Review and Photos of Denali May 18-19 and Carnival Spirit Cruise SB, May 20-27, 2009

[larry the lobster]

How did you remember all of this? Did you write in a journal everyday?

This is wonderful!!!

[bimmermom]

After giving us lots of quality time at the face of the glacier, Steve headed back out Tracy Arm. The first priority of the trip had been for us to actually get to the glaciers, the second priority was to spot wildlife on the way out.

 

The captain can find wildlife with his own eagle eye! He would suddenly stop and point out a bear way up high in a bush (how did he ever see that from a moving boat?) until it came into view for all of us.

 

At one point we saw two bears running along a meadow of snow directly above us. One bear was brown, the other black, clearly outlined by the white snow behind them. We stopped and watched them for a very long time.

 

 

Mountain goats were also abundant and we could make them out foraging for grass on the cliffs high above our heads.

 

We stopped at what is now named Jake's Falls, a really steep waterfall. The captain told us that it is named after one of his former deckhands, who decided on one trip to climb to the top. He ended up half sliding and half falling down the falls back to the boat. Since his name was Jake and he actually lived to tell the story, the falls are now affectionately named after him :)

 

 

 

We continued to exit the Arm and get closer to Stephens Passage that would lead us back to Juneau. Before we got to the actual turn, Steve spotted whale blow! He took lots of time to follow what turned out to be a large humpback whale. The whale would dive and surface several times and gave us lots more photos ops. It was amazing how Steve could figure out almost exactly where it would surface each time and he would steer the boat in that direction.

 

 

[Deloresgardella]

I love your review and pictures. They are so beautiful. We went through Tracy Arms on our Alaska cruise from San Francisco round trip a few years ago. Your pictures really makes me want to go back. Maybe next year.

Delores

[bimmermom]

 

It was a long but enjoyable way back to Juneau. I think everybody was exhausted from being so pumped by what we had witnessed in Tracy Arm. Some folks read books to pass the time, dd listened to music, hubby sat on the bridge to chat more with Steve.

 

I forgot to mention that the snack bar and the friendly young ladies who work it had fresh sandwiches and chips for sale along with soft drink and/or hot beverages. Also to pass the time and learn more about the area, many coffee table-style and nature books are available for you to borrow while onboard. There is a book and dvd specifically about Tracy Arm that is sold onboard. We purchased the book for just $13. We had Captain Steve sign the page that highlights the Adventure Bound. It is a wonderful momento of the excursion.

 

We got back to Juneau somewhere around 6:30 pm or so. I'm not certain of the time because when I am on vacation, I tend to lose track of time. Instead of heading back to the ship right away, we decided to go for a quick beer to the Red Dog Saloon with our newly found CC friends. I've also got my heart set on going up the Mt. Roberts tram before getting back to the Spirit.

[bimmermom]

Hi Julie -- Here's another shot of the pretty fishing birds in Tracy Arm. I don't think it's a puffin, but I can't remember what they are called! Does anybody know if this is a puffin or something else?

 

[bimmermom]

Larry -- Thanks so much! And yes, I tried to keep my notes up at least every other day or so. What really helped was that I had lots of time at the end of the cruise: about 6 hours to kill in Vancouver between debarking and our afternoon/evening tour of the North Shore and Grouse Mtn (more about that tour at the end of the novel hehe) and a long plane ride home. I'm also trying to catch all this up on my computer now before all the details become fuzzy. This is one trip I never want to forget! I've learned that the little details make a trip more fun to remember and discuss later.

[larry the lobster]

Did you write everything down in a journal or did you take your laptop with you?

[larry the lobster]

Also bimmermom - what did you do in Vancouver?

[bimmermom]

Larry -- I didn't bring my laptop, but dd did have her Mac Book with her. I was going to use it but just started jotting my notes down with pen and paper, the old fashioned way :), mosting while sitting out on the wonderful balcony. Also, as I mentioned, I had lots of time to catch up on notes at the end of the cruise in Vancouver and on the plane.

