Boats, Bears, and Do Juneau-ites Have Fur?

My House, My Car, My Boat

That's a slogan from a legendary 90s German banking commercial, and it hits the nail on the head for Juneau. In front of nearly every house sits a boat – usually on a trailer, ready to be pulled to the water by a pickup truck (not just any car!). From there, it's off to fish for halibut or salmon, or to search for king crabs in the ice-cold waters.

Many Juneau-ites also use their boat as a taxi to the surrounding islands, where they go hunting. The rule is: you must have at least one foot on solid ground when shooting. Since Rob is a passionate hunter and angler, the Andrades will soon be proud boat owners too. We already have the pickup truck.

Proud pickup owners

Bear Wisdom

Even before my move to Alaska, a dear Cariad colleague taught me this important motto:

"If it's black, fight back.
If it's brown, lay down.
If it's white, good night."

Here in Juneau, there are plenty of black bears, brown ones are rare. The black specimens are smaller and less aggressive. They can usually be driven away with a loud voice and determined demeanor. With a brown bear, however, it's: lie down, play dead, and pray that it loses interest. Now the challenge is, of course, how do you tell these furry fellows apart?

Black bears in front of friends' house

The bear stories from around here are pretty crazy: One broke into the garage, cracked open the freezer, and blissfully ate the ice cream – leaving the salmon untouched... after all, they can catch that themselves. Another fell through the skylight right into the middle of birthday party preparations, helped himself to the cake, and disappeared again through the balcony door that the owners opened in their panic. Me personally? I haven't seen a bear yet and I'm torn between disappointment and relief...

Skunk cabbage: one of the first plants to bloom in spring. Bears use it as digestive aid after hibernation. 

There's No Bad Weather, Only Bad Clothing (At Least For Newbies)

Welcome to the Tongass National Forest – the world's largest temperate rainforest! Here in Juneau, it doesn't just rain often, but it rains with a dedication that's in a league of its own. One of our early local investment was therefore two pairs each of Xtratuf rubber boots – "Alaska Proven" is the promising slogan on the box. One pair is ankle-high, one pair is knee-high.

The rubber boot collection

The rain jacket is standard equipment when venturing outside, rain pants are recommended depending on the "rain angle" (is it raining from above, from the side, or even from below). I am always amazed, when I encounter locals in shorts and t-shirts – at 11 degrees (that would be Celsius) and rain! My theory: After a few years here, you automatically develop water-repelling fur, like some animals have. I can't explain this weather immunity any other way.

Rubber boots "in action"

A day without rubber boots