We stayed in the bunkhouse next to the cabin.
• River Fishing: We went out for a little fishing on one of the creeks that runs through Gustavus.
• Around Gustavus: Some snaps from around Gustavus. The community garden, the Gustavus Inn, and more.
• Emily’s Old Home: The house that Emily’s parents built and Emily grew up in was sold a few years ago. We walked by it to see where she spent her early years.
• Glacier Bay National Park: We drove out to the park headquarters for a look around. The bar was closed but we made do with a picnic lunch on the beach.
• Fishing in a Boat: Emily’s brother and I went out on a little skiff for some afternoon fishing. All we caught were six empty beer bottles and a few photos.
• Mushroom Picking: One afternoon we went mushroom picking in the woods. Many tasty mushrooms came home with us.
• Shooting Pistols: A few rounds at a gravel quarry can be quite fun when using pistols.

Juneau Happenings

• Flying to Juneau: We flew back to Juneau on the nicest day of our entire trip.
• Around Juneau: A few photos taken around the Juneau area.
• Cruise Ships: Many cruise ships dock at Juneau every year.  Along with tourists they also bring significant quantities of pollution.
• Mendenhall Glacier and Other Bits of Snow: The glaciers in and around Juneau are all just waiting to launch an attack on humanity.
• A Night at Peterson Lake: Emily and I hiked into a Forest Service cabin on a lake for a wonderful evening.
• Shrine of St. Therese: We visit a shrine outside of Juneau.
• Alaskan Brewing Company: A quick stop off at the Alaskan Brewing Company home office proved rewarding.
• The Treadwell Mine Complex: An afternoon stroll through the mining complex on Douglas Island.
• A Cabin in the Woods: We visited one of Emily’s relatives houses.  It just happens to be a neat cabin in the woods.
• Eaglecrest Ski Area: Emily’s old stomping grounds in the mountains for a bunch of pow fun.
• Plank Hikes:  Some lovely walks along a couple of plank trails on North Douglas Island.
• Fish on a Beach: We checked out some dead fish on a beach and a few bald eagles before boarding a plane to return to Oregon.

And with that my summer came to a close, I moved into a fraternity as the house father, and school once more resumed.  Alaska was a lot of fun.  I know I’ll be back for another visit in the near future.