September 12, 2004

September 12, 2004

We wake up this morning and find our selves docked in Juneau. It is a gloomy rainy day, but probably typical for this area. Juneau is a small city on the east side of a channel spread out along the base of a mountain range. It is very isolated, being the only US capital that you can only reach by ship or plane.

We disembark and take a public bus thirteen miles to Mendenhall glacier. Mendenhall is a small glacier that flows fourteen miles out of the huge Juneau ice field. Here at the glacier terminus, it melts forming a lake that flows out into the channel. After a quick look thru the Visitor Center we hike down to the lakefront for a closer view. Needing some exercise, we decide to hike the 3.5-mile East Glacier Loop trail. The trail begins with a sign warning of bears. Apparently they have been active, feeding on spawning salmon along some of the lower trails. This trail goes up a pine-forested hill to an overlook of a waterfall to the right of the glacier. The return trail follows a wooden walkway back down the hill. During the entire trek Aimee is talking very loud and making noise, hoping that will warn off bears. Darn! I am never going to see a bear in the wild with her along.

Back near the ship, we stop to do some shopping. Since this is the last cruise of the season, the stores are anxious to reduce their inventory and prices have been slashed. We get some really good buys on ball caps, t-shirts, and gloves.