Sea to Shining Tree

Me RussellFjord Camping beside the Hubbard Glacier in Russell Fjord Wilderness Area in Southeast Alaska.

Unknown Tlingit artist

Berry Basket with Mask and Salmon, 1880

Rattletop Basket with Geometric Motif, c.1900

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From Mayberry Fine Art:

Members of the Tlingit Nation still create superb baskets of outstanding workmanship and in the dramatic ornamentation used in their creation. Their baskets most often have plain woven bottoms and are particularly known for their wonderfully thin walls. As the walls of the basket were built up they wove in bands of various colours so that the colour was visible on both the inside and outside of the basket. Decorative patterns frequently suggested natural subjects with which they were familiar on a daily basis.

Tlingit basket weavers created their designs by using a technique called false embroidery, or imbrication, in which a strand of decorative material is wrapped around the outside of the exposed weft and in this way can not be seen on the inside of the basket. Some exceptional basketry is made with split spruce root and decorated with dyed grasses or bark. They may also be left in their natural light colour.

Yakutania Point Skagway, Alaska.

Do have shoes you want to cut up and abuse? No? Then go home, you’re not ready for Alaska. Or head to the Mountain Shop in town… little easier. I should say, when I venture off on my own - I tend to get myself into situations that would lead to me damaging more shoes than a normal person would. So if you are unlike me and do not climb things you shouldn’t or jump places that are too far - you’re shoes will be okay.