Bill Weber
In our last Cyberspace Report (8/20/98) we told you of our plans for our trip to Alaska and gave you a bit of history of that 49th state. This Report will give you a detailed itinerary of our trip for those interested in following along.
For a picture and details of our Cruise ship we board on September 5th go:
> http://www.royalcaribbean.com/1.6/1.6.1/1.6.1fr.html < This is the largest cruise
ship that has gone through the Panama Canal- 915 feet long and 105 feet wide.
Now for the Itinerary go to: >http://www.royalcaribbean.com/1.2/1.2.2/1.2.2fr.html<
Okay! now look under Destinations. Click onto: "Things to Do" that will take you to
a page of a lot of cruise destination icons, click on Alaska. You will then get the page,
Alaskan Shore Excursions on which you will see listed the places we will be visiting
on our cruise.
Or for a less detailed but faster loading WEB page about the same area including a
map go to:
> http://www.visitalaska.org:/visitalaska/region/inside.html#CLOTH <
You may have to page up to get the full page.
As you can see there are all kinds of places and things one can see but you can also
see that there are all kinds of prices and time limits involved also. So we have decided on
these excursions: For more information's on the different tours just click on them. Here are
the ones we have decided to take.
After leaving Vancouver British Columbia Sept 5th, we head for
Juneau, Capital of Alaska
Our present plans are that we will take the: Juneua Highlights Tour:
Hearing a bit of history about the history of Juneau’s gold rush, view the State Capitol
and Governor’s Mansion. Visit the Gastineau Hatchery, where spawning salmon swim up the largest fish ladder in Alaska. Museum-quality exhibits detail the hatchery’s annual production of 162 million salmon. We will also view the Mendenhall Glacier, a huge glacier, 11/2 miles wide and hundreds of feet thick, fed by a 1,500-square-mile ice field
outside Juneau. This meandering river of compressed blue ice ranks as the largest, most rugged glacier accessible by road. The covered viewing area, along with the U.S. Forest Service staff, offers a wealth of information on glaciers. It is also the perfect
vantage point for taking photos of this world-famous sight.
Returning to Juneau, we will visit the Chapel by the Lake, a little log church with a truly inspirational view of Auke Lake and Mendenhall Glacier.
At Skagway
The following information was taken from Cruise company's WEB page:
"When gold was discovered in the Klondike region of the Yukon Territory, just
across the border from Alaska, it resulted in the historic Gold Rush of1898.
As thousands of gold-crazed adventurers sought the best jumping-off spot for their arduous trek, they found the deepest penetration by boat was at the northern tip of the Lynn Canal. That's how Skagway was born.
Well over 100,000 prospectors passed through Skagway, leaving in their wake a
rough-and-tumble town of beer halls and brothels. Today it remains the jumping-off
spot for scenic adventure and for recapturing the excitement of the colorful "Gold
Fever" days.- We plan on taking "The "White Pass Scenic Railway" which was one of the two main routes from the port of Skagway to the Klondike gold fields, taken by thousands of prospectors and adventurers during the Klondike Gold Rush, beginning in the winter of 1897/98.No trip to Alaska is complete without the adventure of traveling on the White Pass & Yukon, the "." This spectacular narrow-gauge railroad was born of the mad rush to the Klondike in 1898. It became the supply line for the Yukon
gold fields, the Alaska Highway and postwar mining development. Dockside, you'll board one of the vintage "parlor cars." Leaving Skagway, the wilderness unfolds outside our window as we climb the grade past Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point and Dead Horse Gulch. There, the original Klondike "Trail of '98" is etched in rock for all to see. After reaching White Pass Summit, the international boundary between Canada and the U.S., the train will make the return trip to our ship.
Britannica On Line has detailed and interesting information on Skagway. (Membership reservations required.) > http://www.onroute.com/destinations/alaska/skagway.html <
"Soapy" Smith was a full fledged con man as well as Mayor of Skagway but met
death when a miner (Frank Reid, a civil engineer.) Ried charged him with stealing his gold and organized a vigilante of local citizens. Lead by Reid he challenged "Soapy" and shot him in the heart, Reid was also fatally wounded in that shootout.
