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While some in Juneau were counting on the state ferry LeConte to take them to Skagway later this week, some islanders rely on it for supplies and communal shopping trips to Juneau discount stores.

Tenakee Springs Mayor Shelly Wilson said her community depends on the vessel that ran aground in Peril Strait Monday morning. The ferry usually comes in for one trip north and one trip south each week, she said. Without it, "we don't know where to go."

George Capacci, recently retired general manager of the marine highway system, called the news "gut-wrenching."

The LeConte is the only state ferry in Southeast waters able to dock at Angoon, Tenakee Springs and Pelican, he added.

The LeConte's sister ship, the Aurora, was visiting the communities earlier this year when the LeConte was in for maintenance, Capacci said. But since May 1, the Aurora has been sailing farther north, serving Prince William Sound, according to a marine highway news release.

David Kanosh, a Sitka resident, was planning on meeting family members from Angoon Monday before the incident. He said missing the ferry would throw everything off.

Wilson said the LeConte's difficulties were big news in her community Monday morning after people picked up the radio distress call.

"We have people here that rely on the ferry to get back and forth to Sitka," about 50 miles southwest of Tenakee Springs, she said. Some are able to sail their own boats, she said, but flying can be cost-prohibitive and impractical.

Anyone taking a float plane must either pay for the lengthy and long-scheduled connections through Juneau or charter a flight, she explained.

Juneau, about 45 miles northeast of Tenakee Springs, is easier, although more expensive, to reach by air, Wilson said. But flying can't accommodate serious shopping for essentials, "a Costco supply run," she added.

"I think we'll have to have a community meeting," Wilson said. Tenakee Springs residents could have to figure out a way to get to Hoonah to catch a ferry.

Capacci said Hoonah and Kake can be served by one ferry other than the LeConte: the Taku, scheduled to be taken out of service June 10.

Department of Transportation spokeswoman Nona Wilson said the administration was working Monday night on reworking schedules. She said she didn't know if the effects would ripple throughout the system, but they would be heavily felt in Southeast.

The LeConte, for example, was to leave from Juneau to Haines and Skagway Wednesday and return from the communities on Thursday, according to published schedules.

Nona Wilson said Monday that schedule details and the possibility of bringing in another vessel were still being worked out. "We're going to continue service as best we can."

While system officials were working to continue service, some users worried.

"We use the ferry to get to Celebration in Juneau, so we count on it," Kanosh said. Celebration is a Native Alaskan cultural gathering every two years.

Nona Wilson said Monday's priority was not scheduling but making sure that everyone from the LeConte was safe.

Rodney Stitt, youth group coordinator for the marine highway system, said the system has stopped taking LeConte reservations for the sailings scheduled through the next month.

Marine highway staff members try to contact people who have made reservations when a vessel can't make the voyage, he said. When people book trips, staff members try to get home and work telephone number, cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

People with questions about upcoming reservations can call the Juneau reservations line, 465-3941, or the toll-free reservation line at (800) 642-0066.