Kalispell June 30, 2010

Here is the golf foursome. From left to right is Greg Downs (Doug's son-in-law), Tim Soule (Doug's son), Doug and John Olson.










They had this t-shirt made up for Doug. On the back in the scorecard.









This is the view of Glacier National Park from Tim & Denise's property. You are looking east down Smith Valley towards the Flathead Valley. Glacier is about 40 miles from their home. Taking the Road to the Sun is something that shold be on everyone's bucket. Doug and I did it by motorcycle a few years ago and it was awesome.








Our granddaughter, Liann, became quite infatuated with Alisha's boyfriend, Joe. She's a charmer.











Tim's neighbor breeds Arabians and is currently leasing some of Tim's land for grazing.. Here four of the mares and their offspring (born this past spring) are galloping back towards the barn. There were only four and you could feel the earth pulsate. They are very beautiful animals.





We were here to see family and to celebrate Alisha's high school graduation. Toddie, Greg, Will and Liann drove in from Seattle. We got to meet Denise's brother and sister-in-law (Todd and Patty) who came in from out of town as well. Somehow I never got a picture of Alisha! I am sure that there will be other photo opportunities before we leave by train Thursday night.

BE SURE TO READ THIS: Train Seattle to Whitefish, MT 6/28-29,2010

Our arrival in Kalispell on the Empire Maker train











Doug demonstrating the roominess of our sleeper car.









Be sure to at least read to the Empire Maker route description.

We reserved a sleeper car for the overnight ride. Our spacious accommodation measured about 3'x7' with a fold down upper bunk. We left Seattle about 4:40pm and were scheduled to arrive at 7:30A in Whitefish on the 29th. It was an interesting ride bouncing around in the sleeping car although I didn't do much sleeping.

When we stopped in Sandpoint, ID is was about 2:30 in the morning. I looked out into the darkenss and saw 12 departing passengers and their luggage standing on the lone platform. It was surreal pulling away from them and watching as they disappeared into the inky night.

At this point I could not go back to sleep. The first bits of morning light began to subtly illuminate the early morning sky. Everything was a monochromatic vision of grays. The tall evergreens and the mountains were gently siloutted against the sky. Perhaps the most startling was how the clouds looked in the eerie light. They appeared to be large 3-dimensional sculptures suspended from the sky.

Shortly the dawn began and the grays gradually transformed to various subtle shades of green. The moisture from the river created some dramatic fog that encapsulated the landscape. I could make out three deer emerging from a fog covered field. It was a beautiful sight.

Tim, Doug's son, met us at the train station. We grabbed breakfast in Whitefish. We were fortunate enough to be able to check in very early at the Hampton Inn. Doug decided to go golfing with the boys. OK, here is the news you've been waiting for...HE SHOT A HOLE IN ONE!!! It will be featured in the weekly Kalispell newspaper. The rest of his round was not so note worthy.

For those of you who are interested in the route we took here is a description. (Source: Empire Builder Route Guide)

SEATTLE: The city was named in honor of Chief Noah Stealth, head of one of the two tribes living in the area since 1851 when Arthur Denny and his settlers landed on Alki POint. Today Seattle is the "Emerald City" for its famed access to pristine mountain wilderness and the Puget Sound. Once a small sawmill town Seattle is now home to Microsoft and the tallest building on the West Coast. A mile-long tunnel under hilly downtown leads us from King Street Station. The Space Needle, symbol of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, is on the right. At Pier 69, on the left, ships depart daily cruising to Victoria, B.C. Pier 70, the largest restored wooden building in the country, now houses 40 shops and restaurants, and is connected to downtown by a trolley which runs adjacent to the Empire Builder tracks.

Shilshole Bay: The name derives from the Duwamisih Indian word meaning "threasjilshole Bay. ding a needle", no doubt referring to the opening through which Salmon Day empties into Shilshole Bay. At this point, the route crosses the Salmon Bay Inlet. Shilshole Bay, Lake Union, Portage Bay and Union Bay form a waterway to reach Seattle's magnificent Lake Washington. The Chittenden Locks on the right allow access to eastern lake ports. The statue on the left is Leif Ericson, the Norse explorer thought to have "discovered" America before Columbus.

