Introductions
shots from my camera roll
The Harbor
Most days I visited the harbor, and each day the composition was unique. New clouds, no clouds, all clouds. Sometimes perfect reflections in still water, sometimes the wind blasting well over 15 knots. The Chilkoot mountains in the back ground, sometimes clouded over as if in a mood, other days clear for miles and miles.
The Homestead
By the generosity of a woman named Julie, I lived here. Tucked away, high up on a mountain side, Mt. Ripinski and a forest filled with bears right behind her property. Mornings were slow, coffee, listening to the radio, watering the garden. Afternoons were for working on house projects, tending to the plants, odd jobs. Evenings were for hikes, bike rides, paddle boarding, foraging, a brew at the pub.
A Street
A neighborhood street in downtown Haines is humble and yet, mighty peaks present themselves at almost every turn. Sometimes hidden in the clouds, sometimes peaking through trees or in a classic Alaskan way, at the end of a road. They watch over the town of Haines, protecting and inspiring.
The Laundry Mat
This is without a doubt the nicest laundry I have ever been to, so clean. Walls covered in interesting knick knacks to keep you entertained while your laundry tumbles around, a sweet little row of missing socks hung on a line.
Best of all, if you were to be camping or stopping through Haines in whatever capacity and found yourself in need of a shower, showers are offered here and they looked super nice.
Highway 7
There is one road leading to and from Haines, Highway 7. Though it might appear to dead end in Haines, the same road actually spans the length of southeast Alaska, interrupted by fjords of course and requiring the Alaskan Marine Highway to bridge the gaps. Heading northwest, it is just 34 miles from Haines to the Canadian border crossing, another interruption of the highway, actually the highway might end at the border, I don’t know. To get to Central Alaska you have to cut across a Canadian arm of land. Since the border was closed indefinitely to non essential travel, I didn’t venture far up this road, not past mile 21.
Around Town
One evening stroll around town I found this Pepsi machine particularly, peculiarly beautiful and was highly entertained by the name of this boat parked next to it. I completely disagree with this ideology, for many reasons but the first one that comes to mind is the state of our planets health. Think of all the suffering humans believing this idea has caused.
“Because I can…
…I will draw a boarder right here, or maybe over there
…I will fish all the fish
…I will hunt all the bison, wolves, bears
…I will drill for oil in your sacred land
…I will take your land”
The Wool Attic
A dreamy little cottage called the Wool Attic, named quite literally, for its use as a storage place for wool. Every time I passed by I imagine myself held up here for winter, cozy, baking breads, knitting, reading, wood stove burning.
Fishing Culture
A few times my bike and I would show up to the harbor just as the fishing boats lined up to off load their catch. The beginning of June was too early for salmon, but crabbing was in full swing, Dungeness crabs. A few times I stood and watched them for well over an hour, boats sorting crabs, the crane lifting them from sea to land, boat refilling with ice.
One day, a man fell from where that yellow crane is to the floating dock below, wrapping around the pier like the letter “L”. Luckily it was a high tide so that distance was as short as it would ever be, he made a full recovery.
A Garden To Admire
There were many homes and gardens I passed time and time again on my bike rides, walks and runs. I would pick what I liked and didn’t, and then day dream about what my own little home might look like. This house was always exciting to pass by, especially to see how their garden was coming along.
Dalton City
An old movie set from the film White Fang about a young man played by Ethan Hawke. Now home to several shops, a massage place, a bakery, community space and ski maker. The community gardens and fair grounds are next door.
The Farmers Market
The Saturday’s farmers market was lovely routine each was week, as was the sampling of lovely treats and homemade breads. As a bread maker myself, I loved to try bread made by others, especially sourdough. Best of all, a couple played music most weeks and they were a stellar duet.
The bears
This uniquely quiet summer season, no cruise ships, border closed, no river tours or bustling campsites, had seen some unusual bear activity. This trail was closed for several weeks to give a bear aggressively guarding a kill ample space. It was protecting a dead seal, likely washed up on one of the beaches near the trails path.
The Brewery & The Locals
The Haines Brewery is the spot. A beautiful building with an excellent garden offering a view of my favorite mountains, not to mention solid brews. I toggled between the IPA and the Spruce Tip. During my first, second and third visit, to celebrate 20 years of brewing, their pioneering brew was $1. Never have I paid $1 for a craft beer, nor have I exclaimed to a group of six people “I’ll get this round!”
Haines, Sweet Haines
There are many hikes, small and large, to be enjoyed around Haines. This trail called the Race Track, though I still don’t know why, offers an incredible view of Haines, the peninsula, the Lynn Canal and the mountains. In the early nineties a view of Haines very similar to this one graced the cover of Outside Magazine.
June’s Full Moon
Sometimes before going to bed I would hike up the hill behind Julie’s to a particularly boulder. Upon the boulder I stood to conclude the day with one final view of the mountains.
Good night mountains, good night moon.