May 12th, 2025 update

 

Sunday, new port, great experience.  Hoonah, on Icy Point Strait, was much more than we expected.  The population of 850 didn’t lead to great expectations.  Just off the ship was a gondola that took us over a hill to an old wooden collection of red painted buildings that housed restaurants and shops. They held all sorts of Alaska themed products.  Some made in Alaska, some overseas.  We found a terrific Christmas ornament made in Alaska, so the day was a success.

We had planned to walk the 1.5 miles to the shopping but the road wasn’t paved and the walker just wouldn’t push.  Thus, the gondola.  Beside the land end of the walkway to the ship was a sign saying the trail was closed due to a bear sighting. Reassuring.

Hoonah is ringed by brilliantly snow-capped, pointy mountains.  Just stunning.  The sun was out all day and we found we were overly clothed.  The ocean was calm, and we saw a whale come up several times.  Too far away to get a photo and the timing to catch the whale up is really difficult.

Monday we cruised up to Hubbard glacier, one we had not seen before.  It is the longest (widest) tidewater glacier in North America.  7.5 miles wide.  350 feet above the water level and another 200 feet below.  It takes over 400 years to travel 76 miles from its start to the sea. 

Tuesday we will be at another new port, Seward.