We pulled into Whittier AK earlier than scheduled due to weather conditions and spent the last night on board in mooring at the peer. We had one last cruise breakfast, which was prolonged as disembarkation was halted several times due to high wind. After the wind finally slowed, we left the ship and walked into town through the pedestrian tunnel. We were warned later that you should look for them in the tunnel before entering (although you can’t see around the corner).
We dumped our luggage with the somewhat harried woman at the register at the Anchor Inn. I say harried because the hotel is also one of the three restaurants in town, as well as the laundromat. There’s also a museum and grocery/hardware/boat parts/fishing gear store in the same complex. The buildings were originally part of the Army base and harbor. We left everything we had with us in the corner of the diner, next to the well-stocked cigarette vending machine (did anyone know these were still around?).
We had scheduled a wildlife viewing cruise with Phillips Cruises and Tours. In retrospect, everyone agreed this was a good idea, as we saw puffins, Stellar sea lions, orcas, and a fin whale.
The chowder was also excellent. We also saw more glaciers.
I thought this photo showed the flow of the glacier well. It was easy to imagine the glacier as a river rushing down from the mountains (which in actuality, it is… just a very sloooow river).
While a lot of the scenery was a repeat from the last day on the cruise, we got a closer look from the small ship, as well as a LOT more wildlife. (Our group was split over whether orcas or puffins were more exciting!).
After we got back from the day cruise, we browsed the small museum next to the Anchor Inn. While it is small, I thought it was $5 well spent. We learned about the mapping expedition and incredible story of survival (and luck!) of Lt. Joseph Castner in 1898. We also learned about the Japanese invasion of America (you remember that, right?) during World War II.
We also walked through the public areas of “The Building”. A high percentage of the permanent residents of Whittier live in the same building, which houses the post office, school, church, and apartments.
We also walked up to the abandoned military building overlooking town. At one point t, this was the largest building in Alaska at about 64,000 sq. ft., including a bowling alley and movie theater.
We also read about the 1964 Good Friday earthquake, including some of the stories of Whittier residents who died in the resulting tsunami.
Now that the military is no longer present, Whittier is mostly sustained on shipping and the cruise industry, although almost all of the cruise passengers take the bus out the day they arrive.
We managed to stay one night. But I don’t know that I could last a winter…
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