Hello again!
I am back for another fun-filled season in Alaska, this time in Skagway. I have now been here for about a month and am absolutely loving it so far. Compared with Ketchikan it is an absolute dream. Although I am glad that I started my career in tourism in Ketchikan, after one season there, I am very grateful for Skagway's scenery and the intense diversity of the terrain and animal life. Just as a reminder for those who have forgotten, Ketchikan is on an island with only 13 miles of road and no bridges or roads connecting the island to anything else.
So the ability to drive 150+ miles in a day from 0 elevation up past 3,200 feet, through a temperate forest, across an international border, through a sub alpine valley and then continuing through part of British Columbia into the Yukon Territory is an absolute dream come true. It's also really nice to be a returning driver. Although I am new to Skagway, I feel better about starting this season with all of the knowledge of conducting tours that I gained last summer.
So far this summer I have conducted eleven different tours, hiked a majority of the trails around Skagway, gone camping near Lake Tutshi and been chased and harrassed by a blue grouse! No I am not kidding folks, during a hiking trip with some friends we stopped to take a photo when a wild blue grouse came out of the woods, squaking and pecking at our ankles. We took a few photos and videos and then realized that it was probably protecting a nest, so we decided to leave its territory and be on our way. But then the bird followed us. For half a mile! It continued to peck at us and even bit one of my friends' hands! Then it left for awhile , but then on our hike back down it reappeared and escorted us down the mountain for another half a mile. It was one of the most interesting hikes I've ever been on! Another experience I've had with wildlife so far was a black bear that had just come out of hibernation. Some friends of mine and I were traveling to go camping one night when we saw a bear on the side of the road. So we slowed down and rolled along side it for quite awhile. Then it decided to check out the bikes on the back of the car, sniffed the tires a bit and then took a bite out of it! The tire popped and the bear was startled and stepped back a bit. I LOVE ALASKA. More pics and blogs to come!
