Mendenhall Glacier and Other Bits of Snow

Glaciers abound in the Juneau area of Alaska. They are all hanging on the mountains and coming down into the water, just waiting for the humans to drop their guard. When we least expect it the glaciers will attack! Here are a few photos of Mendenhall Glacier and some of the others who might soon wrest control of Alaska from the United States.

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On the road leading to the Mendenhall Glacier.

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A creek that runs into the lake created by the retreating glacier.

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Mendenhall Glacier.  It has retreated about a mile since Emily’s mom first came to Alaska.

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The white streak on the right side of the image is a huge river which plunges down from the Juneau Ice Fields into the lake.

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As seen from the visitor center.

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A hanging glacier just waiting to attack.

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Another hanging glacier.  They’re all terrorist sleeper agents.

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Mendenhall from Douglas Island.

Cruise Ships

Juneau is visited by many cruise ships throughout the year.  At any one time up to four ships can be found docked and moored in the channel.  What many people probably don’t realize is how polluting the ships truly are.  A pall of blue smoke hangs over downtown Juneau and drifts down the channel sent up from the exhaust stacks of the ships.  Even at dock they idle their engines sending up clouds of oily haze.  Here are a couple of photos of the boats and a few of the smoke they produce.  And people wonder why the glaciers around Juneau are retreating!

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A ship moored in the channel.  They use the life boats to shuttle passengers back and forth to land.

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Two ships at two different docks.

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A small private yacht (say 100 feet…) docked in downtown Juneau.

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See the blue haze above the ships?  That’s smoke from their stacks.

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More blue haze.  This is looking from Douglas Island.

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A ship heading down the channel after a stay at Juneau.

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Blue smoke over downtown Juneau pushing up against Mount Juneau.

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Emily with a boat in the background.

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All the smoke rising from the ships at sunset.

Around Juneau

Emily and I explored Juneau for five days as part of our Alaskan adventure. The photos below can’t be classified into other areas and have all been lumped together. These are all photos taken around Juneau.

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A hanging glacier that is waiting… just waiting for the humans to be lulled into a false sense of security.  When we are at our most vulnerable it and its brethren will attack!

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A snow-capped peak visible from the deck of Emily’s aunt and uncle’s house where we stayed.

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The view directly across from Emily’s aunt and uncle’s house.  Cruise ships regularly ply the channel.

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Looking at Douglas Island where Emily’s aunt and uncle’s house is located and where she spent much of her life.

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Downtown Juneau filled with tourists.  It becomes very difficult to drive when the cruise ships are in port.

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Alaska’s state capitol building.

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A totem pole outside the Juneau history museum.

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The governor’s mansion.  Sarah Palin never really lived here much.  Instead she always maintained her Wasilla residence.

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There is a resident population of mountain goats on Mount Juneau.  We didn’t see any.

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Emily trying on a hat at the state museum.

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A float plane getting ready to take off from downtown Juneau.

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Another float plane pulled up at the dock.

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Emily tries on a tourist hat.

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Looking toward Douglas Island.

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The Mount Roberts Tram.

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Another float plane taking to the skies.

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Cooking in the kitchen.

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Sunset from Douglas Island.