Excerpts from RGA Tour Guide, Holly Jo Parnell at HainesAlaskaTourguide.blogspotcom

With gold sky rocketing over $1700 an ounce recently, our Gold Rush to Porcupine Creek Tour is starting to be more than mere entertainment to our tour guests. Even small gold nuggets are worth something. Young and old, People want gold!

John Schnabel telling young prospectors; Mike, Farris, Errol and Matt how to pan for gold.

I have become a pretty good gold panner since I get to show tour groups how to pan for gold almost every time we visit Big Nugget Mine at Porcupine Creek. In fact, I became a little over-confident about my gold panning technic and lost my gold in the water trough on one of my tours. My happy tour guide persona quickly vanished and was replaced by a gold fever lunatic who just lost their fortune. I rolled up my sleeves and told all the guests to step back while I franticly panned the mud at the bottom of the trough. Everyone kept silent as they could tell I meant business. It only took me seven times of scrapping mud from the bottom and panning it to recover my lost gold nugget. I breathed a sigh of relief as I dropped my sweet gold nugget into my “poke” and came back to Tour Guide mode, all fun and games and happiness again.
I was pretty embarrassed about that incident until a few tours later when John Schnabel himself (Big Nugget Mine owner) lost his gold during a panning demonstration. He looked at me and said, “In 25 years I have never lost the gold”. He didn’t bother panning it back out of the trough, he just went to his safe and got some more gold. I noticed him eyeing the area he lost the nugget though. I’m sure he panned it out after we left.

Rainbow Glacier Adventure Tour Guests; a couple from Canada and locals Kim & Hunter get a rare gold panning demo from a “real” Gold Miner of Porcupine Creek,
John Schnabel of Big Nugget Mine

This last tour I found out that losing my own gold is not the worst thing that could happen…..losing one of my guests gold is. I was panning with a nice couple, Julie and David, from Virginia when I saw a gold nugget come into view in Julie’s pan.
I exclaimed, “Julie, you got gold!”
She said, “Where?”
“Right there!” I pointed excitedly at a beautiful round yellow nugget that looked decidedly different than the one I had discovered while giving them a gold panning demonstration. That was why she didn’t believe it was gold I guess, it looked really yellow, my nugget had more iron in it and caused it to have a reddish tint. Julie’s gold looked very pure.
She said, “That is just a yellow rock.”
“No, it’s gold, and a pure piece of gold…less iron in it than mine!”, I exclaimed.
She looked at me skeptically.
“Its gold alright, look here, see…”, To convince her, I picked her gold nugget out of the pan and started turning it over in my fingers when – PLOP – down it fell, out of my fingers and into the watery trough! Oh My Goodness! We both looked at each other in dead silence, then down at the murky water.
“Ah…hopefully your right Julie, maybe that wasn’t your gold” I backpedaled, wishing I hadn’t made such a big deal about how pure and pretty her gold looked compared to mine.
“That looked like my gold.” Julie proclaimed with a 180 degree turn from a few moments ago.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get it back” I said as I started digging into the bottom of the trough with my pan.
“You better”, she said, somewhat teasingly, somewhat not.
I cleared my throat and confidently told her, “No problem, we will get it back in no time.”
We both started panning the bottom of the trough to no avail. After multiple attempts we asked David to join us in the search and I mentioned to Julie that if we couldn’t find her gold she could have the nugget I found. She said she wanted “her” gold piece, not mine. Oh shoot, any gold nugget was not going to appease her. She wanted the pretty round yellow nugget that was meant for her. Ugghhh. I panned more furiously.

My gold nugget to the right there – the one I offered Julie as a
consolation prize, but was rejected. Mine is long and flat
with more red coloring, hers was fat and round and pure yellow.

