Sitka, AK

Ferry trip to Sitka, AK

We embarked on another leg of our journey on Sunday morning 1:30 a.m. on the ferry from Petersburg to Sitka.   This time we got a cabin.   Not much on looks, but really nice for sleeping.   This was a 12 hour ferry ride.

Our lovely cabin.   Hey, at least we had a porthole to look out

View from the ferry going to Sitka

High speed ferry that blew past our ferry

After arriving in Sitka, we set up camp and began our exploration.   We started with the old Russian Cemetary that is located in town.   With the rich Russian heritage in town, there was so much to look at.   The cemetary was on a hill in town and actually still in use.

Russian Cemetary

Old grave marker in Russian Cemetary

Grave of Russian Princess

After the cemetary we got our own personal tour of the Bishop's Palace belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church.   The ranger, Jon Fish, was extremely knowledgeable about the history of Sitka, its people and the Church.  

Bishop Innocent's drawing room (where he learned about the fall of the Tzar)

Bishop Innocent's personal chapel

Sitka, located on Baranof Island, founded by the Russian Fur Company was originally inhabited by the Tlingits, the major tribe of the area.   It was originally called New Archangel when settled by the Russian-American Company in 1799.   The Russian Orthodox Church, lead by Bishop Innocent thrived and educated many the area.   Saint Michael's Russian Orthodox Church was consecrated as a cathedral in 1900.  Sitka was also the site of the ceremony in which the Russian's turned Alaska over to the United States as the 49th state in 1867.

Location of Alaska changing hands

Steeple of St Michael's Russian Orthodox Church

Icon within Church

Icon on book cover

The local Russian Orthodox Priest was present in the church as we took our tour and he was extremely cordial.  We thanked him for sharing his beautiful house of worship with us.

We of course did quite a bit of hiking while in Sitka.  The local bear population is made up of "grizzly bears" so needless to say we didn't want to run into any.   We did some whale watching, but didn't see any in the local waters around the island.

Local hike up to a waterfall

Thought I would sign a Beatle's song while hiking like they say to do

Hitting the hiking trails

Waterfall we hiked to, all uphill of course

Whale watching

The scenary around Sitka is stunning.   The mountains and riverways look like fiords.   Mount Edgecumbe, the local dormant volcano is spectacular in the distance.

View at the end of the road

Mount Edgecumbe - dormant volcano