> http://examiner.net/stories/080697/western.html <
Another version about "Soapy Smith" can be found on the Discovery Channel:
> http://bbs.online.discovery.com/area/locallore/locallore970407/lore1.html <
For a page of interesting stories about the Alaskan Gold Rush days go to:
> http://www.Gold-Rush.ORG/ALASKA/stories/Ala03.html <
Haines by Night
The small coastal town of Haines, in the upper region of the famous Inside Passage, is situated in one of Alaska's most idyllic settings, abundantly populated with wildlife. Haines originated as the starting point of the Chilkat Trail, a canoe portage route for Indians on their way to the salmon spawning area of the Chilkat River. The Chilkat Trail was later traveled by thousands of miners heading for the Klondike gold fields. Today, Haines is the starting point of another important route, the 159-mile Haines. Highway, which terminates at the Alaskan Highway.
It maybe that it is too late in the season to take this tour as they say: "Although you’ll be seeing Haines during evening hours, for most of the summer in late August or September, some of the Haines tours are canceled. During these sailing's, it is recommended to
take a Haines excursion that departs from Skagway in the late afternoon, enabling
you to get the full tour experience.
Chilkat Dancers
Situated beneath the Chilkat Mountains at the end of the Lynn Canal, Haines/Port Chilkat boasts one of Alaska's most beautiful natural settings. Watch (and photograph!) the famous
Chilkat Dancers as they reveal their proud heritage through storytelling dances. Outfitted in brightly colored tribal masks and robes, the Chilkat Dancers share their legends through dances and rhythmic chants. Many children participate in the dances, as it is tribal tradition to start teaching kids at a young age.
And Salmon Bake
Taste a mainstay of the local economy firsthand: fresh Alaskan salmon. You'll have the distinct pleasure of feasting on freshly caught salmon cooked over an open alderwood fire and succulent barbecued ribs, accompanied by variety of salads, chowder, beer and wine, and other beverages. During the tour program, time permitting, you may browse through the quaint art galleries in the downtown area.
At Ketchikan - Our present plans are to visit
The "Saxman Native Totem Village"
Ketchikan is an Indian name, derived from "Kach Khanna," meaning "spread wings
of a prostrate eagle." It relates to the eagle-wing appearance of water flowing over an unusual rock formation. Ketchikan originated as an Indian fish saltery and grew to become the largest salmon-canning center in the world. However, the town's growth began when it became a supply base and entry port for miners during the 1898 gold rush to the
Klondike. Much of the town's colorful past is still in evidence, especially at the Indian villages around Ketchikan which are renowned for their colorfully carved totem poles and the fascinating legends that surround them.
Or plans are to visit Saxman Village and experience the rich living culture of Southeast Alaska’s original tribes. For generations it has been a tradition in Tlingit villages to welcome guests with elaborate ceremonies. At Saxman Village, visitors experience the same time-honored welcome of years gone by. In this native community, tribal Elders and others have worked hard to pass on many of the traditions of their ancestors to new generations. We hope to see Totem Carvers busily working in the Village Carving Center. Witness young performers demonstrating dances and telling tribal stories in the Beaver Clan House. Listen as your tour hosts eagerly share their history, art and ancestors' way of life, and help unravel the mysteries that lie beneath the towering, majestic totem poles that stand as sentries over the present generation. After your visit, your driver points out historic Creek Street and the downtown area.
Alaskan Gold Rush Days - A Web page with a list of interesting short stories about
that period in Alaskan history. Most stories are take only about five or ten minutes to read.
Go to:
> http://www.Gold-Rush.ORG/ALASKA/stories/Ala03.html <
The Alaska Native Knowledge Network: > http://www.ankn.uaf.edu/ < or
> http://www.ankn.uaf.edu/ANCR.html < is designed to serve as a resource for compiling and exchanging information related toAlaska Native knowledge systems and ways of knowing. It has been established to assist Native people, government agencies, educators and the general public in gaining access to the knowledge base that Alaska Natives have acquired through cumulative experience over millennia. The Alaska Federation of Natives and the University of Alaska, with support from the National Science Foundation, have formed the Alaska Native/Rural Education Consortium to provide support for the integration of Alaska Native knowledge and ways of knowing into the educational systems of Alaska. Anyone wishing to participate in the Alaska Native Knowledge Network or contribute to the development of the resources in this knowledge base is encouraged to contact the ANKN Coordinator at (907) 474-5086, or send an e-mail message to fyankn@uaf.edu. For inquiries regarding the Alaska Native/Rural Education Consortium, contact Frank Hill, Alaska Federation of Natives (907) 274-3611, or e-mail to fnfwh@uaf.edu.