After scraping the mud from the cold water over twenty times my hands started to feel numb. We are on a real Placer Mine at Big Nugget Gold Mine in Porcupine Creek….we don’t heat our water.
I began losing hope, and started talking seriously about the possibility she may have to take my gold nugget as a consolation prize and when I found her gold I could mail it to her. The look on her face told me that was not an option. I was going to find “her” gold…or die trying.
So I said a little prayer. I know, this is not really a praying matter, but I could not think of anything else to do and my back was getting sore, my hands were pass the numb stage and starting to grow icicles. I just wanted the nightmare to be over, so I prayed a silent little prayer in my heart to help me find this reluctant gold nugget.
Presto! Like magic, that round yellow gold nugget appeared on top of the mud I had just scooped up from the bottom of the trough. I didn’t even need to pan it out. It was gleaming on the top of the panned mud like it was King of the Mountain! How cool is that?

Julie’s shy little gold nugget safely found at last!

Now I don’t want to turn this into a religious blog or anything, but I believe in giving credit where credit is due. That is how I got Julie’s gold nugget back to her. She was a happy gold panning tourist again. All was well in the Tour Guide World.

Jenny Lyn Smith with her daughter, Sabrina & family,
visiting from Utah – they were all successful at Gold Panning!
Sometimes we Tour Guides have to go to extreme measures to insure the guests have a wonderful experience. This was one of those times…and frankly, I wish I had thought of praying sooner. My hands wouldn’t have froze and I wouldn’t have to be rubbing “tiger balm” on my back every night since then.

For your own unique tour adventure in Haines Alaska, go to www.tourhaines.com

Excerpt from RGA guide: HainesAlaskaTourguide.blogspot.com

Field of the Dandelion weeds at the Ghost Town of Porcupine City. My Dad on one of my tours.

I cant believe we are already into July.  Summer flies when your having fun in Haines Alaska and Tour Guiding seals the deal!  I’m having a ball taking people to the Schnabel’s Big Nugget Mine where we pan for gold and find nice nuggets.  This is a great tour for the young and the young at heart!

Elizabeth from California takes a snap of her cousin, local cutie, 4 yr old Hayden with his gold nugget he panned all by himself

We have seen black bears on Porcupine Road…

Black Bear take off quick on Porcupine Road, it is hard to get a good snap of them

Bald Eagles in the Bald Eagle Preserve and Celebrities (in the making) at Big Nugget Gold Mine.

Each tour is unique and unpredictable…special in its own way.  I’ve met interesting people from all over the world.

Hilarious “good ole boys” from New York.  They came to Alaska for the summer to gold prospect.  They are big fans of the TV show. Yes – Roger is offering John Schnabel some chewing tobacco.  John kindly refused saying, “I don’t drink or smoke, nor does my grandson Parker”

I feel fortunate to go out to Porcupine Creek as often as I do because each day the scenery is different….no joke.  With super long days in Alaska the flora and fauna bloom rapidly, and go to seed just as quickly as they come.

The elusive Chocolate Lilly – they have come and gone

I have seen Lupine and Wild Iris all over the last week or two, and I have already seen the Fireweed start to bloom, which is the sign that summer will be coming to a close before we know it.

Bunchberry – they were here the last 3 weeks

Haines Alaska is a beautiful wonder to behold.  I love guiding these tours, it is a historical journey of the Dalton Trail and I have the privilege of reliving the adventure of the Porcupine Creek Gold Rush of 1898, on every tour.  It is amazing to think of the determination and dedication the pioneers of this wild frontier possessed, giving us the luxuries we have today.

Views of the Dalton Trail Route (general area)

It takes us 30 minutes to drive to Porcupine Creek from Haines.  In 1915 they bragged that it only took 4 hours in the first cars of the area.  That was fast compared to the month long trek of the Gold Prospectors of 1898.  They would pull their gear in sleds while the rivers were still frozen.  Most of the prospectors made the 34 mile journey by foot, totaling 350 walking miles after they went back and forth, hauling multiple loads of gold mining and camping gear for the summer.

1898 Johnson Party Gold Prospectors – from “Gold Seeking on the Dalton Trail”

That’s all for now folks….Happy Forth of July!  Celebrate our freedom to follow the American Dream!

