We just got home from Alaska. We spent a little time in Anchorage and Homer, but the main focus of our trip was a birding tour on Unalaska, one of the Aleutian Islands. It is a three hour flight from Anchorage.
Unalaska looks like the Scottish highlands, with grassy hills and mountains, and only a few (introduced) trees. It has a tremendous fishing industry. Just about everything in the town relates to fishing. We had no internet or cell service while we were there. The town is not junked up with touristy stuff, because tourists don’t go there. And I just loved it!
We had an all day boat trip to see pelagic birds. These are birds that spend most of their lives on the open ocean. While we have been to cold remote places in Alaska before, this felt colder to me, due to the dampness. Our boat trip was foggy and 42F, and I froze. All three women on the tour got cold. In the picture I’m wearing a camisole, long sleeve tee, fleece shirt, hoodie, Nanopuff vest, Nanopuff jacket and Goretex jacket. On the bottom I’m wearing long underwear, nylon pants and Goretex pants. I also have on neoprene boots, neck gaiter, gloves and fleece lined hat. I had my hood up most of the time. I could go in the cabin to warm up. If I were to do it again, I would have tossed in the down jacket I took to Barrow, and all of these other things. I was just concerned that it would be wet, either from sea spray or rain.
1. A failure in layers
2-3. Laysan Albatross - they look like a gull but have a wingspan of over six feet.
4-8. Bald eagles were everywhere. The object in 6 is the tsunami siren
9. Red fox - we saw several of these
10. They should be getting better internet soon.
11. Map
This post has 11 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.
If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.
