August 24, 2009 – Bears, Fish Wheels, and Eagles

We started out slow today – a non travel day – Yea!!

Here is our campsite:

This really is a beautiful area.

Chilkoot Lake:

Our first stop today was the Fjord Express Office – we booked a tour to Juneau for Thursday.  Then the visitor center and then the Fast Ferry Office – we booked a Fast Ferry to Skagway tomorrow.

Next stop was Portage Cove.  Here is Haines:

Across the Cove – between those mountain in the center is the way to Skagway:

We came back and had lunch and headed out again.  As we got to the day area in the park, we were in for a treat:

  Check out the claws:

MMMMMM Good:

And my favorite photo – it just says Alaska to me:

 

When he was done, he swam out then floated down the river – this is the original float trip – LOL!

Folks, life doesn’t get any better than this!!!!   We watched this bear for quite a while.  There was a park ranger by the lake and told us that there are 15 bears in this short stretch of the river and they have collared 2 of them – this was one of them.  He also said there was a blond grizzly here but he is not seen very often.   What a treat for us!   (I have NEVER been that close to a grizzly!).

We did a short stop at the counter fence – check out the salmon.  If you look real close at the fence/water line you can see their faces.

 

And another look at the Chilkoot River:

We made a stop at the Fairgrounds to see Dalton City – the movie set for “White Fang”.  (Note to self – rent it!)

 

One of the fish wheels on the Chilkat River:

Our last stop was the Bald Eagle Museum.  Wonderful museum – a great movie on the eagles and their habitat. 

If you have been wondering about the weather here….  Well, it is the fall and we are on the coast and this is rainforest country so….  it is raining – LOL!!!

We spent the rest of the evening relaxing and watching videos.