Alaska 2007—Stikine River

The Stikine River is one of the few rivers that reach from the Canadian interior to the coast. This huge, glacially silted river stretches from the interior of British Columbia to the Southeast Alaska coast near the town of Wrangell. It was a major route for gold miners in the nineteenth century.
 

Stikine River mud

Mud banks form interesting patterns along the Stikine River. In spring of 2007 the river suffered massive flooding.

Andrews Creek Stikine River

Schools of salmon crowd the clear waters of Andrews Creek

  

Shakes Lake

Ice jams the outlet to Shakes Lake. Even in August, several feet of lake ice, along with icebergs from nearby Shakes Glacier, made the lake impassable.

Breakaway Adventures

Access to to the Stikine River is via this Breakaway Adventures jetboat, which can travel at high speeds through shallow water.

  

bear track

In the mud near a small salmon stream feeding into the Stikine, bear tracks announce a recent visitor.

harbor seals

Harbor seals lounge on a sandbar on the Stikine.