Alaska
We took a trip to Alaska this summer, first a cruise from Vancouver, BC along the inland waterway to Whittier Alaska, close to Anchorage. The cruise ship stopped in Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. We cruised through Glacier Bay and College Fjord. We then visited Denali National Park.
Glacier near Skagway
It is hard to imagine the size and numbers of glaciers in Alaska. From Skagway we took a helicopter tour that included a stop on a glacier. This image was taken from the helicopter. If you get a chance to do a helicopter glacier tour, take it! It was worth every penny.
Rain Forest Below the Mendenhall Glacier
The lower elevations along the southeast coast of Alaska get a lot of rain, essentially giving them a rainforest ecosystem. This image was taken on a hike out of Juneau near the Mendenhall glacier.
Savage River - Denali National Park
The Savage River is a north flowing braided river characterized by meandering channels that crisscross over gravel beds. Upstream from the Denali Park Road, the river flows through a glacially formed U-shaped valley. Downstream, the river runs faster through a V-shaped erosion formed valley. We did a short hike along the river. It’s a bit nerve racking since there are grizzly bears in the area.