For Gold Rush to Porcupine tours go to www.tourhaines.com

Excerpt from RGA guide: HainesAlaskaTourguide.blogspot.com

Spectacular Views of the Dalton Trail

The first “Gold Rush to Porcupine Tour” started on Memorial day weekend with 10 people on board to the gold road to Porcupine.  We drove up the scenic Haines Highway through the Bald Eagle Preserve.  Joe Ordonez and CJ Jones gave excellent commentary of the area and the rich history of Dalton’s Trail.  We crossed over the Klehini River and into the Porcupine Gold District of 1898.

Dandelions in bloom – they may be weeds but they are sure pretty

We visited 16 yr old Parker Schnabel at his Big Nugget Mine where their operation is in full swing.  Parker explained the workings of the “grizzly” and “jig” while we stood beside the raging Porcupine Creek.

Parker Schnabel at his Big Nugget Mine

Grizzly, Jig and Trammel talk – keys to getting placer gold

It is pretty awesome to see a 16 yr old young man in charge of his grandfather’s, John Schnabel, successful Gold Mine of 25 years.  Normally, it is hard just to get a 16 yr old to make their bed….and here Parker is running the gold mine and allowing tours to come and catch gold fever by panning for the rich yellow nuggets.

Parker brought each of us a pan and a bag of dirt so we could try our luck.  Soon everyone was working the pan like pros and after a bit you could hear the holler of delight as they glimpsed gold in the bottom of their pan!  Everyone was thrilled to find $20 to $30 dollar nuggets in their pan!  Parker is a great gold host.

Parker Schnabel with an ounce of gold over $1500.00 in US dollars

Gold Panning at Porcupine

Judy & Louise catching Gold Fever

Parker, of course, is a pro…..so he found a bit more in his pan.  We were all smiles as we said our good byes to Parker and Big Nugget Gold Mine.  We made a last stop by Porcupine Creek where a veranda and chairs are available to sit and take in the gorgeous views of the mountains and creek……oh, and the Discovery Channel’s hit TV Show, “Gold Rush: ALASKA”.

Discovery Channel’s, “Gold Rush: ALASKA” mine in Porcupine Creek

Their gold mine operation is right there and visible for a sneak peak at the happenings on the site. You can’t see their set up from the main road, they have it blocked off to visitors.  The only way to view their mine is on the Schnabel’s land, as they are neighbors with the Porcupine Creek in the middle.

Road Closed to the Gold Rush Alaska gold mine where Dakota Fred and crew are getting GOLD

We had 3 tours go out for our starting week of the Gold Rush to Porcupine Tour. Gold Fever was contagious with many saying they want to come back for more gold panning.  They also said they would check out Discovery Channel’s TV show next season as Parker Schnabel is being filmed more often this summer and may become a little celebrity himself.  He is such a cute kid, he deserves all the success in the world!

I made sure I got a photo with Parker next to Porcupine Creek I’ll have him autograph it, cause he is gonna be a STAR - and quite possibly a gold mining heart throb for the gals!

Really neat photo opportunity’s of old buildings at the historic Porcupine City of 1898 to 1905 era

Gold Panning at Porcupine Creek

Young Stella catching gold fever with an ounce of the yellow pay dirt

Judy is giddy with GOLD

Robyn is a happy and successful gold panner

I couldn’t resist being a rebel at the road block to the Gold Rush Alaska mine

Fans of the TV show were excited to get a peak at the location

Hello you got to come…. 

Rainbow Glacier Adventure Team with Parker Schnabel at Porcupine Creek.  Joe Ordonez established RGA in 1987 – top notch tours of Haines Alaska www.tourhaines.com

Excerpt from RGA guide: HainesAlaskaTourguide.blogspot.com

Tourism Director, Tanya Carlson – Mayor Jan Hill – Tour Operator, Adam Patterson Enjoying the new look of Haines as they wait to greet Cruise Ship guests

We did it! The first Cruise Ship Day in Haines was a big success.  Southeast Roadbuilders, who were constructing our new Bus Parking Lot and Restrooms worked their little hearts out till 2am on Cruise Ship day and completed a large majority of it.  It is pretty amazing what people can do under pressure.  It will be a great addition to Haines.  We are steadily giving this pretty little town a much needed face lift.

