Whitehorse to Haines

From Whitehorse we headed back towards Alaska. The scenery was stunning once we hit Haines Junction and pointed Hans south. Here is just a taste of what we saw along the way.

We took a short side road to a great free camping spot. Along the route we ran across these determined mushrooms. They were poking through the gravel road.

We also came across this deluxe fishwheel. It is common to see fishwheels along the major river routes. The Natives use them to catch their fish without having to keep their pole in the water the entire time. They will anchor the fishwheel in the current and let the current spin it. Fish swimming in the area will be picked up in the basket and deposited into the collection area where they will await their fate. This particular one was very nice; sturdy, well built and some parts made with metal.

Haines is a neat little town settled in the coastal mountains and along a VERY deep fjord. It looks like a sleep fishing village and in fact I think that is just what it is.

Haines is home to the first fort built in Alaska. Instead of being built against a worthy enemy, it was built due to border disputes, with of all countries, Canada. Anyway when it was decommissioned in 1947 a few vets bought it and have turned it into a great artsy center. The old buildings are now home to a couple of B&Bs, a hotel and an Indian Arts Center. We talked with a local totem carver. He was very knowledgeable and told us all about the old days when totems were placed in front of houses as a way of welcoming guests and showcasing which clans they were from.

One stretch of road just outside of town had undergone major repairs. We couldn’t really figure out why until we got back a ways and looked back. A huge clear cut above that stretch of highway was to blame. See Mother Nature always wins!! When you remove all the tress from an area there is nothing to hold the soil together and it is very easy for it to slough off. This is especially true of steep slopes like the ones around Haines.

In Haines we boarded the ferry and headed south to the capital city of Alaska, Juneau.