Puget Sound shore is skirted by the train for approximately 30 miles. Its water temperature varies only between 51 and 53 degrees annually, contributing to the region's moist maritime climate. Captain George Vancouver first wrote about these waters in 1792, The name was given by Vancouver to honor Lieutenant Peter Puget, who explored its southern end that year.

EDMONDS: You'll find Edmonds' Old Milltown Shopping Arcade in the turn-of-the-century Ford garage. The train stops next to the dock for ferries to Kingston on the Olympic Peninsula.
Puget Sound The train skirts Puget Sound for the next 15 miles. You can see the islands that dot the sound, including Whidbey Island and Bainbridge Island, which are connected to the mainland by ferries.


EVERETT: Everett has been a popular port since its beginning and is known for its fishing fleet and lumber. Before the railroads linked these forests with the eastern states, Washington sawmills were already shipping boatloads of lumber to China, Australia and South America. The city's other claim to fame is more recent, the Boeing 747/767 assembly plant is located here. You might even see test planes overhead.

Skykomish (1:15 Min./1:45 Min): As the train follows the Skykomish River, you can see Washington's famous pine and fir forests. In this area are the prospector's Money Creek, Indian Falls, chute-shaped Sunset Falls, Table Rock and Index Mountain.


Cacade Mountains: For the 65 miles east of Everett, the tracks have been climbing more than 2,800 feet. The best way to get through this spectacular mountain range is to go under it -- which you can, thanks to the 7.79 mile Cascade Tunnel, bored under Stevens Pass 500 feet overhead and 4,061 feet above sea level. The tunnel, the longest in the Western Hemisphere, was completed in 1929.

Icicle Canyon (1:45 Min./1:10 Min.): Look closely and you might see goats on the hillsides; and elk, beaver and deer in the marshes. The train is now descending more than 100 feet for every mile of forward progress.


Leavenworth (2:30 Min./20 Min.): This quaint Bavarian themed village just outside of Tumwater Canyon has become the first major tourist stop on the eastern side of the mountains. It's annual Oktoberfest celebration is on the the world's most attended outside of Munich, Germany. The terrain changes from dramatic to gentle as the Empire Builder concludes its steep descent from ski country. The train starts to follow the Wenatchee River into rich farmlands.


WENATCHEE: The city takes its name from an Indian word meaning "robe of the rainbow." The "Apple Capital of the World" grows more than 15% of the nation's apple crop. (NOTE: This is the home of Harry & David, the mail order fruit company. When Doug and I came through here on the motorcycle a few years ago you could literally smell the apples, pears, peaches and cherries ripening on the trees.)

Columbia Basin: About 10 million years ago, lava oozed out of the earth's crust here and covered the surrounding ancient mountains. The lava, in some places more than a mile thick, eventually cooled and became the largest lava basin in the country -- and today, rich and fertile farmlands due to modern irrigation. During the night, the train stops at EPHRATA and SPOKANE

SPOKANE: Spokane calls itself "Monarch of the Inland Empire" and lies in the midst of country rich in productive farmlands, lumber and mining. Railroading was responsible for much of the city's early growth. Here the Empire Builder route (the Great Northern route from Seattle) is joined by the Portland route at Spokane. During the night, the train stops at SANDPOINT and LIBBY.

Flathead Tunnel: The 7-mile long Flathead Tunnel, 42 miles west of Whitefish, is the second longest in the Western Hemisphere.


WHITEFISH: Originally nicknamed "Stumptown" from its logger heritage the alpine station matches the beauty of its natural setting. Built in the late 1940's, Whitefish Mountain resort is on the left, one of the nation's finest and best-kept northwest secrets.Located in the valley of Flathead National Forest, with its great recreational activities, the town is bordered by Whitefish Lakes.

Some of my Favorite Garden Picutres

Meditation fountain at the Japanese Gardens.












Believe it or not this is a peony.











A wax begonia.











A fern frond in the process of unfurling. I have not idea how I managed to catch this abstract shot.










