Sitka Arrival




Mt. Verstovia over Sitka

 

As we neared Sitka, we could see mountains towering above the cloud layer, Mt. Verstovia loomed above the city in the distance.  

Mountains over Sitka

Around 5pm we entered Samsing Cove located four miles from Sitka and spent two nights enjoying the peaceful setting.  

Purse Seiner outside Samsing Cove

Trollers and Purse Seiners were active in the area up until the evening hours, some of whom came into the Cove to anchor for the night.  On the second night, a beautiful sunset glistened off the water with a red glow filtering through the trees.  

Sunset and Fishing Boats at Samsing Cove

After our stay at Samsing Cove, we explored a couple more bays before heading into Sitka.  

Sunset at Samsing Cove

The first bay, Sandy Cove, is used as an anchorage by fishing boats who frequently are available for fish sales during gill net season.  The second stop, Leesoffskaia Bay, is reported to be a good place to see bears.  The area looked promising with numerous green meadows and a river that emptied into the bay.  

Leesoffskaia Bay

Our hopes, however, were soon dashed as we found nothing resembling a bear along the shoreline.  We decided the bears must be on strike or perhaps we didn't put enough money in the coin slot.  Whatever the reason, we will continue to be on the lookout for these illusive furry creatures.  From Sitka Sound, we crossed Eastern Channel and headed towards Sitka.  

Mountain backdrop above Sitka

The City soon came into view, surrounded by a landscape of peaks and valleys, one of the most striking settings in Alaska.  

Sitka (rain clouds rolling over the mountains)

We entered Sitka Channel, passing under the John O’Connell Bridge connecting Sitka on Baranof Island to the airport on Japonski Island.  The bridge is named after a former mayor of Sitka.  Motoring along the Sitka waterfront, we reached the harbor docks and tied-up at the transient space located on the breakwater. 

John O'Connell Bridge over Sitka Channel

Fortunately space was available during the busy 4^th of July weekend.  Permanent slips are also used for transient space when they become available while the fishing fleet is out. This is our second visit to Sitka, a city which once served as the capital of Russian America.  

Sitka Waterfront

The Russians first settled here in 1799.  Governor Alexander Baranof arrived under the auspices of the Russian-American Co., a colonial trading company which succeeded in putting down an uprising from the Native Tlingit's.  Sitka was also the site of the signing of the Alaska Purchase of 1867, which is celebrated annually in October as Alaska Day.  

Sitka Waterfront Downtown

Russia needed to sell Alaska due to economic and political turmoil after it lost the Crimean War to Britain, France, and Turkey in 1856.  Up until 1906, Sitka served as the capital of the Alaska Territory after which the seat was moved to Juneau.  Gold mining and fishing first attracted people to Sitka but most of the growth occurred when the United States Navy constructed an air base on Japonski Island; 30,000 service personnel arrived during WWII.  

Sitka Waterfront

Today, Sitka has a population of nearly 9,000.  Most are employed through the fishing and processing industries, the regional health consortium, and the local school district.  Situated along the Gulf of Alaska, Sitka is a remote town accessible only by boat or plane.  Cars are not essential here as there are only 14 miles of road on Baranof Island.