Alaska Cruise - Day 6: Ketchikan Rainforest Walk

After the Lumberjack show, we headed to the Tongass National Rainforest, which is the earth's largest temperate rain forest.  To some it up in one word: GREEN.

Our group was split into 3 smaller groups and then weach followed our guide as she pointed out interesting history, facts, plants, etc. She was shorter then me, but a wealth of knowledge.

A nursery log. When trees die, they immidealty act like compost and fertilizer for new stuff to grow on them. Eventually one tree will have its roots hit the ground first and then it will over take the fallen tree.

The growth on the side of the tree is like a tree wart.

Devil's Tongue

Mushrooms growing in the moss on the side of a living tree.

Bear claw marks, most likely from where a momma bear taught her cub how to climb a tree.

A bear used this as a den two years ago.

Salmon berries.

At the end of the walk, they have a few rescued animals. The first pen was some reindeer that they let us feed. They were smaller then I thought they would be, but their feet were huge.

An old saw mill.

The next rescue pen was home to a bald eagle and a great horned owl. Both had been born in the wild, but sustained injuries great enough that they won't be able to survive in the wild now.

We also got to meet a Native who was starting a new totem pole project. He had several poles in front of the gift shop, but I thought we were late for the bus, so I didn't stop and get a picture.

Unfortuanetly, we didn't have extra time to spend in Ketchikan, which made me sade since it was my favorite port.

Watching a show in the Spinnaker Lounge that night.