Wrangell to Ketchikan, Alaska

Some more rough seas that would be challenging to a trailer boat, with no easy divert options out of the wind. Ketchikan seems even more giant cruise ship touristy than last time we were here on the David B (check them out for a REALLY small ship...us and two other PAX). We took a guided hike up Mt Dewy to the lookout over Ketchikan. There are many watery muskeg bogs over mud and water trapped above bedrock low areas; don't step on one ore it may be 15 feet deep or more. Skunk cabbage somehow maintains 70 degree leaves in spring that allow it to be first to pop out, attracting bears just out of hibernation. The Lumberjack Show is a campy hoot tourist must-see.

Were enjoying great food, including lobster hash with more lobster in it than any $40 lobster roll we've ever had! We hiked up to the Deer Mountain trailhead but didn't go up it very far because we didn't want to miss lunch. The center of tourist town is along Creek Street, built on 20 foot crowded boardwalks above the tide. This is all still part of Tongass National Park temperate rain forest in rainy season, to there is a lot of rain, wetness and deep puddles with temps in the 50s daily.

Unfortunately, this cruise can not stop at any of the interesting and beautiful ports along the Inside Passage of British Columbia over the next few days at 12 MPH like we did on the David B cruise. The Jones Act applies to cargo; another 1880s law applies to this ship (US built with US crew and US safety standards; all of which we like).Read more