Ways To Give

Alaska Inside Passage Adventure

Written by Ken Gerbrandt

For those who love the wild untamed North Country and want to experience an adventure that will give you a life time of memories, floating through the Inside Passage on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system is the way to go. It will take you to places that a cruise ship cannot access and give you a real perspective of the true Alaskan lifestyle.

I was excited when my son Luke asked me to join him on the 15-day adventure. Traveling the Inside Passage from Bellingham, Washington, to Skagway, Alaska, was a novel idea—something we as father and son have never tried before.

A small setback

Our tent on the upper deck of the ferry would be our home away from home during our Inner Passage adventure. Tenting on the upper deck of the ferry was awesome until we hit severe weather conditions that threatened to blow down our tent in spite of the duct tape we used to anchor the tent to the deck of the ship. During our second night, driving rain soaked our tent and equipment, forcing us to abandon the tents for the open solarium and deck chairs.

The experience was the only setback we encountered and we chose to think of lessons we could learn for what lay ahead.

More than a good catch

It was calming to watch little children catch large salmon off the shore and then throw the fish back into the water. I saw it all as a gentle way of life—being surrounded by the  rugged and unforgiving elements of wilderness living as far as the eye could see. This scene was in stark contrast to that of the avid sport fishermen on board our ferry who had paid big dollars to come this far, hoping to make a good catch themselves. Now standing on the deck of the ferry, they could only watch the children play with the large fish that they were hoping to take home and boast about.

Alaskans use the ferries as a wonderful bus system. You can find college kids floating north on the ferry system looking for seasonal work. World travelers use this mode of transportation as one of the highlights in their quest for adventure in the North Country—and we never met one individual on our trip that expressed anything but excitement.

A sure adventure for father and son

For my son Luke and me, the Alaska ferry became a transportation system that allowed us to see more of the Alaskan coast than all of the roads available in this area combined. The Alaska ferry also allowed us to stop wherever we wanted to and spend a few days at a location and then schedule the next ferry out to our next destination of adventure.

This is a trip well worth taking for any father whose son desires to experience an adventure with his dad. Adversity was inevitable when we stepped out of our comfort zone and moved ahead into an unfamiliar adventure. The payoff was the opportunity to demonstrate resilience and forward thinking, which quickly brought us as father and son to a new level of teamwork and friendship.

In order to make this trip a success you need to plan it. Luke and I learned that you cannot go wrong by being prepared.

1. Read and research.

Buy yourself the SE Alaska’s Inside Passage recreation finder map and guide at SE Alaska Inside Passage Map. This will provide you with unmatched detail for planning your Inside Passage trip.

You may want to check out books written by experienced travelers in this area. Although I have not read these books, they come highly recommended: Adventure Guide to the Inside Passage and Coastal Alaska by Ed and Lynn Readicker-Henderson or Along the Alaska Marine Highway by Alissa Crandall.

2. Check the AMHS Sailing Schedule

For Reservations and Schedules for the Alaska Marine Highway System out of Bellingham, Washington, check out The Official Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System Site.

3. Cost

The cost of your trip will depend on your choices regarding:

• Number of legs you schedule on the ferry. Ferry tickets are sold by the leg.
• Meals on and off the ferry
• Choice of accommodations on and off the ferry
• Activities you decide to take part in while visiting at your various stops

Remember that this is a trip of a lifetime and you want to make sure you budget in such a way that you will have no regrets if you’re not able to participate in local activities.

4. Schedule on-land sleeping/rental accommodations.

It is a good idea to phone ahead and schedule night accommodations ahead of your arrival. This includes hostiles, campgrounds and hotels.

Although Luke and I did not rent any vehicles throughout our adventure, you may want to consider a rental in some of the more major locations that you stop at. In Juneau for example, the ferry terminal is several miles from town. Luke and I hitch-hiked a ride to town but that may not be your first choice.

Things to remember

1. June through September is the best time for dryer weather. It is also the busiest time for travelers.
2. Dress in layers. The weather can change within hours. You will encounter warmth, cold, rain and sun. Bring light rain gear. It is also wise to bring head covering for warmth and wind.
3. Pack light. You will be carrying your gear. There are always local laundry facilities to help you out in a pinch. Remember, if you can’t carry it a few miles then leave it at home.
4. Wear good walking or hiking footwear. Never settle for inferior footwear—this is crucial.
5. Decide what you are going to do about meals and pack light if you take food along.
6. Treat yourself to at least one hot meal a day when on the ferry or visiting a local community. Remember there are no open fires on board the ferry. This includes portable stoves (believe it or not we did see some individuals try it…they were stopped very quickly by ferry security). Have lots of light healthy snack foods to help you stay energized.
7. Bring a camera with a zoom lens. You will never regret the photos you take.
8. Bring binoculars. It brings the wild life closer to you.
9. Bring a good light-weight tent. Make sure it is rain proof and that the floor of the tent is water proof. You will be setting it on the metal deck of the ship. Water may pool under your tent and a ground cover will not prevent the water from seeping through the floor of your tent.
10. Bring a light weight sleeping bag. Remember you will be carrying this with your backpack.
11. Remember, you are a guest. Get to know the local people and treat them and their community with respect.
12. Journal your experience.

OH! Don’t forget the duct tape! You will need it to fasten down your tent to the deck of the ferry. The winds can get fairly gusty on open water sections. Don’t be fooled by the light breeze in the harbor.

HAVE A GREAT ADVENTURE!

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