August 26, 2016
After leaving Kodiak we flew to Dutch Harbor, home of the 'Deadliest Catch' fleet during crabbing season. Although that is the name of the harbor, the actual name of the town is Unalaska. Dutch Harbor is well out on the Aleutian Island chain that stretches towards Russia in the Bering Sea.
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Dutch Harbor road closed for plane takeoff
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Flying to the out-posts of Alaska is interesting. First, typically no TSA security, just show your ID and eventually walk to the small plane. Since many out-post locations can only be reached by plane or boat, luggage allowances are very liberal - you often see people transporting all kinds of stuff back home.
Landing in Dutch Harbor was exciting. A interesting perspective on the airfield goes back to WWII - the Aleutians were an active battleground in that war - Dutch Harbor was bombed by the Japanese and several islands further out on the chain were occupied by the Japanese and taken back by the Americans in very bloody marine assaults. While Dutch Harbor was a major supply point for the armed forces there, the military deemed Dutch Harbor 'unsuitable' for a airfield due to the mountainous topography and built their airfield on a nearby island.
When you approach for a landing to the north, you fly between two large mountains - you are below the peaks and the port wing seems way too close to the hill on that side. Then you turn sharply to the right (to avoid hitting the mountain ahead) and land on the short runway just off the water and a road that gets closed when planes arrive or depart with 'railroad crossing' style gates. Joyce says she was glad she didn't know what the landing was like, or she would have worried the whole trip!
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| Approaches to Dutch Harbor, from high on the hill where Ft. Schwatka a WWII army base was located to guard the harbor. |
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Another view overlooking Dutch Harbor - NO trees in the Aleutians - weather is too brutal!
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Fishing boats - no Deadliest Catch boats seen here.
Most actually have homeports elsewhere, only here during crab season |
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| Crab pots ready to go! |
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| Russians were first European settlers here and Russian Orthodox still the dominant denomination |
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| Russian Orthodox church |
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Much of the land around Unalaska is now native owned.
A land-use permit and a 4-wheel drive vehicle are well worth it to explore the dramatic hills and military artifacts |
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Impossible to capture how steep and narrow this road is in a picture!
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| Coast on the way to Summer Bay - the purple flower in the foreground is 'Fireweed' |
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| There are so many eagles in Unalaska, that they approach 'pest' status |
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| Juvenile Eagle - they don't have the black and white plumage until they are over 3 years old |
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| Red fox not that worried about me on a hill high above Unalaska |
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| Finally decided to leave after quite a while! |
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| Visitors to coastal regions in the US are familiar with hurricane evacuation signs - here it is Tsunami evacuation |
We left Dutch Harbor on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry 'Tustumena' that makes a trip up and down the Aleutian Chain. It is the lifeline the people that live in the small settlements along the chain. Although there are tourists aboard, many of the passengers are locals traveling along the chain.
The 'Tusty's route:
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| Fog shrouded hills on departure from Dutch Harbor. Most of the trip was foggy and rainy so not that many pictures. |
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| First stop = Akutan |
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| 'Downtown' Akutan |
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| Russian Orthodox church in Akutan |
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| You know you are in Alaska, when locals meet the ferry on 4-wheelers. |
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Recognize this boat in King Cove?
Cornelia Marie from Deadliest Catch |
No great pictures from Cold Bay, Sand Point, Kodiak, or Chignik - rain and fog or nightime stop.
Dutch Harbor (Unalaska) and traveling on the Tusty were unforgettable experiences - probably the favorite part of our Alaskan trip!
Tom
Docked in Marco Island
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