We Launch Into Sitka, Alaska !

Boats float in beautiful Sitka waters.

August 22, 2013

At 6:30 a.m., our cruise ship anchored in Sitka Sound. It was July 17, 2013 and a glorious seventy-degree morning. We had until 2:30 p.m. to explore the quaint town of Sitka, but first we had to board a launch and motor two miles to the docks.

Sitka is situated on the west side of Baranoff Island and is only accessible by sea and air. This picturesque town sits just opposite Mount Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano. Sitka is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest, which provides numerous opportunities to see Alaskan wildlife. The town of 9,000 residents is primarily a fishing community but rich in Russian heritage.

The city was founded in 1799 by explorer Alexander Baranoff who was hired by the Russian-American Company to colonize the area and set up a fur trade. Sitka became the capital of the Russian Empire in Alaska and prospered by the sale of sea otter pelts. After years of success, the economy went bust because of the declining sea otter population. Eventually, Russia decided to sell Sitka and all of Alaska to the U.S. in 1867 for $7.2 million.

When we arrived in port, our first stop was the Alaska Raptor Center. The center is Alaska’s only full-service avian hospital and educational facility. Each year, they provide medical treatment to 100-200 injured bald eagles and other birds. Their goal is to release the birds back into the wild. Some are treated and released while others require extensive rehabilitation. Some birds become permanent residents, because even after treatment they aren’t able to survive in the wild.

While touring the center we saw over twenty resident eagles, falcons, owls, and hawks. We met Volta, a beautiful male bald eagle who has been at the center since 1992. He was rescued after flying into a power line and is the center‘s patriarch and star of their educational program. We also met Tootsie, a Northern Saw-whet Owl. She arrived at the center with a broken left wing. She is the resident “cutie”, standing only eight inches tall and weighing three ounces. Tootsie elicits a smile from everyone she meets.

One of the highlights of our Sitka tour was visiting Fortress of the Bear, a refuge for orphaned brown bear cubs. The organization rescues cubs and raises them until they’re old enough to go to a zoo or sanctuary. If not saved they would be euthanized by the State because there is no other place to care for them and returning the cubs to the wild would result in them dying. This wonderful organization gives these foundlings a chance to live.

As we stood up above the five resident bears on a high platform, we had a great time watching them actively romp, wrestle and swim. It was wonderful to see the very playful bears enjoy their surroundings and interact with each other. It almost seemed as if they liked making us smile. Three of the bears were four-year-old siblings. The other two were brothers each weighing 1,000 pounds. The owner and staff were very knowledgeable and provided us with informative commentary. I was glad we had the opportunity to see the magnificent animals and support their fortress.

We ended the day in downtown Sitka, where we walked around the picturesque town and explored small shops and galleries. Standing in Totem Square, we had a magnificent view of Mount Edgecumbe. The square offered amazing waterfront views. Colorful fishing boats and gliding eagles captured our attention. In the distance, snow-capped mountains sparkled. We thoroughly enjoyed our Sitka experience but it was time to board a launch and head back to our ship.

Fair winds,

Kathy