St. John's Wart

Photos Butchart Gardens June 27, 2010

Sunken Garden












Rose Garden

















Japanese Garden











Italian Garden











Mediterranean Garden

History of Butchart Gardens (Source: Butchart Gardesn website)

In 1888, near his birthplace, Owen Sound, Ontario, the former dry goods merchant, Robert Pim Butchart, began manufacturing Portland cement. By the turn of the century he had become a highly successful pioneer in this burgeoning North American industry. Attracted to the West Coast of Canada by rich limestone deposits vital for cement production, he built a factory at Tod Inlet, on Vancouver Island. There, in 1904, he and his family established their home.

As Mr. Butchart exhausted the limestone in the quarry near their house, his enterprising wife, Jennie, conceived an unprecedented plan for refurbishing the bleak pit. From farmland nearby she requisitioned tons of top soil, had it brought to Tod Inlet by horse and cart, and used it to line the floor of the abandoned quarry. Little by little, under Jennie Butchart's supervision, the abandoned quarry blossomed into the spectacular Sunken Garden.

By 1908, reflecting their world travels, the Butcharts had created a Japanese Garden on the sea-side of their home. Later an Italian Garden was created on the site of their former tennis court, and a fine Rose Garden replaced a large kitchen vegetable patch in 1929.

Mr. Butchart took much pride in his wife's remarkable work. A great hobbyist, he collected ornamental birds from all over the world. He kept ducks in the Star Pond, noisy peacocks on the front lawn, and a curmudgeon of a parrot in the main house. He enjoyed training pigeons at the site of the present Begonia Bower, and had many elaborate bird houses stationed throughout Jennie's beautiful gardens.

The renown of Mrs. Butchart's gardening quickly spread. By the 1920s more than fifty thousand people came each year to see her creation. In a gesture toward all their visitors, the hospitable Butcharts christened their estate "Benvenuto", the Italian word for "Welcome". To extend the welcome, flowering cherry trees along Benvenuto Avenue leading to The Gardens were purchased from Yokohama Nursery in Japan and installed from West Saanich Road to The Butchart Gardens' entrance.

Their house grew into a comfortable, luxurious showplace, with a bowling alley, indoor salt-water swimming pool, panelled billiard room and a wonder of its age, a self-playing Aeolian pipe organ (still played on Firework Saturdays ). Today the residence contains the Dining Room Restaurant, offices, and rooms still used for family entertaining. From January 15 to March 15, a special re-creation of the family house is showcased.

The family tradition of acquiring objects when travelling has continued. The Fountain of the Three Sturgeons and the bronze casting of the wild boar are both from Florence, Italy. Both were purchased by Ian and Ann-Lee Ross in 1973. The fountain is a casting made from a much smaller fountain created by Professor Sirio Tofanari in 1958. Other works by him include the little donkey and the foal that stand close by the statue of the wild boar on the Piazza in front of the Butchart Residence. The boar is a rare bronze copy of a casting of the marble statue displayed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. This bronze known affectionally as "Tacca," in honour of Pietro Tacca, the artist who created the statue in 1620. His snout is finely burnished by thousands of visitors who give it an affectionate rub for good luck. Tacca is dedicated to all the children and dogs who visit The Gardens.

Each year over 1,000,000 bedding plants in some 700 varieties are used throughout the Gardens to ensure uninterrupted bloom from March through October. Close to a million people visit each year, enjoying not only the floral beauty, but the entertainment and lighting displays presented each summer and Christmas.

The only surviving portion of Mr. Butchart's Tod Inlet cement factory is the tall chimney of a long vanished kiln. The chimney can be seen from The Sunken Garden Lookout. The plant stopped manufacturing cement in 1916, but continued to make tiles and flower pots as late as 1950. The single chimney now overlooks the quarry Mrs. Butchart so miraculously reclaimed.

The Butchart Gardens remains a family business and has grown to become a premier West Coast display garden, while maintaining the gracious traditions of the past. Today the Gardens has established an international reputation for its year round display of flowering plants.

