Alaska - Juneau/Mendenhall

Let's start with a big "waow" !!! This excursion was one of the most exotic I have ever done. Funny to associate Alaska with exotic... Especially that, for this excursion, I was wearing layers upon layers of clothes. All started with an helicopter flight.

The helicopter flew over the Mendenhall glacier. An impressive flight over the wide glacier falling all the way into the sea.

Upon landing on the glacier, we see the dog kennel. Many dogs are there resting on top of their little house.

And then it is time for the dog-sledging adventure. What an experience! The dogs were all excited and jumping around, as it was time for them to go for a run. They were pulling us and we were sliding on the ice. The dogs needed a few stops to rest and cool down in the snow. It was too warm for them...

 What a view of the glacier!

A few words also about Juneau. While it is a capital of a state, it is not connected by roads to any other city, province, country. You can only reach it by plane or by boat. There are no remarkable buildings, with a lot of government buildings. It is funny to hear people refer to "the lower 48 states" when talking about the USA. While it was nice to walk around town, I cannot really imagine how it would be in winter - and I am not going to do my utmost to experience it. The Alaskans have names for the migrating people who come to Alaska only during the summer months, the "cheechacos". The real Alaskans are called the "sourdoughs", in reference to the yeasty starter pioneers carried with them. There is still a dispute on the number of winters you need to have spent in Alaska to be called a "sourdough". It is a title I will never strive after.