FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

How do people get to the communities of Southeast Alaska? There is jet service to Yakutat, Juneau, Gustavus (summer), Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchikan. Other towns have scheduled commuter air service. The smallest places are served by charter air service. The Alaska Marine Highway ferries serve Skagway, Haines, Juneau, Angoon, Hoonah, Sitka, Pelican, Tenakee, Petersburg, Wrangell, Kake, Hollis, Ketchikan, Metlakatla and Hyder. Skagway, Haines and Hyder connect to the road system in Canada.

Does it rain a lot in Southeast Alaska? Southeast Alaska is part of a coastal rainforest, but rainfall ranges from 29" a year in Skagway to over 200" in Little Port Walter. Ketchikan receives 160", Juneau 60 to 90".

What is the elevation? All the communities in Southeast Alaska are at sea level. In some areas, the mountains are so close, you can go from sea level to over 3,000 ft. within a mile of the coast.

Why is the state capital in Juneau, a town without a road? The capital moved from Sitka to Juneau in 1906, following the population base. There have been many attempts to move it since, none successful. There have also been many proposals for a road to Juneau, so far none successful.

Is all of Southeast Alaska within the Tongass? Since the Tongass begins at the southernmost tip of Southeast Alaska and goes to the northernmost point, it could be said that it is. But in reality, only 80% is actual national forest (the rest is State, municipal, other federal, or private land surrounded by national forest).

How many glaciers are there in Alaska? More than 5,000.

How many miles of coastline are there in Alaska? Over 33,000 miles if you include the islands (6,640 if you don't!).

How many islands are there in Southeast Alaska? Approximately 2,000.

Why do you pay so much for gasoline in Southeast Alaska? Even though Alaska produces and refines gasoline, most of the gas that is distributed to Southeast Alaska does not come from Alaskan refineries and is subject to the high cost of transport to local ports.

Why is the ferry late so often? The ferries do not stop for the night, but keep moving. The schedule is ruled by the tides and any major delay can mean losing a tide and a longer wait. Delay can be in the form of a particular vessel responding to a medical emergency or rescue, stormy weather or mechanical problems.

How do you pronounce Tsimshian, Tlingit and Haida? The correct pronunciation for Tsimshian is "sim-she-an", Tlingit is "kling-it", and Haida is "hide-a".

I am going to Canada after visiting in Southeast Alaska. Should I change my currency before I go? You may, but there are banks in all larger towns in Yukon and British Columbia. Most merchants accept major credit cards and your credit card bank will give you the correct exchange rate. Some merchants will give you the correct rate on US currency and travelers checks, more will give you slightly less.

Where can I go fishing and what kind of fish can I catch? Opportunities abound in both salt water and fresh water throughout the Tongass National Forest. There are five species of salmon as well as Dolly Varden, trout, and grayling. In salt water try fishing for halibut and snapper or drop a pot for crab or shrimp. Check with local district offices for the best locations. Don't forget you'll need a valid Alaska sportfishing license to fish anywhere in Alaska. It is also a good idea to check with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for regulations and bag limits.

Do people need a permit to hike and camp in the Tongass? No. There are a few places where camping is restricted, such as developed recreation sites or managed wildlife viewing sites.

Where are the Forest Service recreation cabins and how can I rent one? There are about 150 cabins spread all over the Tongass in several different settings. Some are on beaches, lakes, rivers or in alpine meadows. None are accessible by road, but can be reached by trail, boat or small airplane. They are rustic and offer solitude, beautiful scenery, sometimes great fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing. Learn about them at any Forest Service office or visitor center (or check them out under Recreation in these pages). Once you know which cabin you want, you can rent it by calling toll free 877-444-6777 (from outside the US, 518-885-3639).

Is it safe to watch bears at Pack Creek? Pack Creek on Admiralty Island is a well established bear viewing area. The rules we require visitors to follow at the site work well to minimize any conflict with the bears' salmon fishing. There is an armed host on duty during the peak viewing season, although the host cannot be at all areas of the site at all times. Thousands of people have visited, yet there has never been an injury at Pack Creek. Guide services are available that can stay with visitors throughout their visit or people can also obtain a permit and go on their own. All visitors are given an orientation to help them have a safe visit, but are reminded that there are no fences and the bears are wild.

Where else can I see bears in the Tongass? There is a bear viewing site at Anan Creek out of Wrangell and one at Hyder. These are places where bears congregate to fish and viewing areas are established. Other opportunities for seeing bears abound. During the spring, seeing bears along the beaches is common. Later, any salmon stream is a good bet. Safe viewing from a boat is recommended. Extreme caution must be used if viewing from land on foot.

How does wilderness differ from a national park? Wilderness areas within Tongass National Forest have less stringent regulations than comparable areas in national parks for activities like fixed-wing aircraft landings, hunting, hiking and camping. Both, however, are managed to remain in their natural state.

