Oregon Coast

I keep driving down south! After picking up my Russian friends, we spend night at beautiful Oregon Coast.

Strange animal was crossing!

I thought seafood was good, but most of them were not local. Instead…This Lebanon food was excellent!!! five star

Jelly fish?!

Windy coast

Avalanche, bear…

The way in and out of Stewart (Hyder) is so exciting! I never see such exciting road!

Road is severely hazard for avalanche. avalanche boulders and snow debris are next of the road. also hanging glacier so close which indicated heavy snow area!

Power poles are avalanche proof!

Still a lot of snow at fan. It may have permafrost!

I never seen such bear country! I saw crossing 7 bears within an hour drive.

Stewart is nice small town (pop.ca.500). bigger than Hyder and paved!

Hyder

Hyder, Alaska’s far east town!! It seems not like Alaska, but also not like Canada neither. Strange trip slip town…

It was school building two years ago. But closed now. Kids are home schooling or commuting Canadian school next to Stewart.

Post office looks US

Down to Canada

I do ferry down to Prince Rupert!

Until Kake, it was typical Southeast weather!

But again!! beautiful Petersburg (you see “Devil’s Thumb”)

Then Wrangell!

At the offshore of Wrangell, freshwater (silty) float on the saltwater.

Panorama view of one of the oldest town in Alaska “Wrangell”.

Mendenhall Glacier

It was nice sunny morning. I went quick Mendenhall Glacier west trail.

Beautiful rain forest walking an hour

Blue world!

Also soft green

Mendenhall Glacier was not much colder than coastal area at ground surface!! That was surprised! Maybe more snow here!!

closing schools

Closing school is one of the problems for rural Alaskan communities. Since I worked this program already “Gakona” “Lime village” were shout down by less than 10 students. Population was always(?) decrease trend in the villages. We may not have over 200 villages next 100 years in Alaska. It will be good archived schools. Especially Southeast is shocking to me!! When you see Alaska state Department of Education school map (following), many schools are not exist!!!

Here is closeup map of Southeast Alaska. You see 31 communities have schools, however, 25 schools are active (will be 24 next year).

Ho

It is very difficult to figure out school is active or closed. Internet does not tell you neither. For example, We visit Hobart Bay, where between Petersburg and Juneau. No sign of closed in the internet but also no contact address for the school/teacher. When we visit, dock was closed, there is nice house on the hill. It seems Current Population: 1 (2010 U.S. Census Population). Hobart Bay is a logging camp operated by Goldbelt, Inc. The Juneau-based Native corporation owns nearly 23,000 acres in the area. Ninety percent of the logging is done by helicopter. The work force has been scaled back considerably since 1990. The school was closed during the 98/99 school year.

Public float at Entrance Island, This is only accessible structure at Hobart Bay.

Southeast Alaska was freezing!!

I think Southeast Alaska had a lot of ground freezing generally we do not think too much. but it is a lot. still some frost in May!

This 2010 data from Haines, Juneau, Sitka area from ground surface temperature. it was some snow cover but three major freezing events were seen especially Feb-March freezing were intense!! That made more than 50cm of freezing and pipes had problems!!

The end of Southeast Alaska Trip

(sunset from Sitka)

I do not need worried about tomorrow’s wind, wave, tide, fog… I know humans were used to worried about tomorrow’s weather and nature. But since we develop communities, living in town, we forgot these fear.

It’s nice to remind these feeling as same time having many stress too. However, I was dreaming to travel Southeast villages with small boat since traveling with snowmachine in northern Alaska. Jon and Eric and many other people help this plan and it happened we did meeting many students and teachers. it was great experience and will get great results. Our network is close to 200 schools now!!  This dream comes true and goes by today! I should cerebrate in the  26′ aluminum boat “Windword” at the Sitka Thomson Harbor. Full moon is just getting bright!