Whittier

 a little hike

This little hike took me over a stream & by a view of a small glacier...


along a trail with wildflowers...

to a beautiful view over the Passage Canal. 



around town

The town of about 300 souls feels bigger due to the facilities around the port & many boats here from out of town. Many of the shops around Alaska feature moose antlers out front (many homes too).

Both the town & individual businesses add nice touches. 


This is the view from across the canal, with the corner of a cruise ship in the left of the picture. The big building to the right rear is an abandoned military housing block built in the 1950s. 

The town is surrounded by steep mountains, so the only ways in are from the canal & through this tunnel; the tunnel opening appears small, but accommodates trains. 


It turned out that I was accidentally in the best spot in town yesterday, should that tsunami have materialized. The local officials moved all of their emergency equipment up away from the water & right next to my campsite. And it seems that this campground is popular with both a black & a brown (grizzly) bear this summer. 

Anywhere away from the waterfront here, one hears rushing water, as steams of snow melt tumble down the mountainsides. 


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