Hiking In K-town

3001 Foot Deer Mountain

When most folks think of Alaska, they think "adventure" and there are many adventures to be had in K-town on your visit. So many that you may have a hard time deciding which one's to enjoy. One of these many adventures is hiking. There are several trails within a short drive to explore, from the trails out at Ward Lake and Settlers Cove in the Tongass National Forest to the Beaver Falls and Sylvis Lake trails out on the southend. But the two I'm going to let you in on are less than five minutes from the docks downtown. They are the Deer Mountain Trail and the new Rainbird Trail.

One of my favorite trails is the Deer Mountain Trail. Over the 30 years I've lived in K-town I've hiked this trail dozens of times. The first time in the dark, a story for another time. I simply love it. It's 2.5 miles from the trail head to the summit. The trail head is about 1.5 miles from the docks and is all up hill, duh. I would suggest saving your energy for the trail and take a taxi to the trail head. It's under ten dollars from the docks. 

This is the trail to hike if you want to spend your day enjoying the wonders of an old growth forest, spotting birds and wildlife, great scenery and unbelievable views of Ketchikan, the Tongass Narrows and the surrounding islands. In my younger days I could do it in 1.5 hours(under 50), but the last time it took over 3 hours of huffin' and puffin' to make it.

Now this is not an easy hike, it's rated difficult, but don't let that stop you. This is because the trail has many steep switchbacks, rocky and uneven surfaces. Like most trails found in southeast Alaska the terrain varies from gravel to wooden stairs and boardwalks, stone steps, small creeks and muskeg. In spots it may be very muddy and may still have snow early in the season. The weather can be another factor, it can change quickly and become quite foggy or rainy. So be sure to dress in layers and don't forget a waterproof jacket.

Rainbird Trailhead

Rainbird Trail start @ ASU Campus

The newest trail in K-town is the Rainbird Trail, ok, it's not really new. But lots of people didn't know about it till the by pass was built. I use this trail for my quick work outs. If you have kids and they need to burn off ship boredom this will do. As in going to Deer Mountain, I suggest taking a taxi to the trail head, it's about 9 dollars and you save your energy for the hike.

The trail is about 1.5 miles long and has been rated as "moderate". The trail head is located at the UAS campus on Jackson St. and runs high above the 3rd Ave by-pass back towards downtown. Even though the trail has been resurfaced in resent years, it is still typical of hiking trails found in southeast Alaska. It starts with a slight incline and is made up of gravel, wooden stair steps, stone steps, tree roots and a small creek or two to cross.

On the trail you will walk through old growth forest with plenty of the local foliage to view along the way including skunk cabbage, salmon berries, blueberries and ferns. There are also plenty of birds. Eagles, ravens, woodpeckers, stellar jays and many more. You may even run into a Sitka blacktail deer or a black bear, you never know.  

Again, it's best to dress in layers and have your jacket handy if it starts to rain. Take along some water and your cell phone if you carry one. There's no need to think about getting lost. If you'll begin you adventure by stopping at the Ketchikan Visitors Information Center, you can pick up a free personal locator beacon. If you do become lost just activate it and it sends a distress signal and GPS location that is picked up by the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad. When you've finished your adventure simply return it to the center.

Well, I wish you good hiking and hope to see ya in K-town some time this summer.

Till Next Time,

K-townKing

PS.  For a great tour when in Ketchikan check out yourktowntour.com

Preparing Fresh Caught Fish

This is the time of year the waters around Ketchikan are brimming with fish, be it freshwater or saltwater, you'll wait to maintain the delicate flavor, and avoid spoilage by properly handling your catch. Not to mention preserving the fish with pleasing odor. You'll want to properly prepare and maintain the quality just after the catch to the fish into a delicious fish meal. Here are some tips to help:

1) As soon as you've land your fish try to avoid contact with hard surfaces, so not to bruise the fish. It should be immediately washed by hosing or bucket rinse to remove slim and possible bacteria that can cause spoilage. Try to avoid water in close proximity marinas,municipal or industrial discharges. Be sure to use potable water instead.

