This is Chapter Six of Fun Things I Will Never Do Again (Unless Someone Else Pays) or “My Alaskan Cruise”.

Juneau might have been my favorite stop. This could be because we were there the longest of all the ports. After visiting the Mendenhall Glay-shee-uh, we went up Mt. Roberts.

Mt. Roberts has a tram, which costs $31 and zips you to the top of a mountain above Juneau. Not us – we are Trail Guy and Mrs. Trail Guy.

We meandered through the streets of Juneau, following a map I got back in the 1980s when I thought I might move to Alaska. (I was an idiot, but let’s not think about that too much.)

 

These folks in Juneau really take advantage of the long days of sunlight during the summer. We loved seeing the results of the gardening efforts.

 

Steep streets, steps everywhere.

 

I was pleased and amazed to see this very place, same view, in the overpriced book that the cruise ship sold about the various ports of call on our journey.

 

When we got out of the neighborhoods and closer to the trailhead, this was the view.

 

This is probably just a stream. Looks bigger than the Kaweah River!

 

Hmmm, that would get your attention in the winter. (There’s a typo in the sign. . . just sayin’.)

 

It was steep, muddy, uphill and 2.5 miles to the top where the tram is. There are more trails at the top, but we were muddy and sweaty and done. However, we started pretty close to sea level, so this sort of hike wasn’t nearly as huffy-puffy as hiking in Mineral King.

 

Nice view of Juneau below!

 

Really really nice views up there!

 

Hey! There’s our ship!

I told you these cruises are all about the ship, right? We had a tiny sense that we were out there on our own during our long day in Juneau. I’d like to go back and stay a week or two.

Oh – about the tram? We spent $20 at the top of the tram, and showed our receipt, which worked as a ticket for a quick and thrilling descent back to the port.