Skagway

Day 4 takes us into port at Skagway, a town 5 blocks wide and 22 long, which was the next step in the long, dangerous trip toward the Yukon where gold-hungry would-be rich would unload their supplies before heading up into the mountains.



We arrived under cloudy skies and a light rain, but that would later clear up before we disembarked for our excursions. The cliffside of the harbor is covered with company logos and messages from previous cruise lines.



Even in this far-flung place, we cannot escape The Mouse!



I could see Arctic Terns by the airport but there was another tern right outside the boat that appeared smaller. More like a Least Tern. But they don't come this far North, do they?



But, after seeing this photo, I guess I have to stick with a small Arctic Tern. No other tern has that distinctive all-red bill. The bird was busy picking small crabs from the rocks instead of diving for fish.



Looking to the left of the tern you can see Skagway and the trains that would take us on trips into White Pass.



A wide angle shot of the Zuiderdam. I high-lighted our room up on the 6th promenade which provided us with great scenery look-outs all trip long. A HUGE thanks to the generosity of my in-laws for a fabulous trip!!!



We had a little time for browsing in town before our excursion. In the little park next to the trains were Stellar's Jay, Ravens, Violet-green Swallows and this accommodating Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon sub-species). This was with the short lens! Let me get right up close.



We hopped aboard the train and headed toward White Pass. Snaking down into the valley was a huge waterfall. The shear walls and evergreens were gorgeous.



The steep climb quickly takes us up the pass. This view shows some trestles where we will be shortly.



As we near the Canadian border the view changes to a more bleak landscape but just as beautiful as the greenery below.



The train stops in Fraser, British Columbia. We have to wait for Customs Officials to menace us for a few minutes but I am staring at the birds flying near the lake. We are suppose to jump right onto the bus back to Skagway but I have to try and ID them. A flock of Pine Siskin are there but something else flies closer. Turns out to be just a Chipping Sparrow.



Then back on the bus. The steep decent back to town is rather uneventful. A cool bridge, the railway across the gorge, another trip through customs. Then we near town and the driver spots it. A Vampire Bear! Well, really just a Black Bear eating Dandelions, but cool. Black Bear live all around us in Florida but this is the first sighting I have ever had.



After stopping for a little faux mining town and seeing a fun show, we pan for a few flakes of gold and head back to the ship. Not a lot of wildlife but good enough. Landscapes galore. This is not a landscape blog, though. Tomorrow should prove eventful. Glacier Bay!

Mendenhall Glacier

Wasn't sure what to expect as we headed toward Mendenhall Glacier. We saw a lot of pretty flowers along the way. Suddenly, when the glacier came into view over the trees I figured the sight would be interesting. The first sight out of the bus didn't disappoint. As you can imagine, we don't get many glaciers just outside of our town in Orlando.



However amazing it was, I was quickly distracted by feathered critters zooming by all over. After I got some family shots in front of the glacier, I headed over to the bus shelter where I noticed a couple birds flying towards over and over. Sure enough, Barn Swallows had nests right there over the heads of the crowds.



We headed up the path to the visitor's center. There were many interesting flowers along the way. I had to research them when we got home. There was Northern Yarrow...



...Lupine...



...and something called Goat's Beard. All of these flowers were plentiful all over the Alaska countryside.



We made a brief tour of the visitor's center and then headed down toward the glacial lake to get a better view of the waterfall. The trail led all the way out but we were short on time so a photo is all we could manage.



Down by the water's edge my wife tipped me off to a chipping sound in the grasses. I couldn't leave until I discovered what was in there. Turned out to be a pair of Lincoln's Sparrows, a Life Bird! They were too fast for a photo so I had to settle for a shot of another Lifer, an Arctic Tern.



On the paved path back from the lake we marveled at some other native flowers growing on the granite boulders. You can't miss the bright Fireweed.



We almost missed the other plant down in the shadows. It is called Prickly Saxifrage.



Thinking it was some sort of moss, I later discovered by looking closer at the photo that the plant is actually made up of stiff, sharp-looking leaves. Kind of like an aloe. The flowers are really pretty with their little red-orange spots on white petals.



We had to head back to the bus but I made a detour down onto the small boardwalk by the bus lanes. A father and his kids were looking at something in the trees but I couldn't see what it was. A little farther down the walk I saw another person starting at a tree. There in the gloom I could just make it out. A Porcupine!



Next adventure? Going on a whale watching trip just up the road at Auke Bay.