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Whittier came about as a military base in response to the Japanese invasion of Alaska and the Aleutians. It was chosen because it offered a deep water harbor that was under near constant cloud cover and therefore difficult to bomb. It is now the jumping off point for tour and fishing boats.
The road to Whittier cuts through a huge mountain via a very narrow, one lane tunnel that is shared alternately by two directions of traffic and a train. Needless to say, they take turns.
Sarah picked us up in Anchorage at the Sleeping Lady Bed and Breakfast and drove us to Whittier in a van. This was one of the Ghost forests along the way that were created during the Great Alaskan Earthquake of 1964 which caused huge shifts in elevation for chunks of land. This chunk dropped in elevation flooding with salt water that killed the trees.
This is Whittier Harbor, home to the Discovery, miscellaneous tours and fishing boats.
This is the one hotel in Whittier. It is apparently for sale ($3M?) if you have the cash.
Great Pacific Seafoods, Inc. with some hungry kittiwakes hovering around their bait tank.
The Alaskan Ferry. Pretty important when you live on island rainforests. It's fast. Real fast. Bad for otters, good for people.
One of the little day tours coming back into the harbor .
The view from the back deck of the discovery as we left Whittier.
©Arnold Gum 2005, 2011
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