Don’t get me wrong, the natural Haines doesn’t need any help at being beautiful.  It is the folks who live here that need to work hard at making our man made areas worthy of residing in such an awesome place.  They say, “If you build it they will come”. So come on tourist, come try out our 2 million dollar restrooms!  I did. They are great; clean, classy and real uptown.

We even have a bench for the men to sit on while waiting for their women.

Lots of room for the buses

We just have the curb to finish. Another highlight of the day was when I got to follow the wonderfully artistic Jen Reid on a tour called “Haines Off the Beaten Path”.   This is another unique tour offered at Rainbow Glacier Adventures, the company I work for.

Jen Reid showing us how to enjoy every moment I have lived here 3 years and was glued to my seat while hearing Jen describe a side of Haines I had not seen before.  She has lived here approximately 30 years and has raised 2 children in an area of Haines that didn’t have electricity until about 10 years ago. Outhouses are common. For water people have wells, and they all use natural springs too.  Some have to kayak or canoe to their homes, or wait for the tide to go out so they can walk across Mud Bay to their dwelling.  The tight-nit community of artists live 7 miles outside of downtown Haines, but it might as well be 7,000 miles with how different their subsistence, earthy, productive, artistic life style is from my own two bedroom apartment, frozen foods and satellite life.

John Svenson came out to meet us at Extreme Dreams Art Gallery

Jen inviting us in the Extreme Dreams Art Gallery

Jen took us to the Extreme Dreams Fine Art Gallery at the edge of Chilkat State Park where we met Owner and Artist John Svenson.  John is an extraordinary artist with many pallets to choose from, like; glass, painting, beads, vessel forms and his wife Sharon creates textiles and mosaic mirrors.  Jen creates beautiful jewelry that is also on display at the gallery

Jen Reid’s artistic, beautiful jewelry

John Svenson and Jen Reid tell guests the juicy secrets of Haines

John and Jen delighted us with stories of the local artists and how they live.  They have potlucks and bon fires on a regular basis. They have a community garden and share their “catch of the day” with each other when crab potting, fishing, and netting.  They all have many talents and skills.  Jen credited that from living without televisions.  I have always wanted the inside scoop to this world so close and yet so far away from my own.  I felt my creative juices flowing just by being around them.

John Svenson’s Art Studio – an amazingly cool place to create

Artist’s are the spice of Haines…. and even a place as beautiful as Haines can be enhanced with a little spice.

The community garden at the Fairgrounds which we visited

We also visited Dave Pahl of the Hammer Museum. He is as interesting and unique as his museum This hammer saved his dog from drowning in his car when his car sunk into the Lynn Canal. You have to hear him tell the story.

Haines Alaska is full of characters that are as beautiful and unique as the landscape.  Contact Rainbow Glacier Adventures for your unique Haines experience.

Excerpt from RGA guide: HainesAlaskaTourguide.blogspot.com

Oh, oh, what a feeling! To drive…..a tour bus (sang to the tune of the old Toyota commercial). 

I passed my dreaded driving test and can now get a Commercial Drivers License.  Whoopee – I’m so stoked!  I have been studying the last two months.  This is not child’s play my friend.  The CDL is the hardest thing I have ever studied to get. This is coming from a gal who received a Correctional Officer certification – think pepper spray in the face and defense training for 3 weeks, and was Flight Attendant certified – think Jump, Jump, Jump, out and down the emergency escape slide – one month, non-paid (did it twice).

