Juneau
On the 2006 trip, we spent a day and a half in Juneau before departing for Hoonah. Juneau is a fascinating place, with a history of gold mining, commercial fishing, and of course, tourism. The old part of the town draws the tourists, while most Juneau residents either live well north of the downtown or west on Douglas Island. In the summer, thousands of cruise ship visitors crowd the downtown each day. Other cruise ship passengers venture on buses out to Mendenhall Glacier, go on helicopter tours or ascend the lower stretches of Mt. Roberts via a tram.
(right) Here's downtown Juneau, as seen from the tram.
(below) Sarah Murray leans on Brian Hayes's shoulders as she photographs one of the many staircases in Juneau. Climb a flight or two of these stairs, and few tourists are to be seen.
Near the cruise ship docks, the crowds and ticky-tacky merchandise can be a bit much...
Small details can prove interesting. This is an old Native carving, complete with abalone shell eyes, in a forgotten corner behind a gift shop.
At the top of the Mt. Roberts tram, this sorry-looking eagle (blind and with mental deficiencies, or so we were told) huddled in a small cage.
On the slopes of Mt. Roberts, spectacular wildflowers and views greet hikers.
The Alaska State Museum is a must-see. But right outside the front door of the museum was this special little jewel of a leaf in the rain.
Dwarf dogwood lines the trails at the top of the Mt. Roberts tram.
