Returning to Juneau after a five-year hiatus, I am stunned to witness the changes brought on by mega floating tourist movers, the cruise ships.
Previous activities I used to enjoy like running the East Glacier Trail, visiting the Mendenhall Visitor Center or shopping downtown is anything but pleasant thanks to the sheer number of tourists everywhere. And there is no escaping it, not even for those of us living out the road. It appears every third vehicle driving along Glacier Highway is a colored Jeep with curious tourists going out to Eagle Beach and back.
What is going on Juneau? Have we sold our souls to the almighty cruise ship industry? Can we stop the insanity for just one day a week to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of our town without the buzzing helicopters at the Herbert Glacier, zipping whale boats churning up the waters near Auke Bay (try hooking a halibut when the whale watchers race on by), or spewing diesel exhaust buses everywhere. I think we deserve better. And let’s start by voting for Ship-Free Saturdays this fall.
Sara Poor
Juneau