Thursday, October 22, 2009

Skagway


Entering the city of Skagway
from the harbour side



Skagway is a small city in Alaska. It is a borough, a town which has powers of self government.

The city has a very small population ( it was 862 by census in 2000 ) but the number will double in summer time due to recruits of extra hands by shops to handle the great influx of tourist arrivals, of which the figure is in the range of million.

The port of Skagway is a very popular stop for cruise ships from different continents. Therefore tourist trade makes up a large portion of the business of the locals of Skagway.

The inhabitants of Skagway are mainly the native Tlingit Indian tribes and they have been here since prehistoric time.

The White Pass and Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad were used for mining in the past but it is functioning solely for tourism purpose.

Besides tourist trade, fishing and hunting are the other two major earners for the residents in this region.





As in most towns in Alaska,
the buildings are made of logs



The old cowboy town type of
shop house



The streets are wide and clean
and free of traffic congestion
as the main access to the city
is by sea or air routes



We were taking a stroll around
the town



The streets are filled with tourists



Vehicles will always slow down
for the pedestrians who are
crossing the road



Sales were on in every shop
and i had already purchased
a bagful after just a few minutes
in the first shop we entered




The town is surrounded by
the sea and mountains



The main street





Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Salmon run


The crowd at Pullen creek,
Skagway, Alaska taking a
close look at the scores of
salmon rushing in from
ocean back to the river



The salmon run is the time when salmons swim back to the rivers where they were born. It is the spawning season for the salmon. Salmon dies after spawning.

These photos were taken at the Pullen creek which is situated between the harbour and downtown Skagway. These salmons swam back to the rivers from the Pacific ocean. They died after spawning.

The salmon run is an active season for the fishing sports enthusiasts and an occasion of sumptuous feast for the grizzly bears too.





Pacific salmon



A solitary salmon at the
edge of the river



It is the time of salmon run
when salmon swim back to the river
where they were
born to spawn



Scores of salmon swimming
upstream against the swift

flow in Pullen creek



Salmon which swam back to
the river
died after spawning





Tracy/Endicott Arm Fjord


Glacial trail


Tracy/Endicott Arm Fjord is part of a 30-mile long fjord south of Juneau ( capital of Alaska ).
Hundreds of glaciers cascade down the slopes of the fjord and most of these glaciers melt into streams flowing down the slope in summer. It is one of the most visited tourist location in Alaska.




Glacier cirques on top
of the mountain range



A single chunk of ice chipped
off from a glacier



While the ship was making
a 180 degree turn, guests
on board waited patiently
to view the different scenery
around the ship



The Sun's position has shifted
to the right as a result of the
turning of the ship




Twin waterfalls



The ship was moving away from
the waterfalls



One of the many glaciers
down the slope of the fjord



Another glacier still intact



Ice capped mountain range
at the back



The glacier has narrowed
off due of the heat of summer



Jostling for a place to get
a good view of the fjord




Green ravine



Everyone was out on the
open decks to have a closer
look
at the magnificent scenery




A closer look at the glacier



Glacier at the fjord



A small waterfall,

result of the melting glacier




Fragments of the glacier
drifting in the water




One of the bigger pieces of ice
floating in the water




Remnant of a glacier



Saturday, October 17, 2009

Cruise Passage



The cruise ship began its sail from Vancouver, via the Inner Passage, heading North along the coastal line of the continent of North America.

The ship stopped for the visit of Icy Strait Point.

The next day it arrived at the Tracy/Endicott Arm Fjord, a magnificent glacier-carved fjord just south of Juneau.

The ship arrived at Skagway on the fifth day.

And the last port of call for the cruise was the capital of Alaska, Juneau.

Then the ship backtracked to head back to Vancouver.

These photos were taken while the ship was cruising ahead after leaving Icy Strait Point.




Reflection



The Moon can be seen
before it is dark
in this part of the world



Setting Sun



Tranquility



From the balcony of
my state room







Dusk





Shadow




Look up from the open deck




Shimmering surface



Barren hill




Ice cirque on the mountain



Our cruise ship just turned the corner