Rob and I work part time in a small outpatient clinic in the community of Metlakatla, which is home to about 1,400 native Alaskans. Metlakatla is approximately 15 miles from Ketchikan, where we live, by water, via ferry, or about a 10 minute ride in a float plane.
I often grumble about the rainy weather of SE Alaska, but we do get postcard days as well. This was my commute a couple of weeks ago when I flew over for the day, via Pacific Air, a float plane company that provides service all over SE Alaska. I got the co-pilot seat, and this was my view. The first and last images are of Ketchikan, the community mid-way through the photos is Metlakatla. Really, this is the way to go if the sun is out and the sky is this blue!
Mid-town Ketchikan
This is a fishing community, lots of boats here!
We start to tilt making the turn…
Here we go!
Flying over the muskeg.
Muskeg and bogs.
Cockpit view, Pacific Air.
Blue water out my window.
A little clearer view.
Metlakatla in the distance.
Getting closer…
See the peaks coming into view?
Tilting again.
Shooting through the propeller.
The horizon rights itself.
The airport, Metlakatla style.
Pacific Air sends a van to pick up and unload; my ride to the clinic.
No wonder it’s so expensive to ship something here!
The fish plant, mountains in the background.
Whales play here in the summer.
Water and sky are the same blue.
Float plane dock.
Close up of the fish plant. Love the mountain backdrop!
Coming in!
Smooth landing.
Churning water.
Taking off…
Heading back over islands.
Small islands are everywhere!
Sights of the Inside Passage.
Colors are amazing!
Looking straight down…
More peaks…these mountains are all around.
Back to town.
Coast Guard base is below.
Ketchikan downtown docks.
Getting a little reflection here.
Water, homes, boats…it’s all here.
Touchdown!
Perfect view of Deer Mountain.
Mountains across the Tongass Narrows.
I realized I didn’t get a photo of the clinic in this series. This is the Health Center of the Annette Island Service Unit. As you can see, the day this photo was made, the sky wasn’t quite so blue! This is the more typical weather-look for this region.
AISU Health Center
Grace and Life 
do enjoy your time…so many of us would love to have such an opportunity…
The photos were awesome…and gave us readers a beautiful picture of where you live…
I loved the first photo with the buildings reflected in the water…
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Your place is sooooooo beautiful, Sheila! I wouldn’t mind trading places with you. 😉
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Wow! I love all the blues….
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Yes, on a beautiful day the colors are amazing. So vivid! Makes up for the gray rainy days! ~ Sheila
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Soooo Beautiful!
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Yes! It is pretty! The water and mountains and trees make a great combination on days that are sunny. And all the moisture is good for the skin! ~ Sheila
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I’m thinking how wonderful it must be to live and work in such beautiful surroundings.
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Oh it is beautiful! But also a frontier, and there are times when I miss all the good stuff of the lower 48! I know this Alaska adventure has a limited life span, so I’m just enjoying it while it lasts. Then one day my commute will be the “normal” one again! ~ Sheila
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