Why are Misty Fiords and Admiralty Island National Monuments and not national parks? It was easier. National Monuments are created by presidential proclamation, national parks are created by an Act of Congress. Both Monuments were created by President Carter in 1978 and most of their acreage became wilderness areas in 1980 as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.

Why do glaciers last through the summer? Glacier ice is very dense and although melting occurs all summer, glaciers begin at high elevations where temperatures are lower all year and are "fed" fresh snow to replenish themselves every winter.

Why are glaciers blue? Sunlight, or full-spectrum light, is absorbed by glacier ice except for blue - it is reflected and makes the ice look blue.

How old are the trees in Tongass National Forest? Old growth trees can be 200 to 700 years old. Many trees fall over when they get very old and become nursery logs for seedlings.

Why doesn't the Tongass look like a rainforest? It doesn't look like a tropical rainforest, but it does look like a temperate rainforest. Cooler temperatures slow down the establishment and regeneration of vegetation, but our rainforest actually has a greater biomass than tropical rainforests.

Why are there so many standing dead trees in the forest? Two species in the coniferous mix of our forest are cedar. When a cedar dies, it does not rot and fall down as readily as other species. A standing dead tree is a habitat element important to many birds and insects. A factor in the number of standing dead cedar trees is a mysterious "die off" currently happening in the yellowcedar. Scientists are studying this phenomenom and some believe it is a natural event.

How much of the Tongass National Forest is scheduled for logging? Under the present management policy, the Tongass Land Management Plan of 1997, 22 percent of the forest's 17 million acres are in areas open to harvest. Not all of the 22 percent will be harvested because of resource protections in the Plan. When all the protections are in place, only 676,000 acres, less than 10 percent of the forest, may be harvested over the next 100 years. There are many variables that would affect the size of the harvest each year, such as current markets, and the last few years have seen much smaller harvests than the maximum.

Why is the Forest Service allowing timber harvest in the Tongass? The Tongass is managed for multiple use and recognizes a changing and diverse economic environment in Southeast Alaska. The management plan includes guidelines for all resources, such as timber, recreation and mining activities with a comittment to long-term sustainability.

Can an individual go into the forest and pick berries, mushrooms, and collect other herbal plants? You can collect plants without a permit for personal use. For commercial purposes, you need to visit your local ranger district and apply for a permit.

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Updated June 13, 2001
Nita Nettleton, FSIC

