While in Wrangell, we decided to take the tour to Anan Bear Observation post in the Tongass National Forest. This is one of the locations where you see bears catching the salmon as they return to their spawning grounds. It is also one of the sites usually featured in National Geographic or the nature shows. The bears were there in large numbers but mostly ignored us. We had a guide that lead the way and was carrying a weapon along with bear spray. We had to stop and wait for the bears to clear the trail several times to reach the observation platform and our return to the boat.

On the trip to Anan Bear Observation, we passed some cute harbor seals.

As you look at the pictures you will notice many salmon carcase laying about. The bears only eat the row, brains and guts as they are fating up for the winter. The rest of the left over salmon doesn't go to waste. The birds, otters, harbor seals etc eat what ever floats down stream. We watched as an eagle ate one. The eagle with the spots are the immature birds. 

It was a worthwhile tour that I would recommend to any one visiting the area.

So here come da bears!!! 

But mommy I don't want to do that, kids are the same everywhere.

 

Watch out Darlene!!! Yes they can come over the rail. The ranger said they kick the bears off the viewing area every morning.

There were some people that wondered what a ferry would look like and how did we get our truck and 5th wheel on to the ferry. Below is the pictures of how that happened.

The ferry trip from Haines to Juneau was spectacular and again, the pictures don't do justice to the scenery. I had never seen a vertical rainbow but it is was amazing. (Does anyone know any other adjectives I am running out)

When we arrived in Juneau, it was 11:00 PM and dark, no moon and a light rain. This is the first I had driven in the dark since we left the lower 48. It was a little unsettling and I was glad when we arrived at the camp site. In Juneau we did the West Mendenhall Glacier trail. The area is part of the temperate rain forest with a tall tree canopy and a lush undergrowth. The area gets over 400 inches in precipitation a year. I had seen the lichen all over Alaska and Canada but the denseness was captivating. Darlene was a trouper until we had to wade through water, ice cold, to an unknown depth. We headed back to the camper and I went on the east Mendenhall Glacier trail and the visitor center. The photos below are from those hikes.

On Sunday we visited the Glacier Botanical Gardens. Some guy named Steve got carried away and created an area that will make any flower gardener salivate.

We spent two days in Haines waiting for our ferry departure time. The first day was a bicycle trip and on the second day a hike to Battery Point. The first two pictures are of our campground. One from the campground itself, and the second taken from Battery Point under high zoom.

Oh, we saw our first period of darkness last night. It was from 2 am to 4 am.

The rest of the pictures are from our bicycle trip or hike.

This why it always smells like Christmas here.