I passed just in the nick of time.  Haines will have our first Cruise Ship for the season, and it comes tomorrow (Wednesday 25th)! I wont be driving the bus yet because I still have to get a medical exam before I become a card carrying CDL driver, but I will be standing at the Cruise Ship dock greeting the happy tourists and inviting them to take one of the excellent tours we offer at Rainbow Glacier Adventures.  Sweet!

The “Gold Rush to Porcupine Creek” tour is not available yet, the first tour is scheduled for next Monday the 28th (Memorial Day here in the good ole USA). I’m getting hyped for it!

Park Ranger Preston Krues telling us about Bear Safety

I spent 4 hours on Monday in a “Guiding in Bear Country” training class.  It was fun meeting guides from the other tour companies in Haines.  I was highly entertained as we discussed what to do in different scenarios involving bears and tourists.  Most of these guides are pros and have first hand experience with people trying to get up close and personal with the bears because they forget they aren’t watching TV anymore, comical stuff.

When you are guiding in Haines Alaska the question isn’t,

“What will you do IF you see a bear?”,  it is “What will you do WHEN you see a bear?”

Haines has a nice size bear population, of both brown bears (grizzly) and black bears.  Easy bear viewing at Chilkoot River is one of the reasons I was attracted to move to Haines.  The bears get big and fat on the large “salmon runs” during the summer.  I’m a huge fan of bears. I read and watch anything and everything about bears.  Yes, I liked Grizzly Man (the movie).  And yes, I’m a fan of Timothy Treadwall, the bear enthusiast who lived with bears for 13 seasons before getting mauled and eaten by one (along with his girlfriend).  I joke about moving to Alaska to be “Grizzly Girl” some day.  Hey, if we all have to die anyways….why not have it be exciting?

Pam Randall showing us proper bear spray technic. Unfortunately Ray Staska’s (in the red) bottle was still loaded with real pepper spray, and we had wind.

Just kidding, I’ll stick with “Gold Girl” for now. You don’t have to worry about me trying to hug a bear with my tour group in tow.  I learned about bear safety, bear behavior and how to avoid confrontations with bears.  Though I will tell you, if I had to choose, I would rather be attacked by a brown bear.  Brown bears mainly attack people on the defense and will quit gnawing on you if you play dead.  Black bears, as rare as an attack is, mainly attack people as predators and plan to eat you….so fight like your life depends on it, because it does.

Just remember this, when your visiting Haines Alaska, it is safer to stay in groups….so go on a tour!

Yeah, that sounded like an advertising plug didn’t it?  Well, I’m gearing up for tomorrow to sell tours to the masses.  Shoot, tomorrow has quickly become today.

Im not a fan of pepper spray (for personal reasons**) – I think I’ll take the air-horn instead.

That is how close you need the bear to be for pepper spray to be effective.  Not very comforting eh?

** remember the Correctional Officer training I told you about.  This is how pepper spray looks on my face.

I dont want to be dealing with pepper in my face while a bear is attacking, no thank you.

I went to Skagway today. Its a different world from Haines. Funny how it is only 15 miles away but it is a different world. The difference is that there is no road along the fifteen miles. In order to drive there, it is 360 miles one way. By boat it takes 45 minutes, by plane its 12 minutes. But because you can’t drive between the two quickly, each one retains its own flavor. Think of the towns down south that are fifteen miles apart. How different really are they? With the strip malls and the freeways, going along at sixty miles an hour in your own car, when you want, where you want, its easy for everything to homogenize. But since there is no road, the distance seems much greater. And so the flavor is different.

There were four big ships in Skagway today, so there were people everywhere. One thing I noticed is that they were all crammed along the eight blocks along Broadway. I got one or two blocks off of Broadway, and it was like being in different world. Its as if Skagway has two different worlds- the world along Broadway and then the world off-Broadway. And I preferred to be off-Broadway. Its residential. Small houses with nice lawns and gardens, interspersed with a random old building…..what was it? An old warehouse? Something to do with the gold rush? The railroad? Some buildings have interpretive signs from the National Park Service, others don’t. I enjoyed my walk.

