Tom Taffel, 1978
The predominant tree cover in the area is Sitka Spruce (80%) and Western Hemlock. Common dimensions of the trees are 14 inches or more in diameter and heights to 55 feet. Growth rates for trees in the fjords of Prince William Sound are very slow. Many trees in these areas take 50 years to reach a significant size. Regeneration is a slow (and haphazard) process on the steep slopes in the area. Scrub alder, blueberry and salmonberry bushes grow in the delta area, particularly where land has been cleared. Whittier is noted for the abundance and size of its berry crop, which attracts an increasing number of berry pickers each year.
Migratory birds such as geese, ducks and cranes use Portage Pass in crossing the Coast Range between Prince William Sound and Western Alaska. Some waterfowl, however, remain in the Whittier area year-round. A large rookery on the north side of Passage Canal contains numerous birds including gulls and kittiwakes. The kittiwake rookery has about 6,000 breeding Black-legged kittiwakes, 20-30 Glaucous-winged Gulls and 10 to 20 Pigeon Guillemonts. Although this is the largest Kittiwake colony in the sound, it is small by Alaska standards. Colonies in the Gulf of Alaska and Pribilofs number 50,000 to 200,000 kittiwakes.
This rookery is very accessible and visited by tourist ships and some recreational boaters, and the colony is in fact the most visited seabird colony in Alaska. The Bald Eagle is common to the area and Rufous humming birds, once thought not to travel as far north as Whittier, are summer visitors.
Sitka - Long before San Francisco came in to its own, Sitka reigned as the cultural capital of the west. Situated at the base of a conical volcano, majestic Sitka, once the Russian capital of what is now Alaska, is a unique blend of Tlingit Indian culture and Russian history. Sitka’s most famous landmark is St. Michael’s (onion-domed) Russian Church. Sitka is home of the famous Bald Eagle Raptor Center. The dark primordial forests are dense and rich, receiving enormous amounts of rain…so do bring an umbrella, just in case.
Skagway - is without a doubt one of the most colorful towns you're likely to visit anywhere. Born in the days of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush, it was a wild town of over 20,000 populated by prospectors, gamblers, thieves and criminals of every type. Still the "Gateway to the Klondike," only 800 people live in Skagway at the present time. Most ships that pull into dock at the southern end of town carry more people in passengers and crew than live in Skagway. Sightseeing in Skagway is remarkably easy because the entire town is five blocks wide and about 25 blocks long. The White Pass Railway is one 17th engineering wonder of the world and also one of the oldest narrow-gauge railroads in existence.
Ketchikan - The “Salmon Capital of the World,” Ketchikan is also Alaska’s “First City” (geographically) and is built on trestles, docks and pilings at the water’s edge and is the ancestral home of Alaska's Tlingit Indians. The largest collection of totem poles in the world is on display here. Nature buffs will appreciate the lush rain forests and the Misty Fjords National Monument. Ketchikan receives 12.5 feet of rain per year. Explore historic Creek Street, now a haven for art galleries and boutiques.
Cruising The Inside Passage - is visualized by the inexperienced traveler as the waterway alongside the southern Alaskan panhandle. It extends for approximately 950 miles from SCENIC British Columbia, to Skagway, Alaska and serves as a busy year-round shipping lane. The passage is protected by a series of islands large and small. These islands afford two advantages for the traveler. First, rough seas associated with ocean travel are an extreme rarity. Second, you never lose sight of land, which means there is always something to see as you cruise through a maze of bays, straits, and fjords amongst a panorama of waterfalls, forests and glaciers. Your onboard naturalist narrates as you cruise.
Vancouver, British Columbia - in a physical setting that matches and probably exceeds that of Seattle, Vancouver is the third largest city in Canada. On a fjord called the Burrard Inlet, it is edged to the north and east by perpetually snow-capped mountains. The downtown area is on a small piece of land that juts out into the inlet. It's a city of parks and year-round flowers due to the mild and wet climate. Most downtown attractions are close to one another, but a modern light-rail rapid-transit system will also be of help in getting around town. You will be able to explore Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from its late-Victorian era Gastown to its postmodern glass cathedrals. Stanley Park offers beautiful views of downtown Vancouver, the North Shore and the mountains. Victoria is also the home of the second-largest Chinatown in North America.
(Nearby ~ Victoria, British Columbia) - with its delightful combination of British and Pacific Northwest flavors, has been charming visitors for centuries. With thousands of interesting things to do year-round, it is no surprise that Victoria was rated the number one destination choice in Canada by Conde Naste Traveler Magazine. Romantic gardens, afternoon tea, the wild beauty of the Pacific coast, a lively arts/entertainment scene and a history full of fascinating tales and colorful people make this, the capital of British Columbia, an unforgettable experience for visitors.
This intimate, sophisticated seaside City is the vacation capital of Canada and the premier tourist spot in the Pacific Northwest. Victoria is situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island and sparkles in one of Canada’s mildest climates. This area is the sunniest spot in the province and the gentlest in the country in terms of climate environment and lifestyle. Victoria’s unique character is deeply rooted in its 150-year history and known for breathtaking beautiful (35-acre) Butchart Gardens and the grand Empress Hotel. The city’s British colonial heritage is still very much in evidence, but contemporary Victoria has a distinctly Pacific northwest flavor. Today, Victoria is best known as the capital city of British Columbia, and is a world-renowned tourism destination.