Photos Victoria June 26-28, 2010

Since we have a photo of us at Mile 0 of the Canadian Highway in St. John's Newfoundland we thought it appropriate to snap a picture at the opposite side of the country. Interesting both ends of the road are called Mile 0.








This is the inner harbour of Victoria. The large red brick building with the turrets in the background is the Empress Hotel. It was a lovely splurge.










This is the British Parliament building also located on the harbor.

This is Fisherman's Wharf, an actual working series of docks in the city. It is situated at the base of some pretty swanky condos.

From the south side of the island you can look across the passage and clearly see the Olympic Mountains of Washington State.

The history of Victoria (Source: Wikipedia)

Prior to the arrival of the Captain James Cook in the late 1700s, the Victoria area was home to several communities of Coast Salish peoples, including the Songhees. The Spanish and British took up the exploration of the northwest coast of North America beginning with the visits of Juan Perez in 1774 and of Captain James Cook in 1778 although the Victoria area of the Strait of Juan de Fuca was not penetrated until 1790. Spanish sailors visited Esquimalt Harbour (within the modern Capital Regional District) in 1790, 1791, and 1792.

In 1841 James Douglas was charged with the duty of setting up a trading post on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, upon the recommendation by Sir George Simpson that a second line of forts be built in case Fort Vancouver and the other lower Columbia River valley forts fell into American hands (see Oregon boundary dispute). Charged with this task, Douglas founded Fort Victoria, on the site of present-day Victoria, British Columbia. This proved beneficial when in 1846 the Oregon Treaty was signed, extending the British North America/United States border along the 49th parallel from the Rockies to the Strait of Georgia.

Erected in 1843 as a Hudson's Bay Company trading post on a site originally called Camosun (the native word was "camosack", meaning "rush of water") known briefly as "Forts Albert", the settlement was later christened Fort Victoria, in honour of Queen Victoria.[3] The Songhees established a village across the harbour from the fort. The Songhees' village was later moved north of Esquimalt. When the crown was established in 1849, a town was laid out on the site and made the capital of the colony. The Chief Factor of the fort, James Douglas was made the second governor of the Vancouver Island Colony (Richard Blanshard was first governor, Arthur Edward Kennedy was third and last governor), and would be the leading figure in the early development of the city until his retirement in 1864.

With the discovery of gold on the British Columbia mainland in 1858, Victoria became the port, supply base, and outfitting centre for miners on their way to the Fraser Canyon gold fields, mushrooming from a population of 300 to over 5000 literally within a few days. Victoria was incorporated as a city in 1862. In 1865, Esquimalt was made the North Pacific home of the Royal Navy, and remains Canada's west coast naval base. In June 2010, the Canadian Navy celebrated its 100th anniversary with a Fleet Review in the waters off of Greater Victoria, by Canada's Governor General Michaëlle Jean. The review was attended by warships from Canada, France, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the United States and US and Canadian Coast Guard vessels. In 1866 when the island was politically united with the mainland, Victoria remained the capital of the new united colony and became the provincial capital when British Columbia joined the Canadian Confederation in 1871. Memoirs still in print of those early days include those by painter Emily Carr.

In 1886, with the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway terminus on Burrard Inlet, Victoria's position as the commercial centre of British Columbia was irrevocably lost to the City of Vancouver. The city subsequently began cultivating an image of genteel civility within its natural setting, an image aided by the impressions of visitors such as Rudyard Kipling, the opening of the popular Butchart Gardens in 1904 and the construction of the Empress Hotel by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1908. Robert Dunsmuir, a leading industrialist whose interests included coal mines and a railway on Vancouver Island, constructed Craigdarroch Castle in the Rockland area, near the official residence of the province's lieutenant-governor. His son James Dunsmuir became premier and subsequently lieutenant-governor of the province and built his own grand residence at Hatley Park (used for several decades as Royal Roads Military College, now civilian Royal Roads University) in the present City of Colwood.

