Taku Lodge and the 200 Pound Baby

Locals and tourists must be prepared for overcast, drizzly weather in Juneau, or anywhere in Southeast Alaska. But, when the sun comes out, the gray, cloudy weather is forgotten because the beauty is spectacular. We had one such sunny day during our week of uncelebration, and we made the most of it.

Wings Airways dockside 

 My folks arranged a Taku Glacier Lodge excursion—a flight over the Juneau icefield and dinner at the Taku Lodge—through Wings Airways. The icefield feeds five major glaciers in Southeast Alaska (including Taku, Hole-in-the-Wall, and Mendenhall), and many smaller "hanging" glaciers that cling to mountain tops.

Fly baby

Our adventure started at the wharf in downtown Juneau. For starters, everyone in our party had to declare his or her weight on the ticket. It is important for the pilot to know the load to ensure the plane can take off and land safely, but this presents a dilemma. For safety we want the most accurate value possible, but for dignity we want to disclose the lowest number feasible. Luckily we were travelling with a baby to whom we could attribute any excess weight.

Aerial view of  the Tahku whale sculpture in Juneau

Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls to the right

Mendenhall Valley with a view down channel to cruise ships in Juneau

Regardless of the numbers disclosed, we took off easily. It was such a pleasure to see many familiar sights from the air, including downtown Juneau, our family home, Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls, and the mountain tops that surround the Juneau area.

View of the icefield

Rivers of ice

And what a thrill to fly over the Juneau icefield and see its rivers of ice and jagged mountain tops. According to the Wings Airways's flight information, the Juneau iefield stretches over 1,500 miles and is home to over 40 large glaciers and 100 small ones. Though solid, the ice flows like water, carving out valleys, smoothing ridges, and transporting rock debris and boulders as it advances and recedes.

Taku Lodge

Black bear at the Lodge

We landed safely on the water at Taku Lodge, and explored the area while our dinner cooked on the grill. We saw a small black bear near the lodge who is accustomed to being near people. He was interesting to watch, but we were grateful for the alert staff member nearby who carried a long pole and made sure the bear didn't get too close. Even if they seem tame, bears are wild and can react suddenly to any perceived threat.

Wild caught salmon on the grill at the Lodge

Hole-in-the-Wall Glacier across Taku Inlet

Dinner was delicious grilled salmon with all the fixings. While we ate, we learned about the history of the lodge and the area, and conversed with our fellow travellers. We met the owner of the Twisted Fish Company Alaskan Grill in Juneau with friend from South Africa, and a local gardener with parent from the Midwest. On the way back we saw more spectacular sights.

Sight seeing

Capturing the view

Mountain lake

We made it back to Juneau safely. We figured pilots must know that everyone fudges on their weight, and must factor that in when calculating the load (still, I wonder if our pilot was suspicious about our 200 pound baby)! This excursion was a fantastic experience, and one of the highlights of our trip. I recommend it to anyone who visits Juneau, Alaska for a true Alaskan adventure and wonderful perspective on the land and the ice that shapes it.