Alaska 7-6-13

Alaska 7-6-13

  

Sitka

Sitka, Alaska is located on the west side of Baranof Island. The cruise into Sitka was beautiful with snow caped mountains and forests. The Russian influence is evident looking at the old town and St. Michael's Cathedral, Russian Orthodox Church. Russia claimed Alaska as theirs until they sold it to the United States in 1867. We walked up Castle Hill where the signing took place and enjoyed the views of the harbor and the town. Sitka was Alaska's first territorial capital until 1906. Now the capital is Juneau.

It rained most of the time while we were there but we did visit the 1843 Russian Bishop's House, a National historic Landmark. What we did not get to visit, Sitka National Historical Park, the Sheldon Jackson Museum and Aquarium, we will get to see on our next visit here.

We did go on a Fly Fishing trip with Classic Casting owned by Tod Kisaka. A nice young man who earned a degree in Fisheries in 2002 and decided he loves fishing more. He took us in his boat to a beautiful river where he taught us to cast and later we walked up the river fly fishing. We both caught and released until later in the day, then kept six Dolly Varden, which are in the trout family. The salmon have not started up the rivers yet. We had a wonderful day and the fish tasted great! I love fly fishing and have been wanting to learn for a very long time. This was a dream come true for me. Thank you Russell.

We left Sitka early for our cruise back through Sergius Narrows. It was calm and majestic. We anchored in Baby Bear Bay for the night, but did not see any baby bear. The next morning we cruised back to Appleton Cove on Peril Strait. We really like this cove, with the Forestery Cabin, and surprise, the mommy Grizzly and her baby cub, which we saw last time we were here! We were lucky enough to see Sitka deer grazing also.

        

                                                   Grizzly Bear and baby movie

Now cruising down Chatham Strait, we cruise into Baranof Warm Springs. There is a 100 foot waterfall with natural hot springs on top, running out of Baranof Lake. The community has three bath houses with tubs for you to soak in, if you don't want to hike the trail. We hiked the trail, saw the hot springs on top and the lake, then got into the tub, with swim suits on, and took showers on our boat when we got back! These are sulfur hot springs and the smell is …. different. We had a hard time with the smell and decided we are not sulphur hot springs enthusiasts. But we did stay the night tied to the dock and left at 5:30am the next morning. The weather was going to get worse in the afternoon so we wanted an early start.

Baronof Falls

Baronof Warm Springs

Free bath House

The crossing to Petersburg is called by the locals 'Big Water'. This is where Catham Strait, Stephens Passage and Frederick Sound all meet below Admiralty Island. You must listen to the weather, watch the currents, the tides, and the winds for all three. The earlier you leave, the better. It was a beautiful cruise across with no problems. We saw several pods of whales and two killer whales, though not close enough to get movies.

Leaving at 5:30am

We are in Petersburg now with lots to do, laundry, grocery shopping, boat cleaning, etc. We have a guest flying in Monday afternoon, my mother!! We are so excited to share our trip with her and show her some of Alaska. She will cruise with us to Wrangell and Ketchekan and fly home on the 15^th. Russ and I will continue on and cruise the Behm Canal before heading back to Prince Rupert to retrieve our truck and trailer for the drive home.

Petersburg

Petersburg is very friendly and while here, I have read several books written by local authors. One very good read was “Following the Alaskan Dream, My Salmon Trolling Adventures in the Last Frontier. This was written by Marilyn Jordan George. Her fishing adventures were from 1946 until 1986. We actually cruised into some of the same places her and her family fished. Her story talked about the history, friendships, and hardships of raising a family and what they encountered. Three of her four children still live in Alaska.

Dennis Sperl on his boat 'SAGA'

I met another author and poet, Dennis Sperl, who I had just bought his book, “In the Wake of an Alaskan Mailboat”. After meeting him and buying fresh shrimp right off his boat, I bought his second book, “Living to Fish – Fishing to Live” which he graciously signed both for me. He is a retired school teacher and still fishes. Five of his six children and their families still live here. This must be a great place to raise a family. We see children walking, running, bike riding, and fishing everywhere and I was told, no one ever worries about their childrens safety here.

The Wild Blueberries and Salmon berries are starting to get ripe enough to eat.