A real estate and development boom ended just before World War I, leaving Victoria with a large stock of Edwardian public, commercial and residential structures that have greatly contributed to the City's character. A number of municipalities surrounding Victoria were incorporated during this period, including the Township of Esquimalt, the District of Oak Bay, and several municipalities on the Saanich Peninsula. Since World War II the Victoria area has seen relatively steady growth, becoming home to two major universities. Since the 1980s the western suburbs have been incorporated as new municipalities, such as Colwood and Langford.

Photos Vancouver to Victoria Ferry 6/26/10

This ferry is en route to Vancouver from Victoria. It appears to be the same as the one we were on. They carry motor coaches, tractor trailers, RVs, cars, motorcycles, cyclists and pedestrians.










Sailing through the inside passage. The is not navigable by large ships.











An unmanned marker.













It was a fine day for a sail!

Photos Cruise to Vancouver

This is a "typical" view while sailing the inside passage from Ketchikan, Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia. Words can not adequately describe.










Canada is the only nationleft in the world who maintains manned lighthouses. With a spread like this and the views I would sign up!










It was a lovely night for a sail. You can select the vessel of you liking.











Here is a photograph of the Albert Bay Trumpeter. You can google him and check out his website. I took some video with my flip camera and will see if I can post it.








After a lovely evening it was time so say good night. Tomorow morning we disembark in Vancouver then bus/ferry it to Victoria.

Photos of Juneau

We have been fortunate in our travels. Whenever we needed sunshine (Denali and Glacier Bay) there it was. So in Juneau we were treated to a day of lquid sunshine. It rained, and rained and rained. These photos are thanks to Doug.

This is the Juneau harbor.







Downtown Juneau













Doug took this shot for you Sarah Palin fans...here's her office in the capital building.












My sister, Carol, encouraged us to stop at the Juneau library. It's along the waterfront and a great place to spend a rainy morning. This is a magnificent stained glass window depicting the spawning of salmon.















You've seen photos of the large cruise ships. With those of you with very deep pockets you can charter an antique cruiser like the one pictured here and have a very intimate adventure.

Photos of Ketchikan

View of a typical street in downtown Ketchikan.













This is Creek Street. When the salmon are running in July and August they are so thick that the creek actually percolates. The air is also thick with predatory birds.









I don't know if you can see the bald eagle perched on the branch but I assure you she is there. You can also see her nest which is 5' wide and 8' deep.









Ketchikan is famous for their totem poles. My friend, Deb, is standing at the base to give you a sense of the size. They are magnificent structures.

















This is an authentic Tligit lodge house constructed of red cedar. When we were there they was a private performance going on. We were able to sit outside and listen to the rhythmic drumming and sweet singing. The ground literally pulsated with energy.

Photos White Pass & Yukon Route Railway

This trip was noteworthy because the GE Diesel engines were built in the 1950's in Erie which means that my father was intimately involved in their design.

At the foot of these cliffs is Dead Horse Gulch. More than 300 horses were sacrificed during the Yuon gold rush.





This is Brackett's Trail. Brackett was an industrious gentleman, and I use that term loosely. He forged a path from Skagway through the pass into the Yukon. He would charge $1 per person of $10 per wagon for the use of the trail. In those days that was highway robbery especially for those men that hadn't found the gold. He was eventually bought out for $60,000 so that the railway could be built.

Last summer a friend of mine, Deb O'Loane, led 6 women through the Chilkoot Trail following in the footsteps to those brave men in search of the gold. When they reached the summit a Yukon Mounted Police Officer if she would do it again she heartly responded "YES...with a sherpa." You see these women carried fully loaded packs and camped all the way to the summit. Way to go Deb!


This is Bridal Veil Falls, It's vertical drop is 5000'. You can only observe this waterfall from the railroad.










View from Inspiration Point back towards the Skagway Harbor (lost in the mist).












Just a small section of the visious white water that the gold seekers had to contend with.

June 25-26, 2010 Ketchikan to Vancouver

Photos forth coming!

Overnight we departed our beloved Alaska on Friday the 25th and cruised to Vancouver via the Pacific Ocean. We covered about 600 nautical miles over the 36 hour journey. It was rather nice have a quiet day. From the Pacific we sailed to Queen Charlotte Straight before entering Johnstone Straight on the way to Seymour Narrows. The narrows is an infamous stretch of water when the tidal stream is funneled through a 750 meter wide gap and currents can run up to 16 knots. After the straights we were off the shore of Vancouver Island and will cruise through the Straight of Georgia.

