Spawning Day
“Tomorrow we are spawning salmon, do you want to come and take pictures.” I had never heard salmon be the object of the verb to spawn but I understood what August meant. So at 9 in the morning I was … Continue reading Spawning Day
Category: Alaska
Will this be the Ship…?
Today I paused during my walk to watch Holland America’s Westerdam weigh anchor and sail past the mouth of Indian River on its way to Seattle and asked “Will this be the ship that carries me away?” It’s a question … Continue reading Will this be the Ship…?
Surrounded by Acres of Whales
Saturday we took an Allen Marine Tour from Crescent Harbor. They are offered every Saturday for folks not on a cruise ship. We went to St. Lazaria with Captain Steve Campbell. On the way to and from St. Lazaria Steve found us … Continue reading Surrounded by Acres of Whales
St Lazaria and Other Delights.
On Saturday’s Allen Marine Tours Cruise we not only saw whales (Click here to see whales.) The reason for the trip was to go to St. Lazaria Island, a national wildlife refuge. It is a beautiful volcanic island sculpted by … Continue reading St Lazaria and Other Delights.
Small Town Festival
It was a small town festival and I was beginning to wonder if my recommendation to a friend that Sitka was a great place to live was going to blow up in my face. I mean, I’ve lived here for … Continue reading Small Town Festival
Frosty Reef
On July 5 we took the Sitka Conservation Society cruise to Frosty Reef. A very low tide happened at a convenient time (10 AM) on a Sunday so the Society took us out to look at the reef to see … Continue reading Frosty Reef
July 4th Water Fight!
My favorite Fourth of July event in Sitka is the water fight between the Stika Fire Department and Coast Guard. A pony keg is set in the middle of the street and the teams use hoses to move the keg … Continue reading July 4th Water Fight!
Small town Fourth of July
Sitka, Alaska, July 4th 2015. The parade started with change bell ringing at St. Michael’s Cathedral, a Coast Guard fly over and then our friends and neighbors. Trish and Dirk White were this year’s parade marshals. Continue reading Small town Fourth of July
Fortress of the Bear
Sitka’s Fortress of the Bear is, perhaps, one of the most innovative recycling project I’m aware of. The Alaska Pulp Company mill closed in 1993 leaving behind two huge clarifier tanks that were part of its waste control system. They … Continue reading Fortress of the Bear
A Sitka Summer Day (June 23, 2015)
June 23, 2015 was a beautiful Sitka summer day. We walked the docks, went on the Sitka Conservation Society Salmon cruise watching different salmon hunters, including an eagle sitting on a branch that hardly looked like it could hold her. … Continue reading A Sitka Summer Day (June 23, 2015)
Harbor Mountain, June 2015
On Saturday I went up to Harbor Mountain. The road was re-opened just the day before. I could write 12,000 words but I would rather post 12 pictures. Continue reading Harbor Mountain, June 2015
Earth Day Sitka, 2015
Wednesday was Earth Day but much of the celebration is happening in Sitka this weekend. Today (after school) we had the 14th annual Parade of Species. Kids dress up as their favorite animal or plant to crawl, slither, run or … Continue reading Earth Day Sitka, 2015
The Dragon Ate the Moon
The first time ever I saw the aurora we were with our friends Dave and Carol Lam at Suzi’s dad’s cabin on the St. Croix River in Minnesota. We were far from the city lights. We were watching a … Continue reading The Dragon Ate the Moon
Eagle Release
When Bald Eagles encounter problems, often caused by interaction with humans, the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center patches them up, helps them regain strength in flight barns, and releases them The Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center, in its first release of 2015, … Continue reading Eagle Release
Rain Forest to Rain Forest
Three weeks ago I was in the Amazon tropical rain forest. Now I am home in my own Tongass temperate rain forest.. Both are green, both have lots of water, both have abundant life, both are essential lungs for our … Continue reading Rain Forest to Rain Forest
The Great Spring Sitka Sound Bio-mass Festival.
March brings life to Sitka Sound. When the herring come in everyone follows, by air, in the sea and under the sea. The eagles, gulls, whales, sea lions and fishermen all congregate to celebrate the great spring biomass festival and … Continue reading The Great Spring Sitka Sound Bio-mass Festival.
December 28, 2014, Sitka catches a break.
The Earlier Post was from the whale watch on the Esther G. These pics are from Sitka Sound taken both from the Esther G, our deck … Continue reading December 28, 2014, Sitka catches a break.
Winter Whale Watch, Dec 28, 2014
On Sunday we went out on a whale watch with Davey Lubin on the Esther G Sea Taxi. For more pictures from the Esther G and other places around Sitka Sound, Click here. Continue reading Winter Whale Watch, Dec 28, 2014
A Mid-Winter Sea Walk and Totem Walk
The sun finally broke through for a nice mid winter Sea-totem walk through the rain forest. Continue reading A Mid-Winter Sea Walk and Totem Walk
Here Comes the Sun
To Northerners like me the Solstice is an essential holiday. For me Solstice marks the New Year more than January 1. I have rituals to mark the turning of the season. This year it was a bonfire, a swim in … Continue reading Here Comes the Sun
Sitka Polar Dip, The News Behind the News.
A reporter should not become involved with his story. That’s what they teach at journalism school. But sometimes a reporter needs to experience what he is reporting on in order to get a real feel for the story. That’s what … Continue reading Sitka Polar Dip, The News Behind the News.
Eagles Sitting for Portraits
Sitka’s Raptor Rehabilitation Center; where you can have three different eagles and one snowy owl sit for portraits. Continue reading Eagles Sitting for Portraits
Sitka Artisans’ Market
The Sitka Artisan’s Market & Holiday Craft Party lives in the spirit of the best European Christmas Markets. Allen Hall, on the Sheldon Jackson Campus, has historically been a meeting place for Sitkans. Over the last few years Sitkans volunteered … Continue reading Sitka Artisans’ Market
Old Sitka, November 15, 3 AM, 24 Degrees
I follow the University of Alaska Aurora Website that shows images of where the Aurora is expected in the next hour. A couple of days ago I read about a magnetic storm heading our way. I kept my eye on the … Continue reading Old Sitka, November 15, 3 AM, 24 Degrees