Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay is just what it is named - a bay with many glaciers.  The ship entered the Bay just before 6am.  So the photos have the early morning blue light.  As the ship entered the Bay we stopped at a point so 4 local Park Rangers could board the ship - on the return trip we dropped them off at the same point.  This is required for all cruise ships.

It took a while to get to the Margerie Glacier - the one we got the closest to.  Only two Cruise ships are allowed in this area per day.  I think the limit was two hours near the Margerie Glacier.  The ship slowly makes a full circle so everyone gets good views, even if they stay on their balcony.  I was up top and outside the whole time.  I was surprised that the decks were not crowded - it was pretty easy to move around the ship.

I don't have a really long lens so I couldn't get really close pictures.  Below you can see swirling water.  This is actually a river under the glacier.

There were a couple of calving moments.  This is the moment melted ice breaks away from the glacier face.  Once you hear the thundering noise it is almost too late.  I took the next three shots in quick succession.

Lots of folks taking pictures.

Time to leave the Bay.

More pictures of glaciers.

And, of course, waterfalls.  I think there were 5 in the photo below.

A lost photo of grandson.

Skagway and the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad

Our day at Skagway started very early.  We met our guide at 7:15am dockside.  Our group of 11 along with about as many strangers climbed into the van for a tour of the town and a drop off at the train station.  Skagway exists today because of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1896.  It started out as a city of men in tents and is now home to about 800 full time residents.  An estimated 100,000 people tried their luck in the mines looking for gold.

When we rolled out of town it was still pretty hazy out.

Going past the rail-yard.

Then headed up into the mountains for beautiful vistas.

This bridge is no longer in use.

 Our train ride terminated in Fraser, B.C. Canada.  The Canadian Customs Agent walked through all the train cars as we all held up our passports open to the picture page - no stamps needed.  Then we were allowed off the train.  Most of took photos of the beautiful lake.  Our guide and driver was there to pick us up.  She had driven the van loaded with another group of tourists to Fraser.  They will take the train back down while we drive back to Skagway to see other attractions.

 As we started down the mountain we noticed that a lot of cars were stopped near this lake.  There were two elks.  The young one, below seems to be thinking, "why are all these people staring at me?"

Before he took off running to be with his buddy - and be a little further away from us.

 The next stop was to take photos by "Welcome to Alaska" sign. 

Grandson A doing his pose.

Lots of waterfalls in the mountains.

Waterfall on the left, some kind of pipeline on the right.

Then back in Skagway, we went onto the ship for lunch, before heading out to look over the town.

 Red Onion Saloon, originally a saloon, dance hall and bordello.  It is hard to see but there is a mannequin in the left window upstairs.

The Arctic Brotherhood Hall.  It was started by a group of miners.  This was a lodge where they looked after their members, were there for each other if they got sick and even buried each other when the time came.  The members picked up over 8800 pieces of driftwood and nailed them to the front wall.

Another pose from the grandson, this time next to an antique pickup.

Captain William Moore and his son moved to Skagway in 1887 and built this cabin.  He was already 65 years old.  He ended up owning a dock, a warehouse, and a sawmill.  He never found any gold, but made some himself.

The house below was built by his son and is a museum.

Along one alley were a couple of Cribs - 2 room huts used for prostitution.

An exhibit in another museum.

This mural is on the side of a couple of buildings.  It depicts Jefferson Randolph (Soapy) Smith and Frank Reid.  Soapy was a con man who pretty much owned Skagway.  He was ruthless and controlled a gang of men and pretty much ran the town.  Finally Frank Reid, a surveyor, and Soapy shot it out in a duel and Soapy was killed.