. The Inside Passage of the Alaska Panhandle is a coastal route for oceangoing vessels along a series of passages between the mainland of Canada and United States and the coastal islands. The Alaskan portion of the Inside Passage is 500 miles from north to south and 100 miles from east to west. The area encompasses 1,000 islands, 15,000 miles of shoreline and thousands of coves and bays. While ferries support the larger communities, the Inside Passage is dotted with many smaller hamlets and villages. The towns represented in this album are those larger communities which also had a Tongass National Forest Ranger District Office. slides/01-hyder1.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 Okay, Hyder, Alaska isn’t actually along the Inside Passage but you can visit it on your way to the ferry in Prince Rupert, Canada. It’s a full day’s sidetrip through Canada to this unique Alaskan community. There are buildings of all sizes, description, and purpose Hyder. A word of caution - be aware of tourists and bears wandering the streets. Okay, Hyder, Alaska isn’t actually along the Inside Passage but you can visit it on your way to the ferry in Prince Rupert, Canada. It’s a full day’s sidetrip through Canada to this unique Alaskan community. There are buildings of all sizes, description, and purpose Hyder. A word of caution - be aware of tourists and bears wandering the streets. slides/01-hyder1.jpg slides/02-hyder11.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 There is a lot to Hyder but you need to talk with locals to get a real sense of what makes Hyder unique. The best place to do this is the Hyder General Store. The owner is a year-round resident with enough stories to keep people listening all day. Ask about local bears and their High School Prom. There is a lot to Hyder but you need to talk with locals to get a real sense of what makes Hyder unique. The best place to do this is the Hyder General Store. The owner is a year-round resident with enough stories to keep people listening all day. Ask about local bears and their High School Prom. slides/02-hyder11.jpg slides/03-ketchikan_cruise_ship.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 Ketchikan was our first “full-service” community along the Inside Passage. Once the center of thriving logging and fishing industries, Ketchikan is dependent on tourism, especially visitors arriving on one of the many cruise line ships. FYI - the population of Ketchikan is about the same as the number of passengers on three cruise ships. Ketchikan was our first “full-service” community along the Inside Passage. Once the center of thriving logging and fishing industries, Ketchikan is dependent on tourism, especially visitors arriving on one of the many cruise line ships. FYI - the population of Ketchikan is about the same as the number of passengers on three cruise ships. slides/03-ketchikan_cruise_ship.jpg slides/04-ketchikan_marina-w-cruise_ship.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 It was early in the fishing season so most of Ketchikan’s fishing fleet was still in harbor. Unfortunately, the cost of diesel fuel and smaller fish populations may keep some of these boat tied up for most of the season. It was early in the fishing season so most of Ketchikan’s fishing fleet was still in harbor. Unfortunately, the cost of diesel fuel and smaller fish populations may keep some of these boat tied up for most of the season. slides/04-ketchikan_marina-w-cruise_ship.jpg slides/05-ketchikan_historic_homes_on pile-ons.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 Here is a back street we discovered on the free self-guided Ketchikan Walking Tour. Water Street is an original Ketchikan streets and shows how those early settlers dealt with the challenge of finding a place to build. High tide brings salt water lapping the bottom of the pier. Here is a back street we discovered on the free self-guided Ketchikan Walking Tour. Water Street is an original Ketchikan streets and shows how those early settlers dealt with the challenge of finding a place to build. High tide brings salt water lapping the bottom of the pier. slides/05-ketchikan_historic_homes_on pile-ons.jpg slides/06-ketchikan_dockside_businesses.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 Businesses down by the fishing boat’s harbor are more dependent on locals. The laundromat was also a wifi hotspot, café, and general gathering place for non-drinkers. Drinkers gathered next door at Potlatch, a simple, bare bones watering hole perfect for fishermen waiting for their clothes to dry next door. Businesses down by the fishing boat’s harbor are more dependent on locals. The laundromat was also a wifi hotspot, café, and general gathering place for non-drinkers. Drinkers gathered next door at Potlatch, a simple, bare bones watering hole perfect for fishermen waiting for their clothes to dry next door. slides/06-ketchikan_dockside_businesses.jpg slides/07-craig_marina.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 The town of Craig, the largest on Prince of Wales Island, is populated with a generous and resilient people. Craig, as seen in this photograph, continues to be the home port of many commercial fishing and charter sportfishing boats. It also offers the best and wide array of services on the island. The town of Craig, the largest on Prince of Wales Island, is populated with a generous and resilient people. Craig, as seen in this photograph, continues to be the home port of many commercial fishing and charter sportfishing boats. It also offers the best and wide array of services on the island. slides/07-craig_marina.jpg slides/08-craig-ruth_anns_restaurant.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 Ruth Ann’s restaurant, reportedly one of the best places to eat in Craig, takes advantage of an outstanding view across San Alberto Bay and Fish Egg Island. Ruth Ann’s restaurant, reportedly one of the best places to eat in Craig, takes advantage of an outstanding view across San Alberto Bay and Fish Egg Island. slides/08-craig-ruth_anns_restaurant.jpg slides/09-totem-park-hydaburg.