Tenakee Springs, Alaska – Image 2833

Officially called Tenakee Springs, locals just call it, Tenakee. About 100 people call Tenakee home. Located on the eastside of Chicagof Island, the community’s claim to fame is its natural hot sulphur mineral springs. In the early 1900s, Tenakee was a popular retreat for miners escaping the harsh winters of northern Alaska. Now it is mostly a quiet town of about 28 families in 59 households. The only access to Tenakee is by boat, Alaska State ferry, float plane or helicopter. There are basically no cars in Tenakee, but plenty of skiffs, four and three-wheelers and a pile of bicycles. Additionally, I will be one of the two photo leaders on a week-long trip (August 20-August 28, 2013) through Southeast Alaska on board the 50-foot custom trawler “Delphinus” captained by my good friend, Ronn Patterson. The trip starts in Juneau and ends up in Wrangell. The trip will visit Anan Creek, pack Creek, Tracy Arm and the whales waters of Fredrick Sound. For more information contact Ronn at trips@dolphincharters.com or check out their website at www.dolphincharters.com. This image appears as my May image in my 2014 Southeast Alaska Calendar now celebrating its 20th year of publication. Thank you for visiting. Camera body: D700, lens: Nikkor 70-200mm, digital capture© Mark Kelley