19 July, Haines, Alaska Day 2

We had just two nights in Haines, but we made the most of them.  Mary and I had gotten a great bike ride in on the previous night ... 21 miles round trip to Chilkoot Lake.  Then on the 19th John, Mary and I climbed Mt Riley. Pam stayed back and did a walk on her own.  The trail was reportedly difficult. That forecast hit.

The trail to the summit was 3.2 miles each way. Much of it was through a forest of boreal Sitka spruce trees. They can grow up to 300 feet tall. Prized by luthiers (guitar makers) for guitar tops, the trees can get so heavy they crush their wood under their own weight. This makes a wood that is tonally excellent for musical instruments.  I had never seen spruce tree so large.

This boardwalk protects the tundra at 1600 feet.  I have climbed easier 14ers (Colorado's 14,000 foot peaks).  Steep grades, roots, rocks, and tundra. It was the perfect workout.

John and Mary summit.

The view of the coastal mountains was spectacular.

Now all that remains is to start the downclimb. Our knees are already sore just thinking about it.

This glacier was visible across the fjord.  Take a close look, you can see a huge waterfall, the product of glacial melt.