Alaska is not only a land of pristine beauty, I also found it to be a land of contrasts.
Again, we thought a cruise was a good way to see many ports in a relatively short amount of time. However, one contrast was that though Alaska's beauty drew me to want to appreciate it in solitude, it was rare that we were able to escape the large groups of people we toured with. But I wanted to linger behind the crowds to wait for wildlife to appear -- to watch it silently. I longed to walk, to "listen" to the silence. As you might guess, much of this wasn't possible on a cruise, as you must "stick with the group."
Also, many of the people who live in Alaska were drawn there for the peace and solitude -- for its unspoiled beauty, away from the masses. But, I learned that several residents (at least many we met,) had to spend from May through the end of September working in the tourism industry, catering to the hoards of tourists who support much of Alaska's economy. Many of the towns we visited had but a few thousand (if not a few hundred) residents, but were flooded on a daily basis with cruise ship tourists that doubled or tripled their population for a few hours. (The entire population of Alaska is only about 600,000!)
We visited Alaska at the end of the tourist season, and I could see in the weary eyes of some of the residents, like weary marathoners approaching the finish line, they ached for the end of the season, when they could retreat to their solitude over the winter months.
Still, Alaska does try to balance its tourism with maintaining at least an illusion of being untouched. Denali National Park was incredible. The red fireweed and yellow willow dotted the tundra, and the golden aspens were are sharp contrast against the blue sky.
And even when only viewed in the distance, it was still a thrill to see moose, bear, bald eagles, foxes and caribou on the tundra. In Juneau and Hoonah, we saw humpback whales. In an inlet that ran alongside the Alaskan Highway between Seward and Anchorage, we even saw Beluga Whales! Although we took hundreds of pictures to try to capture the sightings (thank goodness for digital cameras,) none did justice, which is perhaps the way it should be.
The glaciers....to say "incredibly beautiful" begins to sound cliche, but it's difficult to describe in words. Blue, massive, mysterious, ancient, alone. As spectacular as the sight of the glaciers, was the sound of crackling before the thunderous boom of a "calving" glacier. The rumble completely surrounded us.
I look at our pictures over and over to take me back to the feel of Alaska. But, as I said before, pictures can't really do justice. So, my suggestion to any of you who have never been is....GO!! In the words of Miles, our Chilkat Trail and River Guide (see his photo to the right,) Alaska is "Sweet! Insane! Gravy!"
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| Radiance of the Seas at Icy Strait Point |
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