When I got hungry, I headed back towards Broadway. I know the restaurants in Haines, and there are some good ones…..Mosey’s, Fireweed, the Lighthouse, the Klondike, to name a few. But I live in Haines and many of those restaurants are open just during the summer, so I felt like something different. I saw a sign….Bombay Curry, and headed inside. That’s something different, an Indian restaurant. I love Indian food, and was pleasantly surprised. Not only by the food, I had a nice curry and they weren’t afraid to spice it up, but also by the ethnic diversity in Skagway. The couple that ran the restaurant were definitely from India. I went in to use the internet and the guy running the shop was from Bulgaria. Haines just doesn’t have an international crowd like this. And since I’m Guatemalan/Italian and have been fortunate enough to have traveled extensively, I appreciate diversity.

I first came to Skagway in 1983, and first came to Haines n 1986, so I have friends in both towns. They are different, and I like that.

Hi. This is my first blog entry ever. I’m not really a writer, more of a philosopher/educator, but I thought maybe someone might be interested in what I’m thinking about and what is going on in Haines and with Rainbow Glacier Adventures. This morning, I woke up in our house across Mud Bay. With its view of the Rainbow Glacier…hey, that’s why I call this company Rainbow Glacier Adventures. Its not that we go hiking on the Rainbow Glacier, or climb up there, its just that I enjoy looking at it and it dominates the view from our home. I woke up and started doing some yoga and in my brain comes this quote…..”take care of the old person that you are one day going to become.” I remember that I had heard a guy say that quote during his 100th birthday celebration. I don’t know why I thought of it today, it just came up. Well, after I’m done, I turn on the radio and Alaska News Nightly reports that the gentleman who said that quote had just died and that Alaskan flags would be at half mast. And then came his voice over the radio…..”take care of that old person that you will one day become.”

Excerpt from RGA guide: HainesAlaskaTourguide.blogspot.com

 

Port Chilkoot Dock Restrooms and parking lot under construction

 

Here is a quick update on what Gold Rush Alaska is up to.  The film crews are following local high schooler, Parker Schnabel, around Haines High School today.  They had all the students sign wavier agreements so they could be put on National Television (if it doesn’t get cut on the editing room floor first).  Parker Schnabel will be the Superintendent at Big Nugget Mine this summer (that is the mine next door to the Gold Rush Alaska mining operation).  Parker is the 16 yr old grandson of John Schnabel, who is retiring at age 91.  It is pretty unique for such a young man to run such a successful Gold Mine, and he is allowing Rainbow Glacier Adventures to bring tours out to his mine for some panning.  He has a big summer ahead of him.  I know he will do great!
On to Haines happenings….our new (and very controversial) $2 million dollar Cruise Ship Restrooms and Parking Lot is still under construction.  The crew is working like mad men to get it done because our first cruise ship to Haines will be here next Wednesday, May 25th.  I don’t think they are going to make it, but, they have picked up the pace so it may be done before the season is over.  hahaha just kidding….mid season at the latest.

Traveling with Drake

The tours have started for 2011 in Haines just the same.  We collect our guests from Skagway and bring them over to Haines on the Fast Ferry (a 45 minute ride passing sea lions, eagles and whales on the Lynn Canal – not too shabby).  I get to be the person for Rainbow Glacier Adventures who goes over to Skagway to pick them up.
On Tuesday I got the privilege of flying over to Skagway with Drake, in what we endearingly call “a puddle jumper”.  That is like going on a tour itself.  The views of Haines and the Lynn Canal are amazing from the air. It didn’t hurt to have some very knowledgeable guides on board who could point out the flow and pattern of the Glaciers in the area.
When we returned to Haines I went on our “Guide’s Choice” Photography Tour with Tom Ganner as the guide.