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 Hydaburg was a “Native People” community where descents from the original Sukkwan, Howkan and Klinkwan Haida people live. The totems seen in this photograph are restored and replicated totems brought in from traditional Haida villages that were located in southern Prince of Wales Island. Totem poles are something like history, story, or text books. Unfortunately, just what some of these “books” say has been lost but efforts continue to retain what is left. Hydaburg was a “Native People” community where descents from the original Sukkwan, Howkan and Klinkwan Haida people live. The totems seen in this photograph are restored and replicated totems brought in from traditional Haida villages that were located in southern Prince of Wales Island. Totem poles are something like history, story, or text books. Unfortunately, just what some of these “books” say has been lost but efforts continue to retain what is left. slides/09-totem-park-hydaburg.jpg slides/10-petersburg-norway_house.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 Petersburg, on Mitkof Island, is known for its Norwegian heritage. This structure is known as Sons of Norway Hall. Built at the turn of the 20th century it continues to be a social gathering place. Petersburg, on Mitkof Island, is known for its Norwegian heritage. This structure is known as Sons of Norway Hall. Built at the turn of the 20th century it continues to be a social gathering place. slides/10-petersburg-norway_house.jpg slides/11-petersburg-floatplane-harbor.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 There were two factors considered in establishing Petersburg here. The first was the nearby Le Conte Glacier, which meant unlimited ice for the Icy Straits Packing Company. The other factor for building on the north end of Mitkof Island and between Wrangell Narrows and Frederick sound was the protection provided by this location. Just look at how calm the water inside the Seaplane Harbor is on this day. There were two factors considered in establishing Petersburg here. The first was the nearby Le Conte Glacier, which meant unlimited ice for the Icy Straits Packing Company. The other factor for building on the north end of Mitkof Island and between Wrangell Narrows and Frederick sound was the protection provided by this location. Just look at how calm the water inside the Seaplane Harbor is on this day. slides/11-petersburg-floatplane-harbor.jpg slides/12-petersburg_harbor.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 Petersburg boasts the largest home-based fishing fleet in Alaska and known for the quality of the fish brought to port by its local fishermen. One serving of Halibut cheeks will confirm that boast. Petersburg boasts the largest home-based fishing fleet in Alaska and known for the quality of the fish brought to port by its local fishermen. One serving of Halibut cheeks will confirm that boast. slides/12-petersburg_harbor.jpg slides/13-petersburg-road-north.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 Like all the islands with the Inside Passage, paved roadways are limited to around town. This stretch of Mitkof Highway is called Sandy Beach Road and stretches along Frederick Sound. You can just make out Horn Mountain, with its three cone shaped peaks. It is reported Humpback whales can be seen in the Sound during the summer months. Like all the islands with the Inside Passage, paved roadways are limited to around town. This stretch of Mitkof Highway is called Sandy Beach Road and stretches along Frederick Sound. You can just make out Horn Mountain, with its three cone shaped peaks. It is reported Humpback whales can be seen in the Sound during the summer months. slides/13-petersburg-road-north.jpg slides/14-juneau-view_frm_mt_roberts_tram_car.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 Juneau, the capitol of Alaska, is accessible only by boat or plane. The city is at sea level but sandwiched between mountains and the Gastineau Channel. Mount Roberts, located at the south end of town, shoots almost straight up a towering 3,819 feet. A ride on the Mt. Roberts Tram provides an interesting perspective on the world below. Juneau, the capitol of Alaska, is accessible only by boat or plane. The city is at sea level but sandwiched between mountains and the Gastineau Channel. Mount Roberts, located at the south end of town, shoots almost straight up a towering 3,819 feet. A ride on the Mt. Roberts Tram provides an interesting perspective on the world below. slides/14-juneau-view_frm_mt_roberts_tram_car.jpg slides/15-sitka_bishops_house.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 None of the places we visited had retained as much of their Russian heritage as Sitka. (Remember Russia once “owned” and “settled” all of Alaska.) The Bishop’s House, built in 1843, was the center of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska for many years. Now a National Historic Place, a tour the Bishops House provides some understanding in to the history of Alaska. None of the places we visited had retained as much of their Russian heritage as Sitka. (Remember Russia once “owned” and “settled” all of Alaska.) The Bishop’s House, built in 1843, was the center of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska for many years. Now a National Historic Place, a tour the Bishops House provides some understanding in to the history of Alaska. slides/15-sitka_bishops_house.jpg slides/16-sitka-st_michaels_russian_orthodox_church.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 St. Michael’s Cathedral is located in the center of Sitka with commercial business all round. Also known as Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, it has been a National Historic Landmark since 1962. St. Michael’s Cathedral is located in the center of Sitka with commercial business all round. Also known as Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, it has been a National Historic Landmark since 1962. slides/16-sitka-st_michaels_russian_orthodox_church.jpg slides/17-skagway_main_thoroughfare_and_cruise_ship.html Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:50:13 -0700 Jalbum 8.0 Skagway, gateway to the Yukon, is part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park. In 1897 boatloads of Gold Rush stampeders arrived to seek their fortunes in the Yukon. Today, it is boatloads of tourists looking to experience a little of that wild and wooly time. Skagway, gateway to the Yukon, is part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park. In 1897 boatloads of Gold Rush stampeders arrived to seek their fortunes in the Yukon. Today, it is boatloads of tourists looking to experience a little of that wild and wooly time. slides/17-skagway_main_thoroughfare_and_cruise_ship.jpg