National Geographic Sea Lion arrived at the small Alaskan town of Haines early this morning. The braided river valley where Haines is located is called Dtehshuh by the Chilkat Tlingit people; this means “end of the trail,” referring to a shortcut saving the Chilkat Tlingit twenty miles of paddling their canoes. From the trail they used to trade with the interior, which began at the outlet of the Chilkat River, they were able to portage their canoes to Dtehshuh and avoid paddling around the Chilkat peninsula.
Present-day Haines is located on the edge of the Chilkoot Inlet near the upper reaches of Lynn Canal; this marks the northernmost area of Southeast Alaska our trip will touch. The setting of densely braided rivers, high mountains, and Indigenous as well as non-native history provides a fascinating and complex setting for our day of adventures.
Hiking, biking, river rafting, and visiting one of the most important Tlingit villages in Southeast Alaska are just some of the many adventures arranged for today. We also enjoyed the chance to relax and enjoy the gorgeous scenery that surrounds this tiny Alaskan town, nestled next to mountains that pour into the sea.