2) Your fish should be chilled to prevent deterioration in less than an hour. By planning ahead this can be accomplished by properly icing with some relatively inexpensive equipment. Fish should be stored in coolers and should be well chilled. It should be 3" deep, thus, covering a pound of fish with with a pound of ice. Use some chlorinated water for the final rinse.

3) Your fish needs to be cleaned as soon as possible. Their tissues are sterile but not their scales, which can contain numerous types of bacteria. When cleaning fish, avoid rough treatment because wounds to the flesh can allow the spread of the bacteria. Gutting the fish does not have to be a long process. It's wise to cut the belly,as it leaves no blood or viscera in the body. Be sure that you don't soak the fish in freshwater for a prolonged time as this will reduce the meats texture and flavor.

4)When properly cleaned the quality and nutritional value of your fish can be maintained for up to 5 days. To insure this be sure to wash your hands before touching your fish. No matter what fish and the technique used, always follow this golden rule. Whether your cooking the whole fish or not, cook exactly 10 minutes for each inch. If you've wrapped the fish in foil you'll want to add 5 minutes and double the time if the fish is frozen. If your baking your fish and pack it in aluminum foil remember to allow extra time for the heat to penetrate. You should allow an additional 5 minutes for fresh and 10 for frozen. Frozen fish needs to be thawed slowly by placing it in the fridge for at least 24 hours or run cold water, not room temperature, over the wrapped fish. Don't thaw a frozen fish before cooking as it can make the fish mushy and dry.

Now go out and put these tips to good use. You'll enjoy your fish a lot more.


See Ya on the Water,

K-townking

Should You Take a Camping Trip to SE. Alaska?

Are you looking for some place to go this spring,summer, or even fall? Whether you are looking to do something independently, with your family,or with your friends, have you ever thought about going camping in SE. Alaska? If you have yet to examine camping, you may want to think about it, as camping is often referred to as a fun exciting pastime.

Although it is nice to hear that camping is a fun way to spend some free time that you may have, you may be wondering if you should really go camping. While individuals from all walks of life enjoy camping, camping isn't for everyone. If you would like to know whether you should go camping or at least think about it a little bit more,you will want to continue reading on.

One of the many signs that you should think about going camping is if you love spending time out of doors. Whether it's playing sports,swimming, or just sitting on your front porch, there's a good chance you'd like camping.Camping is based on the out of doors. You will likely find yourself sleeping,eating, and playing outside. For that reason, if you have a love for the outdoors, then a camping trip is something you should examine.

If  you're looking for a change, you may want to think about going camping. If you're wondering if you should go camping, there is a good chance that you have never been camping before. Unfortunately, when many people take a short trip or a full fledged vacation, many end up staying on the "safe side." While it's more than possible to do so, you might want to try something new and different, like camping.

Another sign that you might think about camping is if your on a budget. Camping is nice and it's a relatively affordable activity. When it comes to camping, many campers choose to camp in parks or other public campground areas. Many of these camping establishments will charge a small admission fee or a small camping fee, but you'll find that the fees are significantly lower than the cost of many amusement parks or airfare for a long trip. It's important to mention that you can get a lot of your camping supplies, like food, for very cheap prices as well.

Also,what is nice about camping is that you will find that you have a number of different options. You may choose to camp in the traditional manner, in a tent or you may want to rent an RV. If you don't own your own RV, you may rent one. You'll also have a choice of choosing a campground. No matter where you are looking to camp, you should be able to find a number of campgrounds to choose from. If you carefully choose your campground park, you may even be able to handpick your own camping spot.

Of course, the decision to go camping is entirely up to you, but you may at lease look into it. There's a reason why camping is regarded as one of the most popular American pastimes.

Hope to see ya around Ktown's campgrounds this year, later K-townking.