Haines, AK is a small town packed with so much beauty
Our first stop in Skagway took us on a ferry to Haines Alaska. It’s a small town packed with history, animals, and the most amazing sights that I’ve ever experienced. Instead or roaming around looking for animals to photograph, my wife booked a private tour with local photographer, Tom Ganner. We knew that it was far too early to spot any bears. Tom took us to Chilkoot Lake in hopes of spotting some eagles. On our drive to the Chilkoot River Weir, Tom spotted the first bear of the season. She was flipping rocks looking for some grubs to eat. He took us down a back road where we can watch the bear.
She was still skinny from the long hibernation, but was very active. Tom and I walked down the beach to get some nice pictures of her. After a few minutes we headed back to where he had parked his car. We hun g out a bit longer as the bear made her was to a grassy field. We took some more pictures and saw that she was headed to the road. To took us to a small parking lot where a photo tour had stopped to see the same brown bear. We waited a bit longer and she eventually crossed the road and headed back into the woods.
We weren’t expecting to see any mammals on this tour. Wow! I was about 50 feet from her as she calmly walked across the street. Somehow the large tour missed her.
Then, Tom took us to the lake. A bald eagle was perched on a tree about 100 feet away. It sat there for a while, then decided to fly over the lake as I was taking some landscape photos.
If you would like to purchase one of the photos below, order a print from my Art & Print Shop.
June 14, 2026 Eagle in a Field
June 14, 2026 Brown Bear Flipping Rocks for Food
June 14, 2026 Brown Bear Running Through the Grass
June 14, 2026 Brown Bear Heading Back to the Woods
June 14, 2026 Bald Eagle at Chilkoot Lake
June 14, 2026 Common Loon in the Rain
June 14, 2026 Chilkoot Lake
June 14, 2026 Chilkoot Lake with Eagle
June 14, 2026 The Amazing Weather in Haines, AK
June 14, 2026 Wild Lupin Along the Creek
June 14, 2026 Black Lily
June 14, 2026 Lupin Blooming
After taking pictures, I went to the Raven’s Bowl Disc Golf Course. This is the first time that the throws were easier than getting to the disc. I played twenty holes in a rainforest course. I was wearing a rain jacket and waterproof shoes and still managed get completely soaked. The plan was to play in Haines, then go play a round in Skagway. My socks were soaked and my feet were pruny. I had to settle with six under in Haines as my only round un Alaska. I’ll have to come back and play in Skagway some other time. From the pictures, Seven Pastures Disc Gold Course looked like an epic and much drier course.
