Alaska; Petersburg, Wrangell or Ketchikan?

[Monika]

Hi, my American friends

Has anyone here traveled along the southeast coast of Alaska?
I can only make one stop in one of the cities in the subject line. I have googled them but can´t make up my mind. Any thoughts to which city I should pick?

[Meryl]

Gee, I wish I could help you, but I haven't traveled far south of Anchorage.  What a nice choice to have to make! 

[Sason]

I like the sound of Ketchikan. Does that count as advice? 

[Lynne]

I intro'd you via FB to a fellow Brokie living in AK. Maybe he can help?

[Monika]

I intro'd you via FB to a fellow Brokie living in AK. Maybe he can help?

That could be really helpful, L

 

[Monika]

I like the sound of Ketchikan. Does that count as advice? 

What was that? Ketchup? 

[Sason]

What was that? Ketchup? 

LOL! 


No, I like it because it sounds Inuit.

You can't exactly say that about Petersburg and Wrangell, can you? 

(I don't know if it really is Inuit, though)

[Jeff Wrangler]

I'd go for Ketchikan, too. It just sort of sounds ... Alaska.

[Jeff Wrangler]

What was that? Ketchup? 

Is there a Condiment, Alaska? 

[Front-Ranger]

Is there a Condiment, Alaska? 

The Whu' 

[Front-Ranger]

Just watched a movie partially based in that area last night...Into the Wild. Whatever you do, don't eat the red berries!!

 

[Monika]

Just watched a movie partially based in that area last night...Into the Wild. Whatever you do, don't eat the red berries!!

 

I´ll write that down


The bus in which he died has apparantly become somewhat of a tourist attraction for hikers.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Just watched a movie partially based in that area last night...Into the Wild. Whatever you do, don't eat the red berries!!

 

Or the yellow snow. 

[Marge_Innavera]

You might also consider Sitka; it's one of the more scenic areas of the Southeast.  Actually, all of SE Alaska is scenic as far as I know.  If you do go to Ketchikan, be sure to take rain gear!  It's in a rain forest.


The site of the events in Into the Wild is on the mainland near Denali National Park; pretty far from the Southeast.  I read the book and seem to recall that what he actually ate was wild potato seeds.  The poison was a particularly lethal type that prevents the body from absorbing nutrients: it would take skilled medical care to remover from it so someone in that position off in the middle of nowhere wouldn't have much of a chance.

[Monika]

You might also consider Sitka; it's one of the more scenic areas of the Southeast.  Actually, all of SE Alaska is scenic as far as I know.  If you do go to Ketchikan, be sure to take rain gear!  It's in a rain forest.


The site of the events in Into the Wild is on the mainland near Denali National Park; pretty far from the Southeast.  I read the book and seem to recall that what he actually ate was wild potato seeds.  The poison was a particularly lethal type that prevents the body from absorbing nutrients: it would take skilled medical care to remover from it so someone in that position off in the middle of nowhere wouldn't have much of a chance.

Hi, Marge.The plan is to get on the ferry in Skagway and then make three stops before getting off for good in Prince Rupert, BC.
Juneau, Sitka and then Ketchikan, Wrangell or Petersburg. Maybe it doesn´t matter much which town I pick, like you wrote, they all seem pretty scenic.

[CoyotePiper]

Since you mentioned Petersburg AK, you might like to stop there as it has a tie in to Into the Wild. John Krakauer interrupts his story about the tragic life of Chris McCandless  to go on a tangent of his own period of self discovery - similar to McCandless's . He details his attempt at a solo ascent of 'The Devil's Thumb' a mountain peak visible from Petersburg.

Definitely read the book and see the film. I've enjoyed every one of Krakauer's books. I'm getting ready for my first trip to Alaska and Petersburg is a priority stop. As is a trip  to see bus 142 out near Healy Alaska.