August 29th

Woke up to a rainy wet morning but beautiful non the less. Lindsay and I had a nice hot breakfast of oatmeal and soon set off to see the Mendenhall glacier. We walked for a very long time throwing out our thumbs trying to get a lift. I wouldn't have wanted to pick us up, we were soaking wet from the constant rain. A lady pulled over early on however we were going out of her way so we continued walking as she sped off disappearing into the distance. Latter a man pulled up in a in a jacked up Chevie to offer us a ride. We had seen this noisy truck rolled by multiple times as we were walking as if he was trying to decided if he should pull over. We accepted his offer and in no time at all were at the park entrance.

A real glacier right in front of my eyes, amazing. The salmon were spawning here in the rivers as well, the bright red salmon the Chinook. These fish were the most beautiful salmon I have ever seen. I felt like I was at the salmon run with Kenai, Koda and the gang. The Juneau visitors center had a neat underwater camera for visitors to view the Spawning Salmon. Adults and a few young fries swam across the cameras view.


-Me and Mendenhall.


-The Chinook.

We watched a video about the glacier at the center and had a unique chat with one of the park rangers about her illegal rehab using squirrels. We made the very important purchase of our ponchos here to help keep the rain off our camera's. Lindsay and I walked out to the glacier look point and under the protection of our ponchos snapped a few shots of the Mendenhall. After gazing for many minuets we made our way back to the visitors center and we allowed to eat lunch in the dry facility.


-View from the lookout point.




-Visitor's Center.


-Lindsay sporting her new poncho.


-Lindsay and I inside the center.

Me made the long journey back to the campsite without any luck hitchhiking. I can't say we tried very hard to get a ride though, a town cop repeatedly drove past us throughout our journey back. Arriving at the campgrounds we packed up our things and cough a buss back into town. What a cheap and unique way of getting a tour around Juneau. About an hour passed before we hopped off the buss into the downtown area. We were both hungry and sought out a restaurant recommended by Richard called Pelmenis, which literally means dumplings in Russian. They serve one dish Russian dumplings, meat or no meat. There is no menu and I was a bit humored as I observed two people from the cruise ship walk in look around confused then walk out the door. The guy behind the front desk made no effort to help them. Everyone in Pelmenis reminded me of Richard, no wonder he love the place. The food was unique but good, little bit two spicy for me however.


-Mount Roberts Tram.


-My pack looked huge covered in that big black garbage bag! I received quite a few looks.








-Downtown Juneau. The backdrop was incredible.

We walked around the town a bit and made our way to the hostel. Here we threw off our packs and left once again for a drink at the Red Dog Saloon. I was still hungry so I ordered a burger along with a hot chocolate with a hit of Peppermint Schnapps. I was surprised to see that my drink coast a dollar less than my meal. Good God. After our meals we headed back to the hostel and crashed for the night in a dorm room with six other girls from Taiwan. They had been working at the fish cannery in Sitka that summer and have now made there way to Juneau for whatever reason. It was cute when I first walked into the room after Lindsay had been chatting with them. One of the girls smiles and asked if I was Anna. I said, “yes” and she was delighted and joyously exclaiming that her name was also Anna.

The hostel was a very nice place for $10.00 a night. Can't say I have slept in the top of a bunk be in awhile. We turned in fairly early because tomorrow was going to be a big day.


-Red Dog Saloon.


-Inside the saloon.

August 28th

Today Lindsay and I were traveling to Juneau. I worked a half day at the Raptor Center and Reece and I finished cutting out the save the date postcards I'd designed and printed for the Solstice Under the Tuscan Sky event. Solstice is the yearly Raptor Center fundraiser that takes place in November which businesses and donors attend. It's wonderful to be creating work for a greater cause and it's absolutely amazing to know that hundreds of people will be receiving a piece of my work.


-Front of the Solstice save the date postcard. Copyright 2009 Anna Kaiser.


-Back. Copyright 2009 Anna Kaiser.

Jenna is super awesome and drove us to the ferry terminal. With our hiking packs on our backs we loaded onto the Fair Weather, a.k.a the fast ferry. I had no idea how nice the ferry's were inside. There were comfy reclining seats, tables, art on the walls, a small cafeteria and back observation deck. I was so excited as Sitka grew smaller in the distance. I hadn't left the island in 4 months and haven't seen any other towns in Alaska before. We drank orange soda, watched the spectacular scenery, napped and spotted a handful of wales along the way.


-Ode to Lindsay.


-Off the back deck.






-View of the Mendenhall Glacier from the Fair Weather.

