Page 69 - Travel Guide Fly Alaska Edition
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spawning streams in Alaska, and one of the largest
      concentration of black and brown bears occurs here.
      A half-mile trail leads to a platform and photo blind
      overlooking  the  cascading  falls  where  the  salmon
      swim up river, carefully watched by the hungry bears.
      Jet Boat Tours
        In Wrangell, there is something for every visitor
      interested in touring by comfortable jet boat. From
      the spirited, experienced explorer to the half-day
      sightseer,  Wrangell  jet  boat  companies  provide
      tours for all. These well-established companies offer
      unforgettable tours to the Stikine River, the largest
      in  Southeast  Alaska  and  the  fastest  free-flowing,
      navigable river in North America. With great views
      of mountains, waterfalls, Shakes Lake and Glacier,   Iceberg near LeConte Glacier
      visitors can also see harbor seals, bears and moose.    photo by:
        Anan Bear Observatory is another favorite tour   VC TRAVEL GUIDE
      that operates late June through early September.
      Permits are required July 5th to August 25th with
      only 60 daily permits issued during that time, so you   Since the early 1900s the children of  Wrangell   Fransisco and turned into costume jewelry that was
      need to plan early for this one. One of the largest   have collected and sold garnets to visitors entering   sold world-wide.
      concentration of black and brown bears occurs here,   the city. Many people may not know that those deep   Today the area is held in trust by the local First
      where observers are 50 feet away on a platform   ruby-red  garnets  come  from  Garnet  Ledge  at  the   Presbyterian Church for the children of  Wrangell.
      and photo blind overlooking cascading falls where   mouth of the Stakine River and seven miles from the   Continuing in the tradition of mining for garnets,
      salmon swim up river only to be caught in the jaws   city of Wrangell. The ledge was formed thousands   local children and their families hand mine the
      of a hungry bear.                    of years ago and is made up of garnet-biotite schist,   crystals and sell them to tourists at the ferry terminal,
        LeConte Glacier is the southernmost saltwater   and under intense heat and pressure produced garnet   the cruise ship dock and local stores. The ledge is
      terminating glacier in North  America, where golf   crystals. Many people have laid claims against   located in U.S. Forest Service land and use of power
      ball  to  Titanic  class  icebergs  await. If  you  are   this site dating back to 1881, though most claims   tools is not permitted for mining. The Forest Service
      interested in some self-guided adventures, rentals are   produced very little due to the fact that mining the   does have an A-frame cabin that sleeps seven near
      available for Lund skiffs, canoes and kayaks, great   garnets was very difficult and the quality of garnets,   Garnet Ledge that makes for a perfect basecamp
      for use around Wrangell or if you plan on renting   while interesting for collectors, wasn’t fine jewelry   for people exploring the Stikine River and Delta.
      USFS cabins. Contact any of our listed companies   worthy. In 1907 a group of women formed the The   Reservations for the cabin can be made at the
      for suggestions in helping make a tour decision that   Alaska Garnet Mining and Manufacturing Company   reacreation.gov website. Besides sparkly garnets,
      is right for your family and budget.  and became the first all women mining cooperative.   one  can  expect  to  see  black  and  brown  bears,
                                           For  15  years  they mined  several  tons  of garnets   moose, sea lions and in  April, the second largest
      Smaller Cruises through Alaska       from the area that were shipped to Seattle and San   concentration of bald eagles in Alaska.
        A small ship Alaska cruise allows you an even
      closer look at the beautiful scenery and exotic   Gifts from the Sea: Oyster Farming in Alaska’s Icy Waters
      wildlife than  larger cruises.  There  are many  tour
      companies and cruise lines with ships that carry from
      a dozen up to 500 passengers on Alaska cruises. The
      advantages of having fewer fellow passengers on
      board really become apparent when going ashore in
      small towns like Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway,
      where two or three thousand visitors from one of the
      large cruise ships really makes an impact.
        The smaller ships can also visit places that
      the larger ones can only dream about, like Misty
      Fjords National Monument near Ketchikan,  Tracy
      Arm Fjord or Dawes Glacier. If you are looking
      for a more exotic itinerary, a small ship  Alaska
      cruise might be the best choice. While the smaller   When one thinks of the glacier-fed waters   year, the first tumbler revealed 80% of the
      ships may be more expensive, often fill up fast, and   of Alaska, oysters might not immediately   oysters grew over one inch in two months.
      generally offer smaller cabins and less entertainment   come to mind. However, that doesn’t stop   Bigger oysters means more bags to reduce
      on board, the trade off is a much closer and relaxed   Canoe Lagoon Oysters located in Wrangell,   crowding. Five times, the oysters had to be
      look at  Alaska’s beauty. Small ships also include   from producing some of the most sought   placed into different bags because they were
      many organized activities in the fare, so the total   after oysters in the lower 48 states. Oysters   growing at such a rapid pace.
      cost may not be any more than for a large ship if you   don’t  spawn  in Alaska  as  the water  is  too   After harvesting, they transport them
      plan to take many wildlife or glacier viewing shore   cold, so owner Brian Herman purchases the   back to the facility at Wrangell, where they
      excursions.                            young oysters, called spat at this stage, from   sort, weigh, and ship them to restaurants in
        Small cruise ship companies to investigate for   Hawaii. However, once submerged in the   Arizona and Alaska. They sell the oysters that
      more intimate cruises include  American Cruise   pristine, nutrient-dense waters off  Blashke   are too large to be shooters at their store
      Lines, Fantasy Cruises,  The Boat Company,   Island, the oysters thrive. “Because it’s too   in Wrangell. “Everyone has a different way
      Uncruise Adventures, Windstar Cruises, Maple Leaf   cold for the oysters to reproduce, they   to eat oysters, but most people in Wrangell
      Adventures,  Alaskan Song  Yacht Charters, Sound   spend all their energy growing. Even during   like to grill them. They have a delightful, firm
      Sailing and All Aboard Yacht Charters.  For localized   the winter, they continue to grow but at a   texture that is especially good topped with
      tours, particularly throughout Southeast  Alaska,   slower pace,” says Herman. The float bags   garlic butter.” Total time from seed to market
      there are many charter and eco-tour companies to   contain happy oysters as an example. These   is 16 months. Not only will you find the larger
      choose from, some carrying as few as 8 passengers.   bags keep the oysters in a nutrient rich   delectable oysters at their retail space, but
      Try  Pacific  Tugboat  Adventures,  Alaskan  Dream   environment and allows them to be turned   also sauces and seasoning, merchandise and
      Cruises,  Sea  Wolf Adventures, Alaska  Waters,   weekly in order to get a deep meaty oyster.   local gifts.
      Alaska Charters &  Adventures and Breakaway   The staff puts the oysters  in a tumbler
      Adventures.                            approximately two months after planting   Visit Canoe Lagoon Oysters at:
                                             to sort them by size and clean them. Last   freshalaskaoysters.com
      Garnet Ledge
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