KETCHIKAN, ALASKA

Ketchikan is most notably known for totem poles, float planes, and outstanding sport fishing for wild Alaska salmon and halibut.  It also carries the name as Alaska’s “first city” as it is located at the entrance to the famed Inside Passage

Ketchikan further boasts of being the “Salmon Capital of the World”.  During my visit I was taught that there are five types of salmon in Ketchikan.  Here’s a quick guide to help you remember all five:

• Your thumb rhymes with Chum - hence Chum Salmon!
• Your pointer finger is something you might sock someone in the eye with - for Sockeye Salmon!
• Your middle finger is the largest finger - for the King Salmon, the largest Salmon!
• Your ring finger is where you might wear a Silver ring - for a Silver Salmon!
• And your pinkie finger is easy - it's the Pink Salmon!

Ketchikan is also known as the “Rain Capital of Alaska” with an average that approaches 160 inches per year.  The locals say this is why their fishing is unmatched.  Their wettest year on record was 1949 with 202.55 inches.

Incorporated in 1900, Ketchikan is now the earliest surviving incorporated city in Alaska.

If you want to set your GPS coordinates for Ketchikan: Latitude 55.342 and Longitude -131.648.

Perhaps the most popular way to arrive in Ketchikan is by cruise ship.  I arrived aboard the Norwegian Jewel.  There are 4 berths in Ketchikan. 

The Jewel docked at Berth 4 shortly after 7am on August 28, 2019.   I disembarked at 8:20am to make my way to the complimentary shuttle boarding area.  

Norwegian Jewel at Berth 4 in Ketchikan 

As I stepped off the gangway I turned right and followed the blue and white signs marked “FREE SHUTTLE”. 

FREE SHUTTLE sign at Berth 4 in Ketchikan

Free Downtown Shuttle Bus Stop at Berth 4 in Ketchikan

FREE shuttle bus information, Berth 4 in Ketchikan

There is a nice covered area for waiting.  In the waiting area I noticed an advertisement to download the app “DoubleMap”. 

Instructions on "Doublemap" application

This will give you up-to-the-minute bus locations.  The buses actually move as they progress around their route, like you would see on your UBER app.  You will want to focus on the red FDS indicators.  FDS represents the FREE DOWNTOWN SHUTTLE and they come by every 20 minutes.

The activity planned for the day was the GREAT ALASKAN LUMBERJACK SHOW. The free downtown shuttle drops you at the Great Alaskan Mall, just a block from the attraction.

The doors to the Lumberjack Show open at 9am with seating beginning at 9:45am for the 10am show.  

Entrance to Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan

The seating area is covered, has cushioned seats and heaters attached to the ceiling.  There is also a rustic lodge gift shop, restrooms and a full concession.

Seating area at Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan

 

Padded seating in the Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan

Ceiling Heaters in Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan

The current semi-circle stadium sits on the original site of the Ketchikan Spruce Mill which was built in 1903.  The mill serviced the needs of 7 canneries that were producing 1.5 million cases of Salmon yearly and it was the heart of the ever-expanding timber industry in Alaska.  The mill closed in 1974 and sat idle until 2000 when it was converted into the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show.
 
Before the show begins you will meet the show host Judge Dalton “Cornbread Fred”.  

Host Judge Dalton "Cornbread Fred"

Dalton came to Ketchikan 4 years earlier to be a tour guide and to learn about the Last Frontier.  While learning the history of Ketchikan, he became particularly interested in the timber industry.  He is now the camp cook and one of the official judges of the Timber Carnival.

After you are introduced to Cornbread Fred he will divide the audience in half.  Half will cheer and support the Spruce Mill Americans and half will cheer and support the Dawson Creek Canadians.   With a roster of 12 lumberjacks to choose from, each show will consist of four lumberjacks.  Two will represent the Spruce Mill American team and two will represent Dawson Creek Canadian team. The performance will last 1 hour and is a competition of both skill and strength. It is indicative of Alaska’s rich logging history and is brought to life through displays of strength and agility.  The four world champion athletes wear spiked boots & hard hats and compete against each other in 12 athletic events that utilize seven-pound axes, six-foot razor sharp saws, tree climbing gaffs, and modified chainsaws.   

As the show draws to a conclusion, the American Spruce Mill team and the Canadian Dawson Creek team were tied.  The last event would be log rolling with the winner claiming victory for the day.  Would it be the Americans or the Canadians?  The Canadians would come out on top on the day of my visit. 

As we left the Lumberjack facility a quick check of the “Doublemap” application indicated the free shuttle bus would arrive within a few short minutes.  As you exit the Lumberjack complex you will turn right and walk to the first street corner.  The bus stop is located on the southeast corner and is well marked as bus stop #135.

Bus Stop #135 outside the Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan

Instead of returning immediately to the ship I wanted to head over to check out the Artic Bar.

Located at 509 Water Street, the bar is directly across the street from BurgerQueen.   

Burger Queen

Although not fancy, you may not find a more interesting place in town.  Great atmosphere, friendly folks and even greater views make this a great way to spend a couple hours.  

They don’t sport a kitchen nor serve food but they do have a laminated menu available from the Burger Queen located across the street.  

When you are ready to order they will hand you the phone.  You simply place your order and it will be delivered to you within 20-30 minutes.  You pay when the order is delivered or you can give them credit card information over the phone when your order is placed.  

After a very relaxing and fun couple of hours it was time to return to the ship as the sailing time was 4pm.  With no rain for the day and temperature hovering near 70 degrees, it proved to be a spectacular day in Ketchikan.