How do people get to the communities of Southeast Alaska?	There is jet service to Yakutat, Juneau, Gustavus (summer), Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchikan. Other towns have scheduled commuter air service. The smallest places are served by charter air service. The Alaska Marine Highway ferries serve Skagway, Haines, Juneau, Angoon, Hoonah, Sitka, Pelican, Tenakee, Petersburg, Wrangell, Kake, Hollis, Ketchikan, Metlakatla and Hyder. Skagway, Haines and Hyder connect to the road system in Canada.
Does it rain a lot in Southeast Alaska?	Southeast Alaska is part of a coastal rainforest, but rainfall ranges from 29" a year in Skagway to over 200" in Little Port Walter. Ketchikan receives 160", Juneau 60 to 90".
What is the elevation?	All the communities in Southeast Alaska are at sea level. In some areas, the mountains are so close, you can go from sea level to over 3,000 ft. within a mile of the coast.
Why is the state capital in Juneau, a town without a road?	The capital moved from Sitka to Juneau in 1906, following the population base. There have been many attempts to move it since, none successful. There have also been many proposals for a road to Juneau, so far none successful.
Is all of Southeast Alaska within the Tongass?	Since the Tongass begins at the southernmost tip of Southeast Alaska and goes to the northernmost point, it could be said that it is. But in reality, only 80% is actual national forest (the rest is State, municipal, other federal, or private land surrounded by national forest).
How many glaciers are there in Alaska?	More than 5,000.
How many miles of coastline are there in Alaska?	Over 33,000 miles if you include the islands (6,640 if you don't!).
How many islands are there in Southeast Alaska?	Approximately 2,000.
Why do you pay so much for gasoline in Southeast Alaska?	Even though Alaska produces and refines gasoline, most of the gas that is distributed to Southeast Alaska does not come from Alaskan refineries and is subject to the high cost of transport to local ports.
Why is the ferry late so often?	The ferries do not stop for the night, but keep moving. The schedule is ruled by the tides and any major delay can mean losing a tide and a longer wait. Delay can be in the form of a particular vessel responding to a medical emergency or rescue, stormy weather or mechanical problems.
How do you pronounce Tsimshian, Tlingit and Haida?	The correct pronunciation for Tsimshian is "sim-she-an", Tlingit is "kling-it", and Haida is "hide-a".
I am going to Canada after visiting in Southeast Alaska. Should I change my currency before I go?	You may, but there are banks in all larger towns in Yukon and British Columbia. Most merchants accept major credit cards and your credit card bank will give you the correct exchange rate. Some merchants will give you the correct rate on US currency and travelers checks, more will give you slightly less.
Where can I go fishing and what kind of fish can I catch?	Opportunities abound in both salt water and fresh water throughout the Tongass National Forest. There are five species of salmon as well as Dolly Varden, trout, and grayling. In salt water try fishing for halibut and snapper or drop a pot for crab or shrimp. Check with local district offices for the best locations. Don't forget you'll need a valid Alaska sportfishing license to fish anywhere in Alaska. It is also a good idea to check with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for regulations and bag limits.
Do people need a permit to hike and camp in the Tongass?	No. There are a few places where camping is restricted, such as developed recreation sites or managed wildlife viewing sites.
Where are the Forest Service recreation cabins and how can I rent one?	There are about 150 cabins spread all over the Tongass in several different settings. Some are on beaches, lakes, rivers or in alpine meadows. None are accessible by road, but can be reached by trail, boat or small airplane. They are rustic and offer solitude, beautiful scenery, sometimes great fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing. Learn about them at any Forest Service office or visitor center (or check them out under Recreation in these pages). Once you know which cabin you want, you can rent it by calling toll free 877-444-6777 (from outside the US, 518-885-3639).
Is it safe to watch bears at Pack Creek?	Pack Creek on Admiralty Island is a well established bear viewing area. The rules we require visitors to follow at the site work well to minimize any conflict with the bears' salmon fishing. There is an armed host on duty during the peak viewing season, although the host cannot be at all areas of the site at all times. Thousands of people have visited, yet there has never been an injury at Pack Creek. Guide services are available that can stay with visitors throughout their visit or people can also obtain a permit and go on their own. All visitors are given an orientation to help them have a safe visit, but are reminded that there are no fences and the bears are wild.
Where else can I see bears in the Tongass?	There is a bear viewing site at Anan Creek out of Wrangell and one at Hyder. These are places where bears congregate to fish and viewing areas are established. Other opportunities for seeing bears abound. During the spring, seeing bears along the beaches is common. Later, any salmon stream is a good bet. Safe viewing from a boat is recommended. Extreme caution must be used if viewing from land on foot.
How does wilderness differ from a national park?	Wilderness areas within Tongass National Forest have less stringent regulations than comparable areas in national parks for activities like fixed-wing aircraft landings, hunting, hiking and camping. Both, however, are managed to remain in their natural state.
Why are Misty Fiords and Admiralty Island National Monuments and not national parks?	It was easier. National Monuments are created by presidential proclamation, national parks are created by an Act of Congress. Both Monuments were created by President Carter in 1978 and most of their acreage became wilderness areas in 1980 as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
Why do glaciers last through the summer?	Glacier ice is very dense and although melting occurs all summer, glaciers begin at high elevations where temperatures are lower all year and are "fed" fresh snow to replenish themselves every winter.
Why are glaciers blue?	Sunlight, or full-spectrum light, is absorbed by glacier ice except for blue - it is reflected and makes the ice look blue.
How old are the trees in Tongass National Forest?	Old growth trees can be 200 to 700 years old. Many trees fall over when they get very old and become nursery logs for seedlings.
Why doesn't the Tongass look like a rainforest?	It doesn't look like a tropical rainforest, but it does look like a temperate rainforest. Cooler temperatures slow down the establishment and regeneration of vegetation, but our rainforest actually has a greater biomass than tropical rainforests.
Why are there so many standing dead trees in the forest?	Two species in the coniferous mix of our forest are cedar. When a cedar dies, it does not rot and fall down as readily as other species. A standing dead tree is a habitat element important to many birds and insects. A factor in the number of standing dead cedar trees is a mysterious "die off" currently happening in the yellowcedar. Scientists are studying this phenomenom and some believe it is a natural event.
How much of the Tongass National Forest is scheduled for logging?	Under the present management policy, the Tongass Land Management Plan of 1997, 22 percent of the forest's 17 million acres are in areas open to harvest. Not all of the 22 percent will be harvested because of resource protections in the Plan. When all the protections are in place, only 676,000 acres, less than 10 percent of the forest, may be harvested over the next 100 years. There are many variables that would affect the size of the harvest each year, such as current markets, and the last few years have seen much smaller harvests than the maximum.
Why is the Forest Service allowing timber harvest in the Tongass?	The Tongass is managed for multiple use and recognizes a changing and diverse economic environment in Southeast Alaska. The management plan includes guidelines for all resources, such as timber, recreation and mining activities with a comittment to long-term sustainability.
Can an individual go into the forest and pick berries, mushrooms, and collect other herbal plants