Major rock slide Tues strands cruisers in Skagway.

[happycamper47]

From Travel Scouts: (corrected source)

A rock slide in Skagway stranded cruisers on the train tour and they had to be bused 250 miles around back to their ships. Apparently further tours are canceled.

 

[shosh1530]

Wow. That rock slide looked pretty massive!

I saw this article after watching the video: https://www.chilkatvalleynews.com/2...-by-a-rockslide-rejoin-their-ships-in-haines/

It details that about 150 stranded passengers were bussed to Haines (via a long route) and were reunited with their ships early this morning.

I'm guessing people on upcoming Disney sailings that port in Skagway may have some tours disrupted due to this.

 

[auntlynne]

Skagway has had issues with rockslides by the ship berths the last few years. And I noticed more ships docking at Haines this year - but still offering excursions in Skagway (it’s about 45 minutes by fast ferry between the two ports).

But a double landslide! Watching to see how much damage this does to the train tracks.

The Australian couple’s response was lemonade from lemons. And you know that’s a lifelong story - we went on a train ride and then rode 6 hours by bus to get to our ship. Better than a 3 hour tour. A 3 hour tour.

 

[Cheburashka]

That must have been stressful. I'm glad no one was hurt.

 

[brentm77]

Glad no one was hurt too! I am supposed to be on that train in a a little over two weeks. Rolling with the unexpected is part of travel. What else is good to do in the area (we have a family member with limited mobility this trip)?


Update: The local news is saying the railway tour should be up and running today. "A representative for White Pass and Yukon Route said their railroad tour wasn’t running on Wednesday, but expected to resume normal operations on Thursday."

 

[happycamper47]

Update: The local news is saying the railway tour should be up and running today. "A representative for White Pass and Yukon Route said their railroad tour wasn’t running on Wednesday, but expected to resume normal operations on Thursday."

That's good.
Sounds like no damage to the tracks and they only have to clear a path wide enough like they do in the snow..

 

[happycamper47]

Apparently there were two slides. The one in the video and a mud slide that covered the train tracks. That's why the train is back up and running, since that was easier to clear.

Passengers who disembarked in Skagway Tuesday to ride the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway became stranded by a separate mudslide that covered the tracks, according to reporting in the Chilkat Valley News. Buses returned them to their ship via Haines on Wednesday.

 

[auntlynne]

Glad no one was hurt too! I am supposed to be on that train in a a little over two weeks. Rolling with the unexpected is part of travel. What else is good to do in the area (we have a family member with limited mobility this trip)?


Update: The local news is saying the railway tour should be up and running today. "A representative for White Pass and Yukon Route said their railroad tour wasn’t running on Wednesday, but expected to resume normal operations on Thursday."

Sounds like you may be on the train, after all. As long as she can get a hand up into the train car, it might be the best bet.

We did a helicopter ride to walk on a glacier (after the train).

Another trip, we rented a car and went into Yukon - all the way to Whitehorse. Great views. But now would have to check blockage on road.

Skagway, itself, might be a bumpy ride, as I remember the sidewalks as being wooden. But I also think there were pedestrians in the street. It’s not so far from ship to the end of the main street. I’d suggest giving it a try. (Looking at a photo, it probably is easier to just go on the road. The sidewalk looks narrow. But even 12 years ago, they did ramp the corners of the sidewalk.)

Hope it’s a great cruise. Is it Celebrity you booked?

 

[brentm77]

Sounds like you may be on the train, after all. As long as she can get a hand up into the train car, it might be the best bet.

We did a helicopter ride to walk on a glacier (after the train).

Another trip, we rented a car and went into Yukon - all the way to Whitehorse. Great views. But now would have to check blockage on road.

Skagway, itself, might be a bumpy ride, as I remember the sidewalks as being wooden. But I also think there were pedestrians in the street. It’s not so far from ship to the end of the main street. I’d suggest giving it a try. (Looking at a photo, it probably is easier to just go on the road. The sidewalk looks narrow. But even 12 years ago, they did ramp the corners of the sidewalk.)

Hope it’s a great cruise. Is it Celebrity you booked?

Thanks for the great advice as always! Yes, our first Celebrity cruise, and first venture away from DCL for most of the family. We can't wait!

Luckily my daughter has her prosthetic leg now and can walk about a block or do stairs with her crutches. We will just use the wheelchair for long distances since her endurance is still low, but it makes it easy if she can hop out of it for less accessible spaces. When we booked this trip a long time ago, we didn't even know if she would be ready, but she's more than ready!

 

[Rex1993]

There was a massive slide in 2017 and then one in 2022 and in 2023. This seems to be a big problem with the docks and the city and White Pass are kind of pointing fingers at each other about who should deal with it.

 

[happycamper47]

Sounds like you may be on the train, after all. As long as she can get a hand up into the train car, it might be the best bet.

The train is ADA accessible..

 

[John VN]

Sounds like you may be on the train, after all. As long as she can get a hand up into the train car, it might be the best bet.

We did a helicopter ride to walk on a glacier (after the train).

Another trip, we rented a car and went into Yukon - all the way to Whitehorse. Great views. But now would have to check blockage on road.

Skagway, itself, might be a bumpy ride, as I remember the sidewalks as being wooden. But I also think there were pedestrians in the street. It’s not so far from ship to the end of the main street. I’d suggest giving it a try. (Looking at a photo, it probably is easier to just go on the road. The sidewalk looks narrow. But even 12 years ago, they did ramp the corners of the sidewalk.)

Hope it’s a great cruise. Is it Celebrity you booked?

We were to have been on the TRAIN Ride some years ago on our Alaska Cruise but it too was also cancelled due to a slide. The Cruise Line quickly change the excursion to a Bus Ride that made it to Lake Emerald where we turned around (still a ways from Whitehorse). I fell asleep and was rudely awakened after a front row passenger jumped up, grabbed the steering wheel and yanked it to the left as the bus drifted to the right since the driver nodded off. He then yanked it back to the right to keep us from going off the road and down the cliff and was able to straighten it out as the driver woke and managed to stop it. Now that was an Alaskan trip experience we do not wish to duplicate should we do another Alaskan Cruise.

 

[pachy25]

Wow. That rock slide looked pretty massive!

I saw this article after watching the video: https://www.chilkatvalleynews.com/2...-by-a-rockslide-rejoin-their-ships-in-haines/

It details that about 150 stranded passengers were bussed to Haines (via a long route) and were reunited with their ships early this morning.

I'm guessing people on upcoming Disney sailings that port in Skagway may have some tours disrupted due to this.

I can't imagine having 3 or 4 ships in skagway and the White Pass train excursion not running. Having shiploads of folks wandering around downton Skagway ( all of 4-5 blocks) would be horrible.

 

[Lucien Franciosa]

I can't imagine having 3 or 4 ships in skagway and the White Pass train excursion not running. Having shiploads of folks wandering around downton Skagway ( all of 4-5 blocks) would be horrible.

I imagine the locals aren't too thrilled about it either, but sounds like they have weathered it before.