Rainbow Glacier Adventure Photographer Guide Tom Ganner at Chilkat Inlet (low tide)

That is how I get to train to become a tour guide.  I go along with all the tours till I become as knowledgeable and funny as they are.  Poor me, eh?  My “hard job” is to hang around super cool people while seeing and learning about Haines Alaska.  It will be pretty hard to become as good as Tom though.  He has a great gift for guiding people.  Maybe he learned it from all his years as a Science Teacher in middle school.  His easy going style helps the guests relax and breathe in the beauty of Haines. He has an intimate knowledge of Haines since he has lived here over 10 years.

Tom with guests admiring our -4.2 low tide in Chilkat Inlet

My shot after hearing Tom’s thoughts on composition Look at the low tide….very cool

Tom took us through Fort Seward, and then he drove us out to Chilkat Inlet, where I learned more about photography from him in ten minutes than my entire 3 years of High School Photography combined. He is an excellent photographer and teacher.  He has all the bells and whistles (tripods and lens) to lend the guests for optimal photo shooting.  Haines is a photographers paradise, it helps even an amateur photographer like me look good.  The guests kept saying how wonderful it was to get away from the busy crowds of the Cruise Ship and soak in the “real feeling” of Alaska, with all its wild wonder.

Haines Alaska from Picture Point

Next we drove to what the locals call “Picture Point”, and took the most common picture to take in Haines Alaska.  I call it the “Post Card” shot, because you can find this picture on many Haines Alaska post cards.  After that Tom took us toward Chilkoot Lake, where we had “less common” photo opportunities.  This is the coolest part about the company I work for.  The guides are all local and they know all the locals, so we get rare opportunities that are not afforded to the “Average Joe”.

Tom Ganner and Michael Stark

Tom introduced us to, Michael Stark, a local favorite. We were allowed to take photos from his property which proves to be an excellent advantage point of the Chilkoot River.  Michael is the Narrator for the Fast Ferry and a very personable guy.  I have lived here almost 3 years and have not had the opportunity to meet him before (but always wanted to).  I don’t know if the guests knew what an honor it was to be “hanging out”  with such talented people as Tom & Michael, but I did.  After we left that great spot Tom confided that Michael was the actor who played Joe Bradley on the daytime drama Guiding Light.  Aahhh…. no wonder it seemed like we were meeting a celebrity.

Australian Tourist, Debbie, enjoying the “Real Alaska” views

Tom also took us on the fish weir, which crosses over Chilkoot River, where the Salmon get counted during the summer runs.  I have never been on it before….it is always locked up, but good ole Tom took us right out in the middle.  Very cool – it is too bad the fish weren’t running, I would love that.  That is when the fish weir is covered in bears though …. probably another reason why they lock it up.

Tom pointing out a Bald Eagle on the Fish Weir at Chilkoot River

We ate lunch (included in the tour) from Chilkat Bakery on a bench overlooking the spectacular Chilkoot Lake.  It was an excellent day listening to Tom’s great stories and learning to take superb pictures!  Tom even has a bit of “Bird Whisperer” in him as he got a Stellar Jay to pose for photos.

Stellar Jay posing nicely for Tom

After accompanying Tom Ganner on the tour, I am seriously considering upgrading my camera so I can learn to get the “money shots”. You can see some of Tom’s work on
Rainbow Glacier Adventure’s Facebook Page
Check out the TOUR PICTURES Photo Album for some excellent wildlife shots; such as an eagle flying in front of a brown bear and her cub, and a brown bear and a raven.  It is easy to see why he has been contacted by National Geographic recently.  I’m gonna have to get his autograph now before he becomes known as the superstar photographer that he is.
Learn more about Tom Ganner at www.majorproduction.net
Learn more about Rainbow Glacier Adventures at www.tourhaines.com

Me on the Fish Weir – I was stoked!

Fish counting station on the Fish Weir at Chilkoot River

Fishermen & their dog on Chilkoot Lake

We were traveling in comfort on Rainbow Glacier’s tour

Local Rock Artist, Jim’s place along the Chilkoot Inlet

This is a cool stop…..Jim (the home owner) sets these rocks up in crazy formations and as cars pass the wind will sometimes knock them down.  So each day he goes out to his “Zen Garden” and places them in a new formation.  How about that?  All these years I thought they were secured together. I had not noticed that they changed daily.  Geez, I’m clueless at times.

