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…?
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
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.
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
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
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!
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
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)
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
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 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
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
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
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.
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
Sitka has added 83 feet to the top of its 1950s dam. This will allow us to generate 15 MW of energy. The greater the drop from the top of the lake, the more power we can generate. Note the … Continue reading Blue Lake Expansion.
Dan recruited me to help him with the Alaska Day Roller Derby bout coverage. The Sitka Sound Slayers played the Wrangell Garnet Grit Betties. I got a hand held camera and was sent to the floor to record interviews with … Continue reading Roller Derby !
Last night, for Alaska Day, the Sitka Sound Slayers Roller Derby team had a bout against Wrangell Betties. I was there as a TV cameraman for the local TV station. I enjoyed the roller derby, but what really struck me … Continue reading Aerial Silk, Alaska Day 2014
It’s the turning of the season, Winter Solstice. Living in the North it really is midwinter, and while we have a lot of cold ahead the returning sun presents the promise of spring. Because we are closest to the sun … Continue reading Winter Solstice, Sitka, Dec 21, 2013
The holiday season has come to Sitka. The city’s decorations went up just before Thanksgiving (allowing the electrical crews to have some time off on Friday). I did the Good Day Radio Show on Thanksgiving Morning and enjoyed seeing the … Continue reading Sitka’s Holiday Market, 2013.
I’ve never before been to Sitka’s WhaleFest, even though it has been run by old friends. I have missed 16 of them. I’ve always been out on assignment in early November and never thought to rearrange my schedule to be … Continue reading Sitka WhaleFest, 2013.
Fall has come to Sitka. I arrived in a storm, typical for the season. Holland America canceled the last two cruise ships of the season because winds and seas made it difficult to put a pilot on or take a … Continue reading Fall in Sitka, 2013
St. Lazaria is a volcanic island off of Cape Edgecumbe. Mt. Edgecumbe forms the backdrop for this island. Some historians day the island is the top of Edgecumbe when it exploded several thousand years ago. The island is now … Continue reading St Lazaria National Wildlife Refuge, Sitka, Alaska, August 1997
2013 may be a record year for pink (humpback) salmon. On August 1 Thousands of Salmon wait for the tide to turn at the mouth of Starigavan Creek before they begin their final fatal swim that holds the promise for the … Continue reading Pink Salmon Run, Sitka, Alaska, August 2013