Seeing Southeast Alaska for the First Time
by Liz VanDenzen, Director of Field Operations, Alaska Wilderness League
Published online on October 25, 2007
Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Southeast Alaska for the first time, specifically to the state’s capital, Juneau. I was worried that I wouldn’t actually get to see Southeast because it is the rainy season in the nation’s largest intact temperate rainforest, the Tongass National Forest. I arrived late at night to overcast skies and rain, but I awakened the next day to a beautiful sunny day. I walked down to the wharf and got my first glimpse at this community squished between the water and the snowcapped peaks behind it. It is now the off-season in Juneau, the time after all the cruise ship passengers go home, so I shared the wharf only with hundreds of seagulls and a playful seal.
Taking advantage of the beautiful weather and the advice of the folks at the Silverbow Inn, I headed up Gold St. until it ended and just kept walking into the Tongass National Forest and the Perserverance Trail. It seemed like around every corner there was a beautiful vista or a lush dense forest canopy and all along the way the flowing waters of Perserverance Creek into the Silverbow Basin. Along the way, I met many happy Juneau residents thankful that the sun was out, enjoying their habitat. A couple of the stores in town even put signs on their doors that read, “Closed due to the discovery of sunlight.”
The next day I awoke to the type of weather I had expected, overcast and spitting, but I wasn’t going to pass up a chance to see the Mendenhall Glacier. Since it was the off-season, there were only a small handful of people there with us. A nearby resident told us that she had seen a bear and her cubs at the mouth of a creek earlier that day so we kept a look out, but only saw prints and scat. The glacier was much larger than I had imagined and I was awed by its beauty and size.
Attending a training at the Shrine of St. Therese about 30 minutes northwest of Juneau was the reason for my journey to Southeast. I attended the Stepping Up to Leadership training put on by Training Resources for the Environmental Community (TREC) through the generosity of the Wilburforce Foundation. The Shrine could not have been a better location for our session with beautiful views of the Stevens Channel, the Chilkat Range, tons of waterfowl, more playful seals, and humpback whales spouting and breaching in the distance. It provided for much relaxation and reflection and I hope that all who attended have come back rejuvenated to continue our efforts to permanently protect this extremely important piece of our nation’s natural heritage. I know I am!
November 8th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Glad you enjoyed my home Liz, sounds like you had a great time. A few minor things, it’s Granite Creek that comes through Silverbow basin, under and alonside most of Perseverance Trail, it’s across Stephen’s Passage and Lynn Canal you see the Chilkat range from St. Therese. Sorry to be picky, just want to be accurate for other readers who’ve never been to the Tongass/Juneau area. It’s an incredible place to call home, glad the weather cooperated for your visit.