It wasn't supposed to happen. This summer was expected to be better for Wrangell, for the rest of Southeast and for the entire state of Alaska.

It was supposed to be the summer of recovery, or at least the start of it. Not a full recovery to the 2019 level of visitor traffic, but full of hope and at least busier charter boats, stores, hotels and bed-and-breakfasts.

Then Canada decided it wasn't safe enough to open its waters to cruise ships - not with COVID infection rates still so high. That wasn't part of the summer of recovery plan for Alaska.

There is talk of convincing Congress and the...