 

In Vancouver, I followed Putterdude's and others' advice and booked the Vancouver Landsea Tour of the North Shore. It started when we met their driver, Darcy, at around 2:00 pm in front of the Pan Pacific Hotel (next to Canada Place) in one of their small buses. Darcy took us to the Capilano Fish Hatchery, the Capilano Suspension Bridge and a trip up Grouse Mountain (while on the mountain, we did the free bird show, lumberjack show and saw two huge grizzlies that are kept in a wonderful outdoor habitat.) You also get a trip across the Vancouver waterfront in one of the water taxis back to Canada Place. From there, they took us and all our luggage to our Richmond (Airport) hotel. Great way to spend a day in Vancouver.

 

Just google for their web site and read all about the tours they offer -- LandSea Tours Vancouver. Call them for more details -- I remember talking to somebody named Danielle who was very helpful.

 

I promise to finish off my Juneau summary in just a bit. I haven't even looked at my photos of Skagway and Ketchikan yet, so I need to keep plugging away!

 

TTYL

[larry the lobster]

Thanks for their website but it doesn't look like anything will work out for us with their tour times. I guess I will just keep looking for other tours.

Thanks, can't wait to see more of your photos.

[jrmende63]

Hi Julie -- Here's another shot of the pretty fishing birds in Tracy Arm. I don't think it's a puffin, but I can't remember what they are called! Does anybody know if this is a puffin or something else?

 

 

Well the feet look like the Puffin's but the face does not:confused: Pretty bird nevertheless! I am enchanted by your pics. I love Alaska. I had not even thought about doing the Tracy Arms glacier tour...more reason to go back!

[nolaAlive]

Hi Julie -- Here's another shot of the pretty fishing birds in Tracy Arm. I don't think it's a puffin, but I can't remember what they are called! Does anybody know if this is a puffin or something else?

 

 

Definitely not a puffin. Looks like a Black Guillemot.

[bimmermom]

Ah, thanks for the input, Nola. I believe you are right after I checked out other, similar photos via a google web search!

 

Thanks so much for posting your pictorial trip through Alaska. I have subscribed to it and am enjoying your photos very much :D

[jrmende63]

Definitely not a puffin. Looks like a Black Guillemot.

Thanks Bill:) I saw some of those birds in your photos.

[jrmende63]

Ah, thanks for the input, Nola. I believe you are right after I checked out other, similar photos via a google web search!

Thanks so much for posting your pictorial trip through Alaska. I have subscribed to it and am enjoying your photos very much :D

I did not mean for you to think I was saying the birds were Puffins...I only meant the feet looked similar:p

[mudbugntx]

Hi Hilda. Jim and and Hannah.=====its was so great to meet you all on our adventure bound excursion. Your pics are great-----so much for learnin this trip----they are so good---am relivin the trip thru your pics!!!And YES we are ready for the next trip, just let us know!!!!!!!

 

Hope to see ya soon cruise buddies!!!!

Carol & Dwayne

 

P.S---Hilda---he's still got a nervous twitch!!!!!!LOL( you know what I mean!!!)

[bimmermom]

Hey, Carol and Dewayne! I'm sooooo sorry about that twitch :)

I'm fixin' to post some more, so bear with me.

[bimmermom]

Next up after our Tracy Arm adventure was the Red Dog Saloon. Located just off the docks, it's an easy walk to get there. The Red Dog was very reminiscent of the old Wild West Days, complete with swinging entrance doors and sawdust floors. We heard that the sawdust was used on the floor so that any loose gold dust dropped by the miners of old could be found when the floor was sifted.

 

The place was really cute, with tons of animal heads, traps, furs, posters and all kinds of memorabilia plastered over the walls. We kicked back at a table and ordered Alaskan Amber with our friends. Since they were from Texas, they really appreciated the huge and small traps mounted on the wall. The smaller one was labeled "Texas bear trap" and the larger one read "Alaskan mouse trap." I think Alaskans like to tease Texans a lot. (wink, wink)

 

 

 

 

 

 

After we polished off our beers, dd and hubby and our CC Texas buds (hey Carol and Dewayne!) headed back to the ship. Nobody wanted to go up to Mt. Roberts on the tram with me. Hey, that was ok because I was ready for a little alone time anyway.

 

It was then about 8:00 pm, still daylight, and the tram didn't stop running until 9:00 pm. The tram station is located right by the cruise ship piers; you can't miss it. I went inside to pay the $27 (gulp, expensive but it's an all day ticket) and up, up and up I go.

