The whole point of this “log” was to keep track of all the places I have gone for work.  I’m really falling behind in doing that solely based on the fact that while I am a site I am working late usually and by the time I am ready to do anything, I don’t even want to look at my laptop screen anymore.

Back in March I was sent to Sitka, Alaska. I was sent for two weeks so I had the weekend to see the area. For starters, before looking up Sitka in Google Maps, I had no idea where it was. I was expecting there to be not much daylight as well, but after researching that as well, I found the daylight hours were not much different from Michigan. The weather was not quite the same. The first week I was there it was low 40’s all week. It felt like summer. Their location in southern Alaska and on the coast keeps it mild all winter. I was lucky for the first week, as the second week was colder, snowier, and wetter. I got a lot of hiking while I was there and a lot of biking. This is definitely a place I would go back to given the chance for a vacation.

There is a dormant volcano near by, Mount Edgecumbe. You can get to the island by boat or plane. The map that you can find here was my guide for my whole time there. I rented a mountain bike instead of a car while I was was awesome…until it snowed…but I had my rain gear. 🙂  Hiking wise, I made it to Gavan Ridge up the Gavan Hill Trail, Indian River Trail to the falls, and National Historical Park (super easy, touristy, but a lot of runners were in here, too). The day I hiked to Gavan Ridge, there was little snow at the base. By the time I made it to the ridge it was past my knees. I wish I could have brought my snow shoes, but they didn’t fit in my suitcase!  Besides the hiking, there was the biking. You can ride to the end of the roads on the island each way. I went as far as the Whale Park, one way. Sadly it wasn’t whale season but the views were awesome, as they were everywhere on the island.  It is worth nothing, there were bald eagles everywhere!

And of course there are lots of photos, but here are a few.