Sitka , Alaska is, in my estimation, one of the best places in America. Nestled on the Western shore of Baranof Island in the Alexander Archipelago, it is the Jewel of the Tongass and a favourite destination of tens of thousands of folks annually in their exploration of the Inside Passage. Although Alaska conjures up pictures of sled dogs, polar bears and cold north winds, Sitka's climate is that of a temperate rain forest, and it's lush vegetation is only one way life thrives in the area. Wildlife abounds, from the petite Sitka Black-tailed Deer to a species of brown bear which is also unique to the area. Ravens and eagles rule the skies, although an amazing diversity of birds can be seen from the 13 miles of paved road that defines the length of the town and by boat around St. Lazaria Island. All 5 salmon species can be found returning to their spawning grounds through Sitka Sound, each of them in their part of the summer fishing season.The water from Blue Lake is so pure it can be bottled and sold with no treatment or filtering required. The old mill which had been closed in the early 90's has been re-tooled to do just that, and with a deep-water dock which used to load ships full of logs bound for Japan they hope to ship enough water to create a viable business.
Are you ready to go there yet?
Before you go out and hop into your car and start driving
'North to Alaska', I had better tell you that the only way to
get to Sitka is by boat or plane. My advice is to start your
journey in Bellingham, Washington. The
Alaska Marine Highway is a wonderful and relatively
inexpensive way to explore the Inside Passage.
Of course, Carnival Lines and most
other cruise ship lines offer wonderful trips up the Inside Passage. The
airport
greets up to 4 incoming Alaska Airlines jets a day in the summer.
Whatever way you choose to get there, you can be sure that this bucolic
village, where people have been living for the past 8,000 years, holds
more than anyone could take in over the course of any one visit so
plan your stay well!
Photo:Sitka
People come from all over the world to experience the unique
ecological niche which is found in this 'neck of the woods'.
Puffins abound and cormorants share the air with an abundance
of eagles and ravens. It is not unusual to see seagulls and eagles
diving to catch herring from the same school of fish. Birdwatchers
find special joy in visiting St. Lazaria Island, a National Wildlife
Sanctuary in Sitka Sound. Thought by some to be the plug or cinder cone
produced by the explosion of the dormant Mt. Edgecumbe volcano,
this 65 acre island, which requires a federal permit to set foot upon, is
intensely beautiful on the rare sunny days that occur when the lucky
avian aficianado is smiled upon by fate. The days when the sun shines
are rare enough in this temperate rainforest that most visitors never
get to see a puffin
Photo:
Sitka Secrets
One of the more successful enterprises in the Sitka area is ecotourism.
Sitka Sound is in the migratory path of humpback whales and is
visited frequently by Orcas or Killer Whales, so the chances of seeing one of
these amazing animals is very good. I have seen a humpback whale
come completely out of the water, and Orcas roll over while swimming
just below the surface beside my boat! Many wonderful, knowledgeable
guides are available, like Raven'sFire.
Photo:Allen Marine
Of course, no description of Sitka would be complete without mentioning
the excellent fishing to be found in the area. Both freshwater and saltwater
species abound; Dolly Varden and Steelhead can be found close to shore
and over 20 species of Rockfish call it home. Halibut, Ling Cod and all 5
species of Salmon can be found in seasonal abundance for those who avail
themselves of the plentiful charter fishing services. The photo on the
left shows me with a 25 lb. King Salmon. Sportsfisheries are sustained by
the NSRAA
, assuring bountiful harvests for a very long time.
