Alaska 2011

Speechless. Yes, me. Speechless. I cannot begin to describe what I saw on our vacation to the raw beauty that is Alaska. The 2000 pictures we took won't even do it ample justice. They become a reminder to us of what we experienced on our trip. Being there is the only answer. However; I will attempt to briefly share our trek through this land.

Vacation Agenda (all distances "as the crow flies"):
Dulles VA to Fairbanks AK - 3258 miles - Air

Fairbanks AK to Denali AK - 88 miles - Land

Denali AK to Anchorage AK - 178 miles - Land

Anchorage AK to Whittier AK - 49 miles - Land

Whittier AK to Skagway AK - 466 miles - Sea

Skagway AK to Juneau AK - 86 miles - Sea

Juneau AK to Ketchikan AK - 205 miles - Sea

Ketchikan AK to Vancouver BC - 585 miles - Sea

Vancouver BC to Dulles VA - 2338 miles - Air

Total Air - 5996 miles

Total Land - 315 miles

Total Sea - 1342 miles
Total Trip - 7653 miles

And since I cannot begin to speak of the wonder of this trip, simply allow me to share some key views and memories with you. Enjoy.

Fairbanks AK

Sable Pass, Denali Wilderness Tour

Princess McKinley Lodge

40 miles from the base of Denali. We drank for 6 hours waiting for the cloud to move. It did but we were too drunk to take the photo. I hear only 30% of the people who visit Alaska get to have a view of Denali. We got to see the whole family - Denali, Foraker and Hunter. I feel blessed.

Somewhere between Trapper Creek and Anchorage on the scenic train ride.

The cruise ship awaits us in Whittier AK

Marjorie Glacier, Glacier Bay AK.

To fully capture the experience here you need sound. We were fortunate enough to witness one of the largest cavings in recent years. First you hear the ice cracking; then louder popping; and finally a boom called White Thunder and the ice comes crashing down 300 feet into the water below. Amazing!


Skagway AK

A great "period" town and the usual tourist trap. Great setting. The Red Onion Saloon houses a brothel upstairs (museum) but the ladies still dress up in revealing period costume. Much fun at this bar.

End of Part One. I will continue if you'd like and take you through the state capital of Juneau and share some whale watching and then some scenic views of the Inside Passage enroute to the lovely city of Vancouver BC. A temperate rain forest??? Wait and see.

Thanks for viewing!