Internet access has been much more scarce than in Juneau, so we haven't been able to post as often. Instead of using a computer in the living room of the Juneau Hostel, we must walk a whole 2 blocks to the internet cafe on 2nd Avenue in Skagway.Our first ferry was uneventful, except for the fact that it was a first ferry ride. No wildlife spotted (other than some fellow passengers). Most of us passed the time by reading, playing cards, and taking photos off the back of the ship. We were on the Fairweather, the AK Marine Highway's only fast-mover. That means it travels faster once it gets going, it makes fewer stops, and it doesn't have any lounge chairs. We were hoping to get a glimpse of our "heated bedrooms," lounge chairs under the solarium on the back of the other ferry ships, before we have to use them with our first ferry overnight on Monday night.
Skagway is incredibly quaint compared to Juneau. For most amenities, there is only one: one grocery store (less than a block), one gas station (less than a block), etc. In fact, we're less than a block from almost everything. The hostel is nice, and since it's a home hostel, and we're living alongside our hostel managers, we're getting to know them and the area well!
Upon recommendation from Nancy, we borrow hostel bicycles (our first mistake as some were in poor condition) and rode to Dyea, the ghost-town sister of Skagway. A trip that we thought would take a couple of hours there and back ended up taking the better par
t of 8 hours (10am-6pm). We got to walk around Dyea's historic area (almost all trees now) with a Park Ranger. All total, we biked about 20 miles (half was steep incline) and walked/hiked about 6 miles. Needless to say, we were exhausted when we got back to the hostel for a late dinner.
t of 8 hours (10am-6pm). We got to walk around Dyea's historic area (almost all trees now) with a Park Ranger. All total, we biked about 20 miles (half was steep incline) and walked/hiked about 6 miles. Needless to say, we were exhausted when we got back to the hostel for a late dinner.Today, the guys hiked to Upper Dewey Lake at at least a 45 degree incline the entire way, and the girls took a 4-hour train ride on the White Pass & Yukon Railway into Canada. Both trips were great, and I'll let the students give you some detail.
1 comment:
Hmm. . .one block from everything? Must be a geographical anomaly!
Have fun! Kel's Mom
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