As Juneau approached Mendenhall Glacier shown out like a beacon. It had been four or so hours since we left Sitka and now had reached our destination, Juneau. We called a cab and were drove to the Mendenhall Glacier campground. The spot we chose had an amazing view of Mendenhall. We pitched our tent, paid our site fee, ate dinner, explored and after a long day, turned in for the night.


-Mendenhall from our campsite.

August 25th

I love Seagulls! They are here in great numbers. I wake up in the morning to there cries and enjoy watching them gather to feed along the river edge. The gulls along with many other animals are feeding upon the salmon carcases that litter the banks. After work I often find myself watching them bob under the water for, I believe, salmon eggs. The salmon aren't overly happy about this and will swim around the bird, nipping there paddling flippers.

August 24th

I sure do enjoy working with the centers raptors. Everyone at the center is very nice about sharing their knowledge about handling and giving pointers about the subject. Both Miranda and Lacie have been wonderful giving their time to the interpreters who are eager to learn. Not only have I had the opportunity to work with Katie and Kily but recently have earned the privilege to work with Pele. I'm already beginning to think about my future working with birds of prey and looking into volunteering at a center back in Wisconsin.


-Me and Pele.

August 20th

I saw Dad off today. I knew he wasn't quite ready to leave when he woke up in the morning sighed heavily and gazed longingly out the window. I drove him to work in Ronda's PT Cruiser and we said our goodbyes. That day at work seemed a bit longer than usual, I was still in the carefree fishing mode.

August 19th

The tide was in today and for the first time Dad and I weren't catching those fish endlessly like we were in the previous days. It took about two or so hours before the tide went out and our awesome fishing returned. We caught and bagged our limit, six to be donated to the Raptor Center and six to be flayed and smoked for future eating. What a gorgeous day. The sun made frequent appearances as blue sky showed itself. I could tell Dad was sucking it all in as much as he could for tomorrow he returns home.


-Look at how much the water carved out the river banks.






-We weren't the only ones out fishing that day.




-Our catch.



The bike ride back to S.J. is something I'll never forget. With a garbage bag containing six whole salmon for the Raptor Center, I road back to the dorms with Dad carrying our salmon keep. It didn't take long before the tiny hole in my bag split wide open and the slippery salmon scattered across the bike trail. Luckily we had a few grocery bags to stick the fish in and make it the rest of the way. What a sight that must have been for all of the cars driving by.

After dropping off the fish at the dorms we rode down to the Indian River bend directly across from the Raptor Center. This is the spot where Dad had located the bears runway and is also where the salmon ramp is located. We waited and watched for the bears and I began to take pictures of the salmon making there way up to the start of the ramp. It was so loud by the rapids I couldn't even hear Dad trying to get my attention. When looking up at him for what ever reason he pointed across the river. There feasting on a salmon was a much large bear than what we had been seeing at the center. It never even saw us as we gazed upon it. I couldn't seem to get a good picture though with the low lighting and my unsteady arms. Seeing this bear super close in that setting made me feel like I was on the Disneyland Jungle Safari, dorky as that sounds. It just didn't seem real having a bear that close and unaware of our presence.


-Salmon swarming around the base of the ramp.


-Shakie yet impressive picture of the bear.

August 18th

I worked today at the Center. Dad came in that afternoon to check out all the center had to offer. One ship that was scheduled to stop in Sitka had canceled that morning so I only gave one stage presentation for the day. I introduced Dad to all my coworkers, birds and the facility. We ate lunch on the back deck stairs and finished off the remaining banana split ice cream Jen and I had been purchased a few nights earlier. After punching back in from lunch, Pa explored the Centers hiking trails discovering many bear runs around the rivers bend.


-Me on the stage. Photo taken by my Pa.


-Visitors around the touch table.


-On the back deck.

After work, Dad, Tex and I made our way along the Indian River Trail to the waterfall. We kept at a steady pass and watched the time. I new the walk was long and our time before dark was limited. Dad was awestruck by the sights in this temperate rainforest and repetitively stated how unique of an ecosystem it was. I'm positive his favorite element of the forest was the giant trees that toward over us tiny travelers.


-Me, Dad and Tex at the muskeg lookout area.




-Epic shot!




-Dad posing by a giant Sitka Spruce.

The waterfall was a bit larger since Erik and I visited, results of the heavy rainfall. We discovered many clusters of salmon berry's at the base of the waterfall, one of the only places where they are left. I snacked on a few while Dad ravenously ate the remaining fruit to gain energy for the hike back into town. It was completely dark by the time we made it to the trail head. Jen was relived to see us when we returned to S.J. that night. We were both exhausted from the days excursion. We ordered a pizza and watched a movie till our eyes couldn't' stay open any longer.








-Berry picking.