My early August visit to Haines with my 92-year old mom, Sonya, and my brother, Larry, was one for the record books. Brown bears, porpoises, whales, eagles, seals; we saw it all. Even though Larry and I fought daily with the brown bears and their cubs for a fishing spot at Chilkoot River, we managed to catch our share of salmon. Our stay with my sister and husband, Carol and Dick Flegel of Haines, was wonderful, and after 37 years it was gratifying to see how the town has retained its small-town atmosphere since my first of five visits in 1974. Haines is truly a diamond in the rough, and I feel privileged once again to have experienced its raw and natural beauty.
John McGann