twistedtree
Guru
Actually, we are already here/there, but I finally was able to get our blog updated. Adventures of Tanglewood: Our Alaska Adventure Begins
Off to Alaska...
- Thread starter twistedtree
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone who enjoys boating.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
markpierce
Master and Commander
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Enjoy!
OP
OP
twistedtree
Guru
Thanks! We will just be in SE Alaska this year, but might go up to PWS next summer.
CPseudonym
Moderator Emeritus
I hadn't visited your blog since perhaps June 1st... Dang I had some serious catching up to do. Still need to go back and watch the pilot house tour videos.
Old deckhand
Guru
Mark, your first photo appears similar to the east side of Swindel Island in BC.
markpierce
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No, it is in Tracy Arm, Alaska.
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markpierce
Master and Commander
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Al, how close in miles was "close"? Tracy is north of Juneau, well into SE Alaska.
Old deckhand
Guru
Please note that I said similar to. I did not suggest that the photo was actually of Swindel Island.
Mark, thank you for your reply. Unfortunately some are not able to ready very well.
Mark, thank you for your reply. Unfortunately some are not able to ready very well.
OP
OP
twistedtree
Guru
South of Juneau, right?
OP
OP
twistedtree
Guru
You only have catching up to do because I had catching up to do. I procrastinated on updates, then had no internet for a long stretch, then finally started writing everything off line. A few days ago I finally did a massive posting. But it's still about a week out of date. We are in Wrangell now and leave in a few hours for Petersburg, hopefully timing the currents correctly through Wrangell Narrows.
Old deckhand
Guru
Yes, Tracy Arm is considerably south of Juneau.
Nomad Willy
Guru
twisted,
Yes you need to time the tides in Wrangell Narrows and despite all the lighted nav aids you probably don't want to do that run at night. Done it many times on the when I worked on the ferries. It's a light show. All the lights on cans, buoys ect. Add their reflections off the water and it's real hard to tell one from another. Mark's never seen that.
Something far more stunning than the ice in Tracy Arm is Forjord's Terror down in the lower part of Endicott Arm .. next to Tracy Arm. Ford's Terror is a small inlet probably only receintly free of ice. Only a few minutes of slack water so you've got to come right back out or stay for 6 hours. The entrance is a dog leg so they call it the washing machine. A sort of a catamaran tour boat went in there out of Petersburg for years but it's long gone.
Yes you need to time the tides in Wrangell Narrows and despite all the lighted nav aids you probably don't want to do that run at night. Done it many times on the when I worked on the ferries. It's a light show. All the lights on cans, buoys ect. Add their reflections off the water and it's real hard to tell one from another. Mark's never seen that.
Something far more stunning than the ice in Tracy Arm is Forjord's Terror down in the lower part of Endicott Arm .. next to Tracy Arm. Ford's Terror is a small inlet probably only receintly free of ice. Only a few minutes of slack water so you've got to come right back out or stay for 6 hours. The entrance is a dog leg so they call it the washing machine. A sort of a catamaran tour boat went in there out of Petersburg for years but it's long gone.
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ksanders
Moderator Emeritus
Just a FYI...
I found that the charts of Wrangel Narrows to be spot on. I did it at dusk and agree with Eric that it is not something you really want to do at night.
On the plus side, at the northern end is Petersburg and the harbor is well lighted.
I found that the charts of Wrangel Narrows to be spot on. I did it at dusk and agree with Eric that it is not something you really want to do at night.
On the plus side, at the northern end is Petersburg and the harbor is well lighted.
OP
OP
twistedtree
Guru
We made it through Wrangell Narrows with no problem. Timed it perfectly and had maybe 1 kt of current behind us the whole way. We ate in Petersburg for a week, including the 4th for their celebration.
Nomad Willy
Guru
Petersburg is my favorite Alaskan town.
To visit.
To visit.
Scary
Guru
4th of what
Wrangel has one of the best 4th of July celebrations I've seen. Seems 11 or 12 years ago the fire department who puts on the fire works display had a complete ignition of all the fireworks at once and damned near burned down the dock they use to the water. They went to school after the fire and the next year put on probably the best fire works display I've ever seen.
Wrangel has one of the best 4th of July celebrations I've seen. Seems 11 or 12 years ago the fire department who puts on the fire works display had a complete ignition of all the fireworks at once and damned near burned down the dock they use to the water. They went to school after the fire and the next year put on probably the best fire works display I've ever seen.
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Al
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Tanglewood,
I believe we saw you in Wrangell same time as myself this July. We were moored on the Reliance Dock. We come to Wrangell every year for the Fourth. Taking nothing away from Petersburg, Scary has made the main point. Both towns focus on children on the Fourth. Very little commercial or "All about Me" participation.
The Wrangell Queen candidates sell tickets at $1.00 with percentage of funds to cover the cost of the contest, drawing funds ($5000.00 1st pick and then lessor amounts) the major amount of funds is dedicated to the next year Fourth fireworks (1/2) and News Year fireworks (1/2) Are you ready??
The Queen contest raises over $65,000.00 each year. This from a local population of 1800 souls. The fireworks starts LATE about 11 PM for complete darkness. When it starts, WOW, for the next hour you are sharing a fireworks display second only to the Boston Pops display.
Don't miss it if you in the area. Plan on a early mooring as we are not the only boaters who come for this occasion. Viewing is excellent from the water as the display is shot in front of town on the water front.
Enjoy
Al
I believe we saw you in Wrangell same time as myself this July. We were moored on the Reliance Dock. We come to Wrangell every year for the Fourth. Taking nothing away from Petersburg, Scary has made the main point. Both towns focus on children on the Fourth. Very little commercial or "All about Me" participation.
The Wrangell Queen candidates sell tickets at $1.00 with percentage of funds to cover the cost of the contest, drawing funds ($5000.00 1st pick and then lessor amounts) the major amount of funds is dedicated to the next year Fourth fireworks (1/2) and News Year fireworks (1/2) Are you ready??
The Queen contest raises over $65,000.00 each year. This from a local population of 1800 souls. The fireworks starts LATE about 11 PM for complete darkness. When it starts, WOW, for the next hour you are sharing a fireworks display second only to the Boston Pops display.
Don't miss it if you in the area. Plan on a early mooring as we are not the only boaters who come for this occasion. Viewing is excellent from the water as the display is shot in front of town on the water front.
Enjoy
Al
West
Senior Member
Cool, I'm following my son's Alaskan cruise on the Celebrity Infinity and see that your both in port.
Attachments
OP
OP
twistedtree
Guru
Yup, that's me. We'll be here for a few more days. My exhaust elbow wasn't sufficiently supported, and after 500 hrs one of the turbo mount studs broke and coolant started showering the engine room. Fortunately this happened as we were on our final leg into Juneau. The engine never even ran hot, but wow what a mess when I checked the ER after arrival.
Wifey B: Even when one gets stuck somewhere it's great to be cruising. You won't run out of things to do or see in Juneau during these few days.
OP
OP
twistedtree
Guru
Agreed. It's all part of the package.
Nomad Willy
Guru
They love their children in Pburg.
And the fourth. But nuts about the forth is Alaska wide. The forth starts on June 4th and ends around the 4th of August in western Alaska.
And the fourth. But nuts about the forth is Alaska wide. The forth starts on June 4th and ends around the 4th of August in western Alaska.
OP
OP
twistedtree
Guru
Yes, they are celebrating the stars, stripes, and daylight.
