Sitka: Soul and Bear Fortress
Sitka - a quaint and beautiful city-borough on Alaska’s Baranof Island - is surrounded by mind-blowing and expansive nature. The towing peaks of its majestic mountains scrape the skies in almost every direction, and where there are no mountains, there is water reaching as far as the eye can see. It is, in our humble opinion, spectacular.
Despite being the largest city-borough in the US, visitors coming from bustling metropolises like New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and so forth, will be rather surprised by Sitka’s relative smallness. But it has a lot to offer; therefore passing on Sitka because of its size would be a big mistake. It has a rich history and cultural heritage, not to mention that it is also an adventure paradise!The Tlingit tribes populated the region for over 10,000 years before being colonized by Russian settlers around 1799. Then, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, although it officially became a state in 1951. Walking around Sitka, it’s hard not to notice the impact left behind by the enigmatic and distinct cultures; Saint Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral still holds regular service, and the Tlingit totem poles continue to stand tall only a half a mile away.
As the city is situated on the outskirts of a dense mountainous forest and on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, in a single day adventure seekers can partake in a number of water and land-based activities. Whether it’s kayaking, boating, whale watching, fishing, camping or hiking, Sitka has it all.Yet, we can’t talk Alaska without touching upon its wildlife, which includes bald eagles, hawks, owls, otters, seals, all five types of salmon, halibut, different species of dolphins, whales, and of course, bears – and lots of them too. As a matter of fact, Baranoff Island has the second most concentrated brown bear population in the world, the first being Admiralty Island.
These are unique animals. Research suggests that they are remnants of a Polar bear population stranded in the area after the passing of the last ice age making them genetically distinct from other brown bears found across the globe. Much like their closest relatives, they hunt everything from mountain goats to seals, but they are also drawn to landfills, dog food, and other scraps of food left around by humans.Sometimes ventures into urban settings bring the bears into conflict with local residents. While there are no attacks on people to really speak of, bears used to going into people infested areas are usually put to death to eliminate future risk, which often means orphaned cubs are left without their parents. Thankfully, Sitka is also home to the Fortress of the Bear, an incredible non-profit education center run by Les Kinnear.“As a resident of the state of Alaska for the past 31 years and a guide for more than 20 years, my concern for the bear population has been much more than a passing interest…We have taken to do something productive with these extraordinary animals. It is time and the place is here…”
Aside from providing community outreach and education programs targeted at improving peoples understanding of their furry neighbors, Les also finds homes for orphaned cubs in zoos and animal sanctuaries. The bears found in the Bronx Zoo, Montana’s Grizzly Encounters and many other institutions hail all the way from Sitka. And the bears that are too old to be sent away, Les keeps at the sanctuary.While most people would assume his efforts have been rewarded and appreciated, he has continued to fight for the right to keep these bears healthy, alive, and protected. Therefore we think, his kind of entrepreneurship deserves attention. If you find yourself in Sitka, check out the Fortress of the Bear, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity!Image Source: Liz Belilovskaya