Capturing the Moment

  A US Geological Survey marker signals the top of our hike. A beautiful view of Lake Eyak and the surrounding mountains unfolds before us. It felt like we were high in the Swiss Alps, with alpine lakes and snow capped peaks all around. Cordova, Alaska is a town that is off the beaten path. Way off. There are no roads that connect it to the rest of Alaska. Many of the 2,400 folks that live here like it that way. But that means there are only two way to get here; by little plane (either landing on the lake or a small airstrip known as Mudhole Airport), or by boat. We are cruising in Prince William Sound this week aboard the expedition ship Safari Explorer, so this was our ticket to one of the most remote coastal towns here. I almost couldn't believe my eyes when I woke up this morning. There was not a cloud in the sky. Prince William Sound, being immersed in a temperate rainforest, does not usually provide weather like this. I had to go dig my sunglasses out of the bottom of my bag....

  One of my favorite photos of the day. This scene was on tripod hill, about 1,000ft up. The cloud layer was just above us, but we could see forever just underneath it. The lands now known as Cordova, Alaska were originally the home of the Eyak people. The story is that the Eyak people paddled down the mighty Copper River, then found Eyak lake stocked with beautiful red salmon. They decided to stay along the shores and never left. The Eyak people can still be found in Cordova town today, and a trip to the cultural center, Ilanka, is always high on my list of stops. Fast forward to the Spanish explorer, Salvador Fidalgo, in 1790, the current name of Cordova for the townsite has stuck. However it was the discovery of copper in Kennekott, and the need for a port to ship it from, that created the first boom for Cordova. From 1911 to 1938, 200 tons of high grade copper ore moved through the port of Cordova. The economy switched to a fishing town after the ore ran out, and it is still a ...

  High above the little town of Cordova, 1000+ ft up on tripod hill. Eyak lake spreads out below, and the beginning of the Copper River Delta stretches out to the far horizon. Heading into the harbor of the small Alaskan fishing town of Cordova. First Street, Cordova. Little shops and coffee spots, a brewery, grocery store, and a bank all line First Street. Its a pretty easy town to explore in a few hours, but you could explore the surroundings for days. A few guests of mine stopped in and tried some of the local micro-brews. They all gave thumbs up. This building is a one-stop-shop for all your needs. We got a historical town tour from Ashley, the director of the Cordova Museum. One of the oldest buildings on First Street is the Alaskan Hotel. The Bar is down below. And the sign, which fell off during the Good Friday Earthquake of 1964, was put back upside down and remained that way ever since. I liked some of the old signs, like this one, still up and about as you walk around Cor...