Jim’s daughter came out to say “Hi” – Tom knows everyone.

Tom Ganner showing us how to “Zen Out” Haines Alaska style

Rock Artist Jim’s Zen Garden

Chilkoot Inlets floating house

This little house will have water all the way under it when the tide is high.  It has no plumbing, but that doesn’t stop travelers from staying there when they come to Haines looking for a cheap place to stay, with great views.

Best views of Chilkoot River Salmon runs are right here. It is private property though so come on a tour with Rainbow Glacier Adventure to hang out and watch bears this summer.

Excerpt from RGA guide: HainesAlaskaTourguide.blogspot.com

Haines Tourism Director, Tanya Carlson

The Party has started!  Haines tour season has hit the ground running. We had our first ever “Night of Tourism” this evening.  It was a full house with Tanya Carlson, Haines’ excellent Tourism Director, hosting the event.  Local restaurants catered the party with delicious finger foods to munch on and drinks available for purchase.  The venue was held at the (very cool) Bald Eagle Foundation Museum.  Live Owls and a Hawk greeted us while we snacked and mingled before entering the Natural History Room for the “Night of Tourism”.
Tanya greeted everyone and talked about Haines being a little piece of heaven on earth and how one business’s success is success for all of Haines. How we need to be united in our efforts and learn to work together for the greater good of Haines.

Karen Hess – Chilkat River Adventures Jet Boat Tours

Stan Jones – Valley of the Eagles Golf Course

John Svenson – Extreme Dreams Fine Art

Annette Smith – Fort Seward Vacation Rentals

There was an excited energy in the air because each tour company/business got to stand in front of the crowd and give a 1 minute spiel about their product….. or that excitement could have been because the “Gold Rush Alaska” crew was in the house! It was like having celebrities attend.  Of course, Haines is a great place to be a celebrity because people here are pretty private and they play it cool around big wigs, they give them their space, that is…..everyone gave them their space but me.

Fred, Chris, Jim, ?, Me, Todd, New Guy, Parker Schnabel, Jack

Dakota Fred

I was the obnoxious “Gold Rush Alaska Fan” who wouldn’t quit taking photos and video of them.  They were all very kind, maybe even a little shy at the attention, but they let me take their picture and they even signed a Gold Rush Alaska photo for me, upon request.  (See first picture on this blog)

Todd Hoffman

Todd Hoffman spoke next.  Todd introduced his Dad, Jack, and then told us how “Gold Rush” came to be.  He is the actual creator of “Gold Rush Alaska”. The idea came when they were trying to figure out a way to pay for the fuel.  He said he doesn’t always get along with Fred but he agreed with what he said about mining, “if you don’t like miners then you should quit using cars and computers”.

Todd, Joe O. – Rainbow Glacier Adventures Owner (my boss), & Jack

“Send them to Rainbow Glacier Adventures instead, we will take them out to Porcupine”, Joe Ordonez chimed in  (everyone laughed).

Money Shot – Dakota Fred & Todd Hoffman duking it out

Me & Jack Hoffman

Parker Schnabel with the Gold Rush Guys; New Guy, Jim and Chris

Todd, Joe O., Me, Jack

Buckshot & Bobby Pins Owner, Kristine Harder & Fred

Hudson Hoffman (Todds son) & I Is it me or does he seem extremely out of control excited?

Joe Ordonez with the Gold Rush Alaska Miners

Me with the Hoffmans

Dakota Fred & me (he is a sweetheart)

Todd & me (our eyes were red so I had to black them out. Now we look like vampires….Gold Rush Twilight)

Hudson goofing off with Fred’s glasses Todd & Dave Olerud chatting behind Jim chowing down

Dakota Fred with Dave Olerud – Founder of the Bald Eagle Foundation

Me & Chris

Kristine surrounded by men….whats new?