 

What a fantastic view! I was told by Dirk, who was running the tram (I was the only passenger at the time) about the bear that had just been spotted up on the mountain that afternoon. Lots of people had seen the grizzly and Dirk thought the bear was still there for me to take pictures of. Whoa.

 

He also pointed out the large gold mine shafts that we soar over and told me that, although the mines are now closed to the public, rumor has is that there is still lots of gold there. Some people have died going in to find the gold and it's now officially off-limits to prospectors and adventure-seekers.

 

He dropped me off at the top and reminded me that I had one hour to explore.

 

[bimmermom]

Dirk, my private tram operator to Mt. Roberts

[bimmermom]

All the way up on the tram and immediately after getting out, I was blown away by the fantastic and far-reaching views from the top of Mt. Roberts. I could see my ship clearly far below, along with the long Juneau waterway and the colorful buildings along both shores.

 

There were not many people left on the mountain that night, most of them having already gone for the day. I was able to wander around in peace and quiet. The restaurant was closing down but the gift shop was still open, so I bought a silver spoon for my collection. I wandered around the building, enjoying the panoramic views and (what else?) taking lots of photos.

 

I then went outside to the observation deck to see if I could spot that bear. Looking straight down, I could see lots of forest covered in snow that was lingering on from the winter. But no bear! I couldn't decide if I was relieved or not. I did see one of the big Alaskan porcupines I had heard about in the scrub. He didn't seem to have a care in the world and just stared back at me.

 

By the way, there is an eagle on exhibit on the top of Mt. Roberts. But the exhibit was already shut down for the night and the sign told me the eagle was asleep and to come back tomorrow. I wish. There was also a sign telling me that the hiking trails were treacherous and still slippery from the winter's snow and mud. Ah, well, I wasn't planning on walking back down anyway. I just continued to stand on the observation deck and soak in the breathtaking views. Eventually, the sun started to sink and I saw pink come across the water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bimmermom]

It was almost 9:00 pm when I got on the last tram for the ride down. I was, once again, the only passenger on board. Treated to more wonderful scenery on the 6-minute ride down, I almost hated to get off the tram.

 

As I wandered over to the Spirit, I stopped at several other boats and scenic spots to take more pictures and to watch the lights start to come on in the buildings all around this part of Juneau. I even caught another glimpse of the National Geographic boat that had been in Tracy Arm earlier that day.

 

 

 

 

After getting back on board the Spirit , I decided to settle for pizza for dinner, since I had missed our normal dining room time. That was fine - I had enjoyed the most perfect day and the pizza was usually yummy. I went up to lido to take lots more photos and then grabbed my pizza and took it back to the room. Standing on my balcony as the Spirit pulled out, I watched Juneau slip away.

 

I decided to go and find dd and hubby who were either at karaoke or at the show. We ended up the evening in the casino with some of our CC buddies, having a good time all around.

 

 

Evening shots of the upper decks of the Spirit at night

 

 

[bimmermom]

 

 

Next up (hopefully tomorrow), Skagway and the 7.5 White Pass and Yukon Railroad Tour with Chilkoot. All Aboard!

[nolaAlive]

Ah, thanks for the input, Nola. I believe you are right after I checked out other, similar photos via a google web search!

 

Thanks so much for posting your pictorial trip through Alaska. I have subscribed to it and am enjoying your photos very much :D

 

Uh oh - I'm thinking now it is a Pigeon Guiilemot. Anywho, they look the same to meeee.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigeon_Guillemot

 

I am very much enjoying the reviews and pictures by others and making notes for the next time I visit Alaska - date TBD.

[jrmende63]

Uh oh - I'm thinking now it is a Pigeon Guiilemot. Anywho, they look the same to meeee.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigeon_Guillemot

 

I am very much enjoying the reviews and pictures by others and making notes for the next time I visit Alaska - date TBD.

Good to put a name to face!Thanks

[islandersx4]

Thank you, thank, thank you...heading out on the Spirit SB, July 29...your review and notes are really amazing and helpful.

I can't find it, however I am sure you've been asked and answered..what kind of camera are you using?

C