HAINES, AK (Day 3).  It rained hard last night and began wet this morning.  Today it gradually cleared and closed as clear but very windy.  We drove around the waterway taking photos in good but variable light until late.

As summer in Alaska turns into autumn, the beautiful fireweed that grows everywhere along the roads (shown in prior posts) slowly turns to cotton as the leaves drop off slowly bottom-to-top until only a bit on top remains.  Then they know summer is over.  It all happened early this year, some say due to the unusually hot summer.  The local saying is, "when the fireweed turns to cotton, thoughts of summer are soon forgotten."

North of Haines

Close View of Mountain Peaks and Glaciers

More Peaks and Glaciers

South of Haines

South of Haines in Good Light

Beautiful Fireweed Fuschia Turns to Cotton

Fireweed Cotton Drifts with the Autumn Wind 

At Water's End South of Haines