I am usually hiking or climbing. This time I wanted to get on the water. I begged my friend Keagan Walker to take me out on his small boat. It’s a 1992 14-foot Smoker Craft Alaskan with a 25 HP Johnson outboard. Shout out to my dad for talking boat specs. There was a small craft advisory Monday morning, due to high winds so we didn’t go out. But later in the day, while driving to North Douglas the water looked pretty calm. So we went for it.
Walker took Sarah Rountree, Katie McCaffrey and me out for a little ride around Auke Bay and Fritz Cove. We had half a Tony’s Chocolonely bar to split between us so we stopped by De Harts. We bought a bag of Snyder’s of Hanover Prezel Rods and one peanut butter cup. Have to make sure to cover all your food groups: sugar, sugar and sugar.
It was a weird yet wonderful weather day. It’s September right? Isn’t it supposed to be getting cooler out? No, it was clear skies and 70 degrees. I thought we lived in a temperate rainforest? Hashtag: Before The Flood.
Juneau is the perfect size. It is a small town with just the right amount of city. I now understand how much more enjoyable this place is when you have a water craft. I mean, Juneau is surrounded by water so I guess it makes a lot of sense to have a boat. I got to drive a jetski for the first time on my birthday last month. I liked it so much, I haven’t been able to get it out of my head. Riding around in that small boat was a great successor. If anyone has an electric jet ski laying around they don’t want, hit me up. I’ve got a place for it!
We blasted from Fritz Cove over to North Douglas then to Auke Bay and Point Louisa. We landed on Suedla Island to check out the beach and for a little pee break. Nothing to see but trees, some birds and a great big spider web. You could tell the island saw less people than the mainland because all of the rocks and shells on the west side of the island were still whole.
Even though we barely left the coast, it was really fun to see all of these parts of Juneau from this different perspective. I need to have more adventures on the water.
• California-born and Alaska-bred, Gabe Donohoe has taken photos daily for the past five years. He is currently a student of the University of Alaska Southeast’s Outdoor Studies program. His photo archives can be seen on www.gabedonohoe.com. “Rainforest Photos” photo blog publishes every other Friday in the Empire’s Outdoors section.
Suedla Island trail from the woods to the East side of the island. (Gabe Donohoe | For Juneau Empire)
Large flat undisturbed rocks on West Suedla Island. (Gabe Donohoe | For Juneau Empire)
Keagans 14 foot skiff beached on Suedla Island. (Gabe Donohoe | For Juneau Empire)
Xtratuffs and boat wake at full speed. (Gabe Donohoe | For Juneau Empire)
Katie McCaffrey staring off to the mountains. (Gabe Donohoe | For Juneau Empire)
Coghlan Island in Sunset golden hour light. (Gabe Donohoe | For Juneau Empire)
McGinnis, Stroller White, the seven peaks of the Mendenhall Towers, Wrather, and ridge of Bullard from the skiff. (Gabe Donohoe | For Juneau Empire)
