Decades ago during my Air Force days I spent a year at the Yukon River
village of Galena. Unfortunately, my ability to sightsee was pretty much
limited to the local area. Finally, in the last few years I have been able
to return to the "Great Land" on a couple of sightseeing trips by air, land
and sea. A lot of our flying travel was primarily documented on video,
but here are a few stills.
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Anchorage Skyline
Could be any medium size city in the "lower 48". |
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Summer Flowers
The growing season is short but very spectacular. Flowers are everywhere,
both wild and cultivated. |
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Ruth Glacier
Near Mt. McKinley, this area is one of the most spectacular parts of Alaska.
A must see...from a plane or helicopter. |
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Mt. McKinley (Denali)
We were at about 10,500 feet and climbing at this point. A VERY impressive
piece of rock. |
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Harding Ice Field
Between Homer & Valdez we flew over this huge ice field. A taste of what it
looked like during the Ice Age. |
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Riverboat, Near Fairbanks
The banks of the Chena river, tributary of the Tanana, are becoming a target
for development. |
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Home on the Chena
Typical of the new construction. Boat dock, float plane, he's got it all. |
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Susan Butcher's Home
Susan (on right) is an Alaska legend, three time winner of the incredibly
demanding Iditarod dog sled race. Here she keeps & trains her dogs. |
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Fish Wheel, Tanana River
Driven by current, it runs unattended to scoop up salmon which are deposited
in a basket. Legal only for Indians. |
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Super Cub Takes to Air
Small planes, on wheels, skis or floats, are essential in Alaska. This
"runway" was about 900 feet long, he used under half of that. |
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Gold Dredge
These floating buildings full of machinery chew their way up rivers, sifting
huge amounts of silt, sand and rock. |
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Alaska Pipeline
Typical section of the 800-mile line. Armored, earthquake hardened and
heavily instrumented, it can shrug off anything short of high explosives. |
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Alaska by Rail
The Fairbanks-Anchorage route is a great way to see the countryside in
comfort. |
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McKinley Park
On the train route, a day or two stopover here is another must-see. Private
vehicles are banned from the deeper reaches of the park, access is by bus. |
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Cruise Ship
Seeing the coastal panhandle (the "banana belt", to interior dwellers) is
best done by cruise ship. |
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Glacier Bay
The cruise ships take you to several bays for glacier viewing. |
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Glaciers in Comfort
And the view can be totally painless...if fattening. |
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Downtown Sitka
The coastal towns are a great place to grow moss. Sunny blue days are the
exception here. |
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Ketchikan
Virtually all the towns are built along the water's edge with high mountains
as a close-in backdrop. |
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Goldrush era "Street"
Typical of the old construction, now kept alive by tourist trade. One shop
was run by a couple from, of all places, Coober Pedy (see our Australia
pictures). |
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Salmon
In season, the streams are choked with spawning salmon. Humans, bears, gulls
all feast. |
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And for Entertainment....
Home of Dolly, famous as owner and one-lady staff of a Ketchikan brothel, she
was still "active" into her 60's. |
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Dolly's Bed Canopy
And these decorations are.....give up? How about silk condoms? Probably not
very effective, but very decorative. |
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Midnight Snack
There are dangers to watch out for when cruising. (MS Ryndam) |
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