October 14, 2025
Prince Rupert is a coastal town with a permanent population of about 12,000 people. It is just south of the southern end of the Alaska panhandle. Although it is on the coast, there are a number of islands offshore which block a clear view of the ocean. I asked my Airbnb host about the tsunami warning which had been issued after the Russian earthquake a few days after I arrived in Canada and he said they weren’t too worried here because the water would have had to cross those islands before getting to this part of the mainland.
Once on Kaien Island I saw a few things before getting to town.
The sun was behind me so I got some closeup photos of this mostly unpainted totem pole.
I still need to do some research into what the significance of the sections and order mean.
When I got into town I found the harbor I was expecting, but also a very nice little town, with restaurants and shops, lots of places that ship fish to other parts of the world, and some very friendly people. There is a cruise ship dock but it sounded like that season has ended.
And this is their low-profile lighthouse:
There is a small portion of town called Cow Bay, after a Swiss immigrant arrived with dairy cows in 1908.
johnboystravelblog 