Early in the evening a small power boat approached our huge ship. The man stopped his engines, pulled out a trumped and began playing “Oh Canada” followed by the Star Spangled Banner and concluding with When the Saints Go Marching In. It was quite the show. This segment of the cruise was absolutely beautiful sailing the Inside Passage. After 14 days we saw a real sunset and watched a gigantic full moon come up over the mountains. Everything was breathtaking.

We had to be out of our stateroom by 8A. We arose about 6 and at 6:45 we were sailing under Vancouver’s famous Lion Gate Bridge before arriving at our berth in Vancouver at precisely 7. At 8 we were in the Universal Lounge waiting for our disembarkment instructions. The ship’s berth was at Canada Place right downtown in the harbor. I had remembered seeing this while watching the Winter Olympics.

By 9 we had cleared customs and collected our baggage. Get this, the luggage was placed in a color coded area corresponding to our departure group and arranged in alphabetical order so collecting it was a snap…almost too easy. So we left the comfort of the Princess Cruise world where everything was so structured and entered the real world of commercial transportation. We were scheduled to depart at 11 so we had to wait about 90 minutes before boarding the Pacific Coach to travel to Victoria. We had the opportunity to visit with some Victorian natives who gave us the inside scoop of where to eat and drink

It took about an hour for the motorcoach to get to the ferry. The ferry ride, about 90 minutes, took us though the real inside passage. There were lots of fast mixed currents that the ferry captain skillfully handled. We traveled through rugged stone islands. There were many of sailboats out taking advantage of the strong winds and sunny skies.

I told Doug that this is what I think heaven would be like. The only thing that might be missing would be some snow capped mountains. In all it took us about 4 hours to travel from Vancouver to Victoria. We entered the city from the north and were situated on a tall crest and what was in front of me but the snow capped mountains of Washington State! We could even see Mt. Baker. Now I knew we were in heaven.

We are staying at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, a pretty heavenly establishment on its own. After struggling to find the lobby with our numerous pieces of luggage in tow we were graciously escorted to the front desk by a sales clerk from the china and tea shop. The young man took one look at us and without prompting said that he had upgraded our room, at no additional expense, because he thought we would be more comfortable. Now that is service! The hotel is absolutely spectacular.

The hotel sits overlooking the Victoria Inner Harbour. The Parliament House is off to the left. The harbor walk was filled with many street performers and artists selling their wares. We took a nice long walk and ended up at Barb’s Fish and Chips House on Fisherman’s Wharf. The restaurant came highly recommended by a local we met while waiting for the bus. Doug said it was the best he has ever hand and for those of you who know Doug he has had more than his fair share of fish and chips. We took a long walk along Dallas Street which extends from Fisherman’s Wharf to the cruise ship terminal and then headed up Oswego St.Victoria is a beautiful and livable city. Doug and I agree that it is the perfect place we have been searching for these past couple of decades.

June 24, 2010 Ketchikan

Photos will be forthcoming...I promise!

The Tlingit people originally settled this area as a summer fishing camp. The Tlingit name for Ketchikan Creek was recorded in 1881, phonetically as “Kitschkhin”. One translation of the word extends unto resembled the outspread eagles’ wings. Another version says the real name was “Kats’kan” or land belonging to Kats, an early Tlingit chief.

It is said that a white man named Snow was operating a salmon saltery by 1883. Then in 1885 an Irishman named Mike Martin was sent by Portland, Oregon cannery to scout out the shoreline’s economic potential. The creek and surrounding land were owned as a fishing ground and canoe landing beach of the Kyan clan. Martin is said to have purchased 160 acres from a Flathead Indian, known as Papernose Charlie.

Three small canneries were operating by 1885 and the town quickly began to develop around them. Shortly thereafter a post office was established in 1892. By the late 19th century the discovery of gold and copper created a need for a mining supply center. Gold was discovered in the nearby hills and on Prince of Wales Island, and copper was discovered a short time later. Ketchikan quickly became the supply center for all the mines in the surrounding area.

