Kake, Read Island & Baird Glacier 🇺🇸

by | Jun 10, 2025 | 2 comments

Discover the Beauty of Alaska

Our Sailing Adventure

Our adventure continued as we navigated through Frederick Sound, making a brief stop in Kake, where the grocery store fell short, with its limited selection and produce well past its prime.

With our supplies nearly exhausted after two weeks since our last shopping trip in Sitka, we pressed on in search of a peaceful anchorage near Baird Glacier.

Our spirits soared as we settled at Read Island and were treated to the sight of orca whales gracefully gliding through the bay. After a restful night, we set off towards Baird Glacier.

As we anchored in Scenery Cove, we were delighted to spot bears roaming the lush shoreline, adding to the wild allure of the area. A relaxed hike to a nearby waterfall, following a lengthydinghy ride, perfectly rounded off our day.

Discover the Beauty of Alaska

Kake, Alaska

Kake is home to an impressive 132-foot totem pole that was raised in 1971 on a bluff that overlooks the city, recognized at the time as the tallest officially sanctioned totem pole in the world, meticulously crafted by a talented Native carver and inaugurated through a traditional ceremony. Though it has weathered over the years, resulting in some fading and cracks at the top, this totem pole continues to serve as a significant emblem of Kake’s vibrant history and cultural legacy. Its intricate design showcases symbols from the Tlingit clans, alongside representations from the Tsimshian and Haida tribes, embodying the unity of these three tribes in the Southeastern Alaska panhandle. At the base, a powerful figure is depicted tearing apart a sea lion, while throughout its length, images of frogs, salmon, and orcas are featured, culminating with a grand eagle perched at the top.

Discover the Beauty of Alaska

Read Island, Alaska

Read Island, Alaska, situated in the scenic region of southeast Alaska, is an island honored by the U.S. Navy in 1887, named after Ensign Maurice L. Read who was part of a surveying team responsible for mapping this uncharted territory. On November 13, 2023, a significant incident occurred when a U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crash during a complicated rescue mission in the area. Fortunately, all four members of the crew managed to survive this harrowing experience and were subsequently transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Discover the Beauty of Alaska

Baird Glacier, Alaska

Baird Glacier, which originates from the Stikine Icefield in the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains close to the Alaska-British Columbia border, is a striking tidewater glacier situated in Thomas Bay, Southeast Alaska. Named in honor of the distinguished naturalist Spencer Fullerton Baird, this magnificent glacier flows into a bay notorious for the devastating landslide known as the Bay of Death, and it carries a rich historical legacy linked to early 1900s mining endeavors.

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2 Comments

  1. Richard Carrier
    Richard Carrier on June 25, 2025 at 8:33 pm

    Wild and beautiful,
    Be careful with those big teddy bears.
    Thanks for sharing your adventures

    • svinscrutable
      svinscrutable on June 27, 2025 at 3:42 am

      Yeah no doubt, we are staying clear of the bears as much as possible. Those brown bears are massive.
      Thanks for following along, I can’t believe it’s been a year already, well almost, let’s not rush it.