A Temperate Rainforest

We live in a rainforest. Turns out it rains here, and all the cool kids wear waterproof everything. I thought the fashion was a little different than that of the "Lower 48" (a phrase I have now heard 432 times), but it turns out people just don't care about fashion here, just being warm and dry. Perfect for me. It is impossible to overestimate the percentage of Alaskans who own and wear "Xtratufs", the stylish boots pictured below. I will purchase mine as soon as I can find my way to Alaska's version of IFA.

I think the lack of vowels in the name really authenticates the boots.

So, like I was saying, it's a rainforest. Downtown Juneau butts up right next to two amazingly steep and beautiful mountains, which trap the clouds until they release all their moisture onto our heads, streets and xtratufs. Yearly precipitation is over 90 inches. However, if you take a stroll up to the Mendenhall Valley, only 8 miles away, precipitation is about 50 inches. Now we understand why the Tlingit natives in Mendenhall valley were so willing to let our white miners settle the area. 

The greater Juneau area houses about 31,000 people. Only 3,000 live in Downtown Juneau, another 3,000 live across the Gastineau Channel on Douglas Island, and the rest live in Mendenhall valley. I will join them in  the valley tomorrow, when I move into my real hotel. Yes. Someone changes my linens twice a week. My life is SOOOO hard.

Today I went on a waltz around Juneau. I insta-ed this picture whilst wandering. 

Yes, those are icicles hanging from the moss covered rocks.

Clearly Juneau is beautiful. You should come sometime. I'll give you a ride in my motorcoach.