Monday, August 26, 2013
August 24, 2013 - Map of Our Adventure to Alaska - Click on Blue Pins for Details
View Alaska Adventure Aboard Seventh Heaven in a larger map
August 22, 2013 - Happy Birthday Dante ! August 24, 2013 - Ciao, Dante Until Our Next Adventure!
On Dante's Birthday we went searching for Orcas in Blackfish Sound.
They somehow eluded us in Alaska.
We encountered several pods frolicking in Queen Charlotte Sound near Malcom Island.
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| This Orca was doing the "Back Stroke" |
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| " Here's lookin' at you, Kid" |
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| "Bye Dante, until we meet again" |
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| That evening I made one of Dante's favorite dinners and we celebrated with Mini- Cupcakes to celebrate Dante's 49th Birthday! |
| Ciao Dante ! This has been a fantastic experience and one that we will remember for the rest of our lives! We "Thank You" for spending your entire vacation with us to share the adventure of Alaska and to insure our safety on the long trek back to Port McNeill. It has been so wonderful sharing special moments like the Humpbacks of Glacier Bay and Frederick Sound. Le Conte Glacier will remain one of the all time favorite moments of my life made even more so by your presence. We admire your endurance and dedication aboard Seventh Heaven on the long passages to our destinations. Our time together has been precious and we are grateful to have you in our life. WE LOVE YOU DANTE! Mom and Pop  |
| The morning of August 24th I made Fresh Baked Croissants with Homemade Salmon Berry Jelly we bought from 2 little girls on the dock in Sitka earning money for school clothes. |
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| I caught Dante in this pensive moment I am sure thinking about his return home. |
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| Dante's Pacific Coastal Flight will take him to Vancouver for a overnight stay and the next morning he will depart Vancouver to Seattle then Seattle to San Jose. |
August 13 - 20, 2013 Heading South-- Ketchikan, Prince Rupert, Hartley Bay, Klemtu, Shearwater, Ducanby, Port McNeill
Farewell Alaska
As we slip into the abyss of fog and rain of the British Columbia Coast, we must say "Farewell" to Alaska. We have shared wonderful memories and unforgettable experiences with family and friends aboard Seventh Heaven. We witnessed our Earth being carved by the force of glacial ice as we flew over "The Juneau Ice Fields" a 1500 square mile remnant of the last ice age. We marveled at the power of the Earth's natural forces at the face of Le Conte Glacier as gigantic masses of ice were catapulted into the Azure Blue waters of the fjord. The creation of Natures ice carvings were for our eyes only, to be seen by us for just that moment in time, never to be seen again in that form.
We were swept back in time to our very evolutionary beginnings as we witnessed the natural selection process of "Survival of the Fittest" in the spawning salmon. There before us a perfect recycling of life. Salmon instinctively finding their way back from the ocean to the place of their birth, their bodies changing as they hit fresh water to fight for control over their progeny. All, benefit from their struggle as creatures partake in nourishment from this phenomenon. Only the strongest survive to carry on the next generation. Even the ground where this takes place benefits as Salmon DNA is found in trees two miles from the rivers and creeks.
Our hearts were warmed by the love and care for orphaned bears left to otherwise die when their mothers were killed. Fortress of the Bears" allowed us to see these magical creatures in ways that we would otherwise never be privileged to see. It gives those who might think differently about the needless killing of animals and their right to live and to be. It is a chance to see an intimate view into their behaviors with one another rather than just their interaction and relationship with Humans.
Our perspectives are forever changed as we experienced the grandeur and beauty of Alaska !
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| The endless wilderness of Grenville Channel. |
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| Storm front moving in |
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| Waterfalls cascade down the slopes of Princess Royal Channel. |
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| Mist appears along the shore as water from streams flow into the icy water of the channel. |
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| At Shearwater, this new memorial has been erected to commemorate the Bella Bella World War II Royal Canadian Air Force Station and the airmen, veterans and local aboriginal veterans who served for their country. |
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| The Inuit People of the far north erect similar stone structures called "Inukshuk" meaning: "likeness of a person" on the treeless landscape of the Tundra as markers for direction. This one has been added to the waterfront of Shearwater. It is a well known symbol in Canada. |
Butedale
From 1909 to it's closure in the 1950's, Butedale was founded as a fishing, mining and logging camp on Princess Royal Island. Once a bustling community of 400 people working at Western Packers Cannery it now has a population of one (1). |
| Circa 1930's |
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| 1940's |
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| 1940's |
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| 2008 |
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| August of 2013 |
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| Sunset At Duncanby, Rivers Inlet |
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| In the moring we will round Cape Caution to Port McNeill |
August 11, 2013 - Wrangell - Dante's Trip to Anan Bear Observatory U S Forest Service.
The Anan Bear Observatory was built by the US Forest Service for the public to observe wildlife during one of the largest Pink Salmon runs in South East Alaska. Black Bears, Brown Bears, Bald Eagles, Sea Lions and a variety of small mammals and birds feast on the spawning salmon. It can only be reached by boat or float plane and located about 30 miles from Wrangell.
Dante took some incredible photographs while visiting there.
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| The Anan Creek is choked with spawning Salmon. |
Sunday, August 25, 2013
August 8, 2013 - From Kake to Petersburg and a Visit to Le Conte Glacier.
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| Un-named Hanging Glacier along Frederick Sound near Petersburg. |
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| I decided on Black and White for this photo. Be sure to click on the photo to enlarge. There were many Humpbacks along the shore. Rock spires such as the "Devil's Thumb" tower 10,000 ft. |
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| We had another Humpback follow along the side of the boat. We could hear the deep breaths and see the "Blow Hole"as the massive whale would breathe just below the surface. |
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| Soon the whale satisfied its curiosity and dove deep under the boat. |
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| We see the northern entrance to Wrangell Narrows and the charming Norwegian town of Petersburg. |
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| We decided to Contact "Whale Song Cruises"to take one of their Jet Boats to Le Conte Glacier. It is the most southern "Tide Water" Glacier in the northern hemisphere. |
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| As we approach Le Conte Inlet from Frederick Sound we begin to see huge icebergs. |
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| Each one is unique and is yours to see for just this moment in time. |
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| We passed a Harbor Seal Rookery. The young seals look worried at our presence. |
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| Notice the boat in front of the glacier to put into perspective the enormity of the glacier. |
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| As our boat came closer to the face of the glacier we hear the "White Thunder"as the Native Tlingits called it. We could hear the huge fishers crack open like a loud gunshot. |
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| As the glacier calved huge chunks of ice would create obstacles for our boat. The powerful engines could cut a pathway through the ice and since there were no propellers it would not create a problem. |
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| I was awe struck at the power of nature carving and changing the landscape. Our boat Captain turned off the engines so we could have time to hear the natural sounds of the glacier. The loud cracking and grinding noises were surreal. |
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| The calving made thunderous noises and created swells as the giant masses were catapulted into the water. |
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| Our pathway out of the inlet became choked with icebergs. |
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| The compacted ice which is hundreds of years old appears brilliant blue as light shines through. |
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| Two Bald Eagles find the perfect float to devour a fish that they had just caught. |
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| We exited the inlet passing the massive bergs. |
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| The icebergs are forever changing. |
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| This iceberg looked like a wave caught in time. |
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| This one looked like a giant splash that froze in mid air. |
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