Alaska Day Adventure

Alaska Day... it's our official state holiday that honors the formal transfer of the Territory of Alaska from Russia to the United States.  This event happened way back when on October 18, 1867.  Alaskans still celebrate it today - and for good reason. 

And what better way to celebrate this special holiday than by taking off on a sunset motorcycle ride through North Douglas and the Eaglecrest Ski Area?  Especially on a rare sunny evening when Juneau takes a break from her rainforest ways...

The view south from False Outer Point on Douglas Island.

The view north from False Outer Point on Douglas Island.

Alpenglow up at the Eaglecrest Ski Area.  John Muir quote.

Second time on a motorcycle.  First time on a BMW.  German engineering is zee best.

Best Capital City Ever

With low unemployment (4.8%) and high disposable income ($22,329), Juneau was recently ranked as the best state capital to live in (Smart Asset).  Data was collected on all 50 state capitals to determine the cities with the highest and lowest quality of life.  Frankly, I'm not surprised ranked number one - this city is pretty awesome.  As for the other end of the spectrum, lo and behold you can find the capital of my home state, Montgomery, Alabama, (and a slew of other states) ranked at the bottom.

According to the report (couldn't have said it better myself):

Located in the Alaskan panhandle, Juneau is unique in a number of ways. Along with being the Northernmost state capital, it is the only capital city that is not connected to the rest of its state by direct roads—surrounded by glaciered mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, Juneau is reachable only by ferry or plane. That inconvenience has played a role in a decades-long debate over the possibility of moving the Alaskan capitol to a different city. The numbers indicate that the capitol is fine where it is, however; Juneau ranks first out of state capitals for dining and entertainment establishments, and second for disposable income. It also has the sixth lowest unemployment rate.

C'mon already and move here!

A Safe Place

Great news!  Juneau was recently announced as number six on Movoto's list of the Top 10 Safest Places in Alaska.  To create the ranking, data was pulled from the FBI 2012 crime statistics for the 20 places with crime reported in Alaska, and statistics were generated from there.  (Yes, only 20 locations in Alaska had reports of crime - wild, huh?)  Cordova placed first as the safest community in the Last Frontier, and Juneau wasn't far behind.  According to the article:

With a population of over 32,000, it may come as a surprise to some people that Juneau, a relatively large city for Alaska, made our top 10.
But as the numbers show, larger doesn’t always mean more dangerous. After all, Kotzebue has less than 4,000 residents and it came in among the worst-ranking.
Back to Juneau, though. In 2012, the capital city had the eighth lowest number of violent crimes in the state (353 per 100,000 people), the 10th lowest number of property crimes (3,376 per 100,000) and the 9th lowest number of crimes overall (3,729). None of these included murder.

Movoto is an online real estate brokerage site, complete with an informative blog and eye-candy property photos.  Their blog, recognized by Forbes and CBS News, is known for its unique approach to city-based research.  Check out Movoto online or through the Apple App Store.

Aerial view of downtown Juneau, September 24, 2014.

Summit Fever

Mount Roberts was beckoning.  From so many vantage points on Douglas Island, I could look across the Gastineau Channel and spot the majestic Mount Roberts rising high above sea level -  3,819 feet to be exact.  I was determined to climb it, to see the eagle's eye views, take the fresh air deep into my lungs, and find peace of mind atop the mountain.  I was determined to do all of this - solo.  And it happened - wonderfully, slowly, and surely - marking my highest hike up a mountain.

In planning for the trip, I decided to shave about an hour and 1,900 feet off my elevation gain by taking the Mount Roberts Tram and starting my hike from there.  I chose the second to last day of the 2014 Juneau cruise ship season, but little did I know I also picked one of the windiest days of the summer to brave the mountaintop.  The friendly shopkeepers at Gastineau Guiding's Nature Center warned me about going on the trails above the Tram.  60 miles an hour wind gusts, they said.  You'll get blown away, they said.

And boy did it blow.  Like a banshee.  From all sides, I was blown around on that trail, but determined to get as far as I could (and back) before sundown.  I made it all the way past Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak.  Once the wind finally knocked me clear on my tailbone, I figured it was best to turn back.  A hunter had gone missing from this very trail just two days prior - and I was set on not being a statistic or another talking point in the news.  So, in turning back towards downtown Juneau, I was proud I made the milestones there for me to achieve that day.  The hike down was ever so breezy, not to mention absolutely breathtaking in the midst of the alpenglow.

Juneau's smallness rarely disappoints, and I was thrilled to run into good friends who were up at the Tram for a leisurely jaunt.  We shared a bite to eat, had a few celebratory drinks, and reminisced about the fun-filled and challenging summer.  Turns out, hunger and laughter with friends is the best seasoning, after all.

Loads of photos below, plus video of a very entertaining Tram ride with Daku'dane John Perkins, a Tlingit storyteller from the Shangukeidi (Thunderbird) clan.  The crazy winds start at minute 3:54, and you can see friendly ptarmigan (the Alaska State Bird) at minute 4:59.  Enjoy!

The Basics: Heed the Caution Signs and Get Outfitted with Bear Spray, Maps, and Gummies

The Views, the Climb, the Top

The Descent Amongst the Alpenglow

Celebratory Brewskis and Nightfall Over Juneau