Juno Mtn Lake Perseverance Loop

Rode the bike 7 miles to Ward Lake, then 2 miles to near Lake Perseverance where I locked it to a tree in the woods.  Then hiked 9 miles up to Ward and Juno Mountains, down to Carlanna Lake, and to our condo.

Just bought a new GPS/Satellite transponder that is ideal for navigating and has the ability for two way texting via satellites, has an SOS function, and live tracking.  Great safety tool for boating, hiking, whatever you might do where there isn't cell service.  Which is pretty much everywhere here.

View from Tongass Hwy looking north beyond Ward Cove.

Trail to Perseverance Lake

Perseverance Lake

Muskeg hiking.  Basically a big, soft, squishy swamp.

Perseverance Lake

The new gizmo, invaluable for finding your way in weather like this.

Clouds parting on the way down to Carlanna Lake.

Whales, Bikes, Hikes, Boats

Continued near perfect weather in the rainforest.  I'm pretty sure this is very abnormal, as it's hardly rained at all since we've been here.  We're not complaining, I'm sure the rain is right around the corner.

We've seen whales from shore, from our couch, but not from our time in a rental boat yet.  Still seeing eagles do amazing things, like pluck herring from the sea, fight over a fish carcass, and soar in front of our window.  There's now a baby seal hanging out in the harbor with its mommy, too.  Alaska is perpetually close to nature.  And hence its appeal.

Sunset from the couch.

Orca swimming by.

Carlanna Lake

Riding up the Carlanna Lake trail.

Looking down at Carlanna Lake from near Juno Mountain

Lake Perseverance

Tent in the saddle between Juno and Minerva Mountains

Kayakers near Clover Passage

Blue Lake Hike and Whale In The Distance

Did the hike up Deer Mountain and over to Blue lake, which was absolutely amazing.  Saw a black bear about 300 yards away, which was interesting.  Then we went out to George Inlet to take a look around and pick salmon berries.  Then to the beach on Clover Passage at low tide with the standard campfire, Alex playing with trucks, and Niki spotting the spouting of whales in the distance.

Black bear near Deer Mtn Hut

Lots of these little high alpine ponds with the Pacific below.

Ridgeline trail to Blue Lake and Silvis Lake.

Blue Lake

The Deer Mtn Hut is in an amazing location.

George Inlet

Picking salmon berries.

Beach Day

Short day at Ward Lake on the trail that wraps around it with some beach time on the lake, then a nice afternoon on the beach at Clover Passage, scanning for whales and hanging out by the fire.  This place is just 8 miles from our apartment, and we have a private beach to hang out at.

Trail around Ward Lake through some very large old growth.

Tasty salmon berries.  These things are literally everywhere, and are quite good.

Looking west out Clover Passage.

Nice spot for a campfire.

Hydrology lesson.

Purple starfish.

Wrestling some sea stuff.

Hiking and Boating

Perfect weather made for a great morning hike up the the beautiful Deer Mountain Shelter, then an all day boat ride in a $75 skiff.  Good times.

Looking down at the chaos of Ketchikan with its 9,000 cruise ship passengers arriving daily and the constant float planes.

Interior of Deer Mtn shelter.

Metlakatla Island

Deer Mtn hut and the Silvis Lake traverse.

Ketchikan Lake

Clover Pasage

Dinner at Knudson Cove