Mountains of Admiralty Island loom in distance over sparkling waters of Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Sun and mountains reflect in Stephens Passage at sunset over Admiralty Island, Alaska.

Massive fjord walls and rainbow tower over green waters of Tracy Arm; Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Alpine glacier blankets mountain saddle at entrance to Tracy Arm; Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Sky and fjord walls reflect in glassy turquoise waters of Tracy Arm leading to South Sawyer Glacier; Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Morning mist clears over still waters and wooded slopes of small cove at entrance to Tracy Arm; Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Spirit of Oceanus cruise ship explores South Sawyer Glacier in ice-clogged fjord waters of Tracy Arm; Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Spirit of Oceanus cruise ship explores South Sawyer Glacier in ice-clogged fjord waters of Tracy Arm; Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Rubber inflatable raft from cruise ship negotiates ice-clogged waters of Tracy Arm fjord near South Sawyer Glacier; Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Icy face of North Sawyer Glacier dwarfs tourists in aluminum skiff in Tracy Arm; Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Tons of ice plummet into ocean as North Sawyer Glacier calves in September; Tracy Arm, Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Tons of ice plummet into ocean as North Sawyer Glacier calves in September; Tracy Arm, Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Tons of ice plummet into ocean as North Sawyer Glacier calves in September; Tracy Arm, Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Girl holds chunk of glacial ice plucked from water near North Sawyer Glacier; Tracy Arm, Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Cruise ship Mist Cove explores icy fjord below towering snow and glacier capped mountains; Tracy Arm, Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Captain Eric Fisher of the Mist Cove maneuvers in ice-clogged waters with steering console outside bridge; Tracy Arm, Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Passenger aboard cruise ship Mist Cove scans icy waters with binoculars; Tracy Arm, Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Maritime map of Stephens Passage sits atop chart table in bridge of Mist Cove at start of journey; Juneau, Alaska.

Woman enjoys September solitude from upper deck of cruise ship Mist Cove; Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Bow of small cruise ship Mist Cove cuts southward through Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Woman steward sets table in aft dining room of small cruise ship Mist Cove on sunny September eve; Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Salads and gleaming dinnerware await guests in aft dining room of small cruise ship Mist Cove on sunny September eve; Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) exhales at surface with tall spray of water near Gambier Bay, Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) exhales at surface with tall spray of water near Gambier Bay, Stephens Passage, Alaska.

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) slaps tail with sudden splash of water; Sitka, Alaska.

Rainbow arches over wooded slopes of Warm Springs Bay on a September eve, Baranof Island, Alaska.

Cruise ship Mist Cove anchors amid mist-shrouded wooded slopes of Warm Springs Bay; Baranof Island, Alaska.

Hikers cross log bridge on trail up to Lake Baranof from Warm Springs Bay, Baranof Island, Alaska.

Hikers struggle through mud and over slippery rocks up to Lake Baranof from Warm Springs Bay, Baranof Island, Alaska.

Fern and berries on shores of Lake Baranof; Baranof Island, Alaska.

Girl fishes with rod and reel on Lake Baranof; Baranof Island, Alaska.

Girl and mom balance atop rocks fishing on Lake Baranof; Baranof Island, Alaska.

Man practices fly fishing balanced atop rock on Lake Baranof; Baranof Island, Alaska.

Woman sips drink in natural hot springs perched beside icy stream cascading down to Warm Springs Bay; Baranof Island, Alaska.

Alaskan brown bear (Ursus arctos) cubs explore lush shoreline of Warm Springs Bay; Baranof Island, Alaska.

Alaskan brown bear (Ursus arctos) cub perches on rock searching for salmon; Warm Springs Bay, Baranof Island, Alaska.

Alaskan brown bear cub (Ursus arctos) wades deep searching for salmon on rainy September morning; Warm Springs Bay, Baranof Island, Alaska.

Hikers explore marshy meadows of Kelp Bay on a misty September morning; Baranof Island, Alaska.

Bonaparte's gulls (Larus philadelphia) briefly take flight over stream near its mouth in Kelp Bay; Baranof Island, Alaska.

Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) takes flight; Baranof Island, Alaska.

Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) perches in a hemlock tree; Baranof Island, Alaska.

Forested mountains emerge from clearing fog and mist on a September day; Saook Bay, Baranof Island, Alaska.

Hikers set off from rocky beach to explore marshes and old-growth forests of Saook Bay, Baranof Island, Alaska.

Hikers tramp through stream in coastal marshland of Saook Bay, Baranof Island, Alaska.

Guide with shotgun stands amid knee-high marsh grasses of Saook Bay; Baranof Island, Alaska.

Mountains and low clouds reflect in glassy waters of Saook Bay; Baranof Island, Alaska.

Ferns and Devil's Club (Oplopanax horrid) thrive in old-growth forest of Tongass National Forest; Saook Bay, Baranof Island, Alaska.

Girl explores buttress roots of ancient tree in old-growth forest of Tongass National Forest; Saook Bay, Baranof Island, Alaska.

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus conifericola) thrives in old-growth forest of Tongass National Forest; Saook Bay, Baranof Island, Alaska.

Kayakers in double seater paddle in unison in waters off Baranof Island, Alaska.

Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) swims in calm waters off Baranof Island, Alaska.

Short-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) feeds in stream at Hoonah Sound's North Arm; Chichagof Island, Alaska.

Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) at Alaska Raptor Center; Sitka, Alaska.

Bald eagle opens beak wide at Alaska Raptor Center; Sitka, Alaska.

Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) at Alaska Raptor Center; Sitka, Alaska.

Shops lining Lincoln Street lead to Russian Orthodox church, St. Michael's Cathedral; Sitka, Alaska.

Coffee shop, The Backdoor, with Russian Orthodox church, St. Michael's Cathedral, behind; Sitka, Alaska.

Matryoshka dolls crowd shelves in souvenir shop; Sitka, Alaska.

Matryoshka dolls crowd shelves in souvenir shop; Sitka, Alaska.

Matryoshka dolls crowd shelf in souvenir shop; Sitka, Alaska.

Commercial and pleasure boats fill Crescent Harbor on sunny September day; Sitka, Alaska.

Small fishing boat enters Crescent Harbor on a sunny September day; Sitka, Alaska.

Native American Tlingit totem pole in Sitka, Alaska

Native American Tlingit totem pole in Sitka, Alaska

Tlingit totem pole at Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, Sitka National Historical Park, Alaska

Tlingit artist Tommy Joseph carves totem pole in studio at Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, Sitka National Historical Park, Alaska

Tlingit artist Tommy Joseph carves totem pole in studio at Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, Sitka National Historical Park, Alaska

Cass Pook makes traditional Native American Tlingit beadwork jewelry; Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, Sitka National Historical Park, Alaska

Cass Pook makes traditional Native American Tlingit beadwork jewelry; Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, Sitka National Historical Park, Alaska

Man, woman and boy perform traditional dance at Tlingit community center; Sitka, Alaska.

Colorful costumes fill stage during performance of traditional dances at Tlingit community center; Sitka, Alaska.

Woman plays traditional drum during performance of Naa Kahidi Dancers at Tlingit community center; Sitka, Alaska.

Woman in Naa Kahidi Dancers performs traditional dance at Tlingit community center; Sitka, Alaska.

Woman and baby daughter relax in costumes after performance of traditional dances at Tlingit community center; Sitka, Alaska.