On the way, Nancy pointed out where the trailhead to Rainbow Falls was. On Saturday, Nancy dropped us at the trailhead just across from Shoemaker Bay Harbor, and we took off with confidence. Rainbow Falls was our first stop on the multi-trail line.
Then we decided to continue on to the Shoemaker Bay Overlook. A very looong, painful (for me anyway) stairclimber hike later, we arrived only to see that the bridge to the overlook was out. Nevermind that, since we decided to continue hiking up. 1 foot of snow. 2 feet! 5 feet!! 10 feet?!?! We reached the summit (finally, we get to do a summit hike!) just before it started to rain. We were exhausted. I was on the verge of tears (Josh had his bad hiking day on Upper Dewey in Skagway. Mine was North Wrangell Mountain. Hey, it happens.) And to make it worse, we had to hike all the way back down and then the 4.5 miles back to town BEFORE Nancy called out the search and rescue team at 5pm. She had warned us of that before we left. But I have to say the best part of the hike was seeing Alex and Jen do a head-first slide down the snow on a 45-degree decline. Great fun! And yes, we have video!
We got to the trailhead at 4:15pm and walked for less than 5 minutes before a very nice man in a truck offered us a ride halfway to town. Hitchhiking can be dangerous, so we accepted the ride immediately. Actually, Nancy told us that walking along the side of the road gives locals and opportunity to pick you up and play tour guide, which they love to do, so she encourages hitchhiking, but only in Wrangell. Since we were wet, we all sat in the back of the truck, so we missed out on the tour. Within 5 more minutes, we caught another ride to the downtown harbor.
While walking back to the hostel, I saw a familiar name. Dad, this is for you. You didn't tell me that you set up a business in AK when you were there in '95!!
Yesterday was a catch-up day, as we prepared to leave for Ketchikan on the ferry. Jake, Leigh, Jen, and Josh picked up their frozen fish from the processor and loaded it on the Matanuska (ferry), but not before shopping for garnets at the ferry dock. The garnet mines in Wrangell were left to the "children of Wrangell" when the owner died. Now the kids mine the garnets at their leisure and sell them to tourists. The mine currently is being "run" by the Boy Scouts. Some garnets are as little as $2, and others as much as $30. Very cool!
The ferry got in late, so we were after midnight before checking into the Methodist Church Hostel in Ketchikan, but Myrtle, our house mother (from Brevard), waited up for us. She also cooked breakfast for us this morning. What a perk! The Church Hostel has a lockout during the day, so we were up and going by 9am this morning. First task: Mail the fish home. Since Ketchikan is bigger than our last 3 towns, it has a good bus system, like Juneau. We took the bus to the FedEx office and then to Totem Bight Park, where the Civilian Conservation Corps "saved" a number of deteriorating totems by creating copies of them to remain on display. Another totem park--Saxman--is on my list for tomorrow.
Havin' a great time here in Ketchikan!!! Sorry, Lauren and A.C., but I HAD to post this:
Tomorrow, 5 of us will also be taking to the skies of Ketchikan on a canopy tour (canopy zipping). Should be a blast, if the heights and the sensation of falling doesn't get us!
1 comment:
No worries Kelly,now I got picture proof of what Alex has been upto while in Alaska!!! Only joking=) Hope you guys have a wonderful time your last couple of days.Its been so much fun reading your stories.
Love,
AC
Post a Comment