Juneau

Juneau in May is wonderful. Contrary to what I was told, Juneau has been remarkably pleasant with balmy temperatures, sunny skies, and gentle breezes: perfect weather for any activity, including flying. Unfortunately, the tourist season is just starting, so flights to the glacier have been either completely booked or nonexistent, thereby, postponing my arrival on the Herbert Glacier. And understandably, Coastal Helicopters won’t send an aircraft up just for me, no matter how nice the views and weather. This leaves me to explore the ins and outs of the unique town (city?) of Juneau.
Over the past five days, I’ve taken advantage of the lull in tourism to become better acquainted with the city blocks and hiking trails. Being of a scientific mindset, I’ll begin with some of my factual findings:
- Juneau is a town of 30,000 people with a large Filipino population.
- Not three miles out of town is North America’s fifth largest icefield, the Juneau Icefield. Its size is comparable to the size of South Carolina, and its annual snowfall exceeds 100 feet.
- Juneau is only 45 miles from end to end, but has 130 miles of hiking trails!
- Juneau is situated in a rainforest.
- The Governor’s Mansion sits atop a hill overlooking the city center. Sarah Palin and her family resided in Juneau for no more than three weeks then chose to return to Wasilla, much to the frustration of the Juneau residents I encountered.
On a more personal level, I’ve found Juneau to be an enjoyable, adventurous, and quirky city. Juneau has to be the only capital so relaxed that it lacks real airport security yet so fast paced that cars honk at pedestrians strolling across a crosswalk. Nowhere else are Extra-Tuff rain boots not only practical but fashionable as well (and I must say, I do prefer Extra-Tuffs to Uggs or high heels)! But probably my favorite aspect of Juneau is the intricate web of trails. Even with a whole summer, I doubt I’ll complete half of the trails within city limits. On my past three hikes my housemate, Crissy, and I have climbed cliffs overlooking the Mendenhall glacier, wove amongst towering trees and moss carpets, and walked on wooden planks across marshy meadows of skunk cabbage. With all the natural beauty, it’s no wonder the cruise ships choose Juneau to dock. Sadly, the same cruise ships that bring life and money to Juneau also tarnish its authenticity. The downtown is filled with jewelry stores and perfume shops catering to the cruise ships rather than locals. While waiting for the bus, I counted ten jewelry stores within just a few blocks! Apparently nothing says Alaska like a diamond necklace. Even with its faults, Juneau is truly a spectacular city with lots to offer. I’m excited to explore the city further, but first and foremost, I look forward to being reunited with the dogs and flying to the glacier! Hopefully the next update will be about glacier life and the wonderful dogs of Nature’s Kennel!