Icy Point Strait

So if it’s Tuesday 24/9 it must be Skagway…
Er no. We awoke early and expected to be docking ( had even booked room service breakfast as we had an early start and knew the buffet would be busy) but as we chugged on an announcement was made about 7:45 to say that due to high winds no cruise ships were able to enter Skagway so instead we were going to Icy Point Strait.
As we’d booked a streetcar ride in Skagway , via the ship, we knew we’d be reimbursed and were very impressed at the speed this happened and a whole wealth of new excursions were available .
We decided to do a nature hike with a guide as we knew this was the only “safe” way to experience the woods. Then we relaxed and tried the Trivia quiz until lunch.

We docked in IPS at 12 : it’s the home of the Tlingit people ( Klingit) in the village of Hoonah and a purpose built enterprise run entirely by indigenous people. There’s a canning factory museum, a cable car, zip wires, shops and restaurants all very accessible .

Our guide for the walk was Tess and she had a wealth of natural, geographical historical and cultural information to share. At the back came Colton our own personal bear guard, complete with gun! There are 4000 coastal brown bears ( same as a grizzly it a grizzly needs to be 75 miles or more inland and as the island of Hoonah is only 75 miles long they’re coastal here; and much bigger due to the rich diet of salmon eggs!)

Luckily or unluckily we didn’t spot much wildlife but learned loads about the fauna while climbing through the sitka spruce forest to reach the top and amazing views of Prince Frederick Sound. And the weather was glorious!
A couple of hours later we came back down, and mooched about the shops, rode the (free!) cable car over the hill and back and then had hot chocolate by the water with a fire.
Sorry Skagway, you’ll have to wait but we liked Icy Point Strait a lot !