Many people know Ketchikan as the state’s rain capital, with about 162” annually. Nevertheless, Ketchikan does have gloriously sunny days – especially in the summer. The town, population 13,000, occupies a prime spot of the western coast of Revillagigedo Island, or Revilla Island, as residents call it for short. Present-day Ketchikan has a higher concentration of Native Alaskans that any other city in the state. Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian are represented. The town has earned the title Salmon Capital of the World.

June 23, 2010 Juneau

I am having a problem loading pictures. I will add the pictures as I am able. For those of you who bore easily with historical information I apologize in advance.

Before the late 19th Century, southeast Alaska was virtually unsettled. Only the Tlingit Natives utilized the area, coming to the Gastineau Channel to take advantage of the abundant salmon found in the waters. But in 1870 rumors of gold in the area began to circulate. A German engineer named George Pilz, who was already working in Sitka, decided to offer a handsome reward to any natives who could produce gold ore samples. When the Auk Tlingit Tribe’s Chief Kowee responded to the challenge, he handed Pilz rich samples his tribe had found from deep inside the mountains. Pilz was joined by prospectors Richard Harris and Joseph Juneau, who left Sitka in August 1880. The going was slow and frustrating as they searched for gold with the help of Indian guides. Finally after climbing mountains, forging streams and facing countless difficulties the found nuggets “as large as beans.” They revealed a 100 miles belt of gold that became the three largest gold mines in the world earning more than $150 million dollars. This was the first major gold discovery in Alaska but not the last.

Mining remained a mainstay of Juneau’s economy until 1944 when increased operating costs and manpower shortages associated with WWII forced the AJ mine to close. By 1959, when Alaska became the 49th state, state government had filled much of the void left by the end of the mining era.

Some 30,000 people live in Juneau and its total area (3,108 square miles) makes it one of the biggest towns, in size, in the world. Only Kiruna, Sweden and Sitka, Alaska exceed Juneau’s 3,248 square miles. Today Juneau is not only famous for gold and government, but also for its breathtaking beautiful glaciers and stunning view of both water and mountains.

Skagway

Skagway was know to thousands of hopeful gold rushers as the gateway to the gold fields. Although it boasted the shortest route to the Klondike, it was far from being the easiest. Over a hundred years ago, the White Pass route through the Coast Mountains and the shorter, but steeper, Chilkoot Trail were used by countless stampeders. The treacherous Chilkoot Trail, combined with the area’s cruel elements, left scores dead. The gold rush was a boon to Skagway – by 1891 it was Alaska’s largest town with a population of about 20,000. The town’s hotels, saloons, dance halls and gambling houses prospered, drawing Skagway residents as well as the 10,000 people living in the tent city of nearby Dyea. But when the gold yield dwindled in 1900, so did the population as the miners quickly shifted to new finds in Nome.

Today Skagway retains the flavor of the gold rush era. Located in the Taiya Inlet the town has a year round population of 862 residents , 5.5% of the residents are Native Alaskans of mostly Tlingit origin. Skagway is located in a classic U-shaped glacier valley. Elevation ranges from sea level on the coast to nearly 7,000’ in the mountain ranges. The municipality, which stretches from the Canadian border, encompasses 452.4 square miles of land and 11.9 miles of water. On average the summer temperatures range from 45-67F. Yesterday they had 19 hours of daylight. Average winter temperatures are 18-27F. The city receives 26” of rain per year and 39” of snow, although snow fall can exceed 20’ in the White Pass.

The Skagway Alaska Streetcar Company

The town has about a mile of roads but somehow they manage to entertain you for two hours.












Since the first boat landed in Skagway in the 1800's it has been tradition that each paint their logo or a message on the wall opposite the harbor. It is quite a site to behold.










Thee photos are a bit out of order. This is overlooking the commerical and working harbor. After the massive 1962 earthquake the entire town was destroyed by a massive tsunami.









One of the town's main drags.