Trip Report
Our group met at the dock in Vancouver, B.C. on Sunday afternoon, August 24th to board the SS Universe. We had largely smooth seas and quite good weather. At Wrangel we viewed the petroglyphs; Juneau was wet but most saw the Mendenhall glacier; Windy Skagway lived up to its name but we took part in many trips such as to Carcross in the Yukon, Haines and local historical points. Our next stop at Whittier found us boarding a bus which in turn was driven onto flat cars and after two tunnels we drove off at Portage and on into Anchorage. The weather did not permit a flight around Mt. McKinley but we saw local historical and tourist places. From Whittier we backtracked to Valdez, the terminus of the Alaskan pipeline, viewed by some while others drove to the Worthington Glacier.
Our ship steamed into Glacier Bay under clearing skies so that our view of the glacier was excellent. Later that day upon leaving, we had a display of a dozen or more whales cavorting in Icy Straits. Sitka was our next port of call and the weather cooperated. We could see Mt. Edgecombe, a volcano, and historical features such as Russian dancing, Sheldon Jackson College and museum, a National Park Service museum and walk through the trees. From Sitka we journeyed to Ketchikan, a busy fishing port. As proof we saw thousands of Salmon milling around the mouth of a prominent creek as well as trying to make their way up stream. Many went to Totem Bight Park. Others shopped while Clarence Scherer and Colin Macdonald climbed the peak back of town. Some of us took the Misty Fiord flight, which on a beautiful day is spectacular. We had a beautiful day. Our pilot showed us a herd of mountain goats as well as the glacial features so well displayed.
Our last port of call was Victoria. The weather continued to be very good and we took in Butchart Gardens, the Empress Hotel, the Museum and did some shopping. We landed at Canada Place in Vancouver early Sunday. We waited to leave the ship and go to our hotel before taking in Expo. A few had done so before the cruise and they returned to Eugene.
Voyagers were John, Willa and Marian Alvord, Kay Anderson, Ewart and leader Margaret Baldwin, Anna and Clifford Butts, Ardis Ebbighausen, Shirley Froyd, Vera Heidenreich, Miki Hutchison, Hazel and Kenneth Kienzle, Delores Kelley, Bea Lefevre, Dorothy Leland, Allethe and Colin Macdonald, Frances Newsom, Keena and Robert Northrop, Janice Pattison, Lois Person, Dorothy and Clarence Scherer, Grace Smith, Millard Thomas, Paula Vehrs, Mildred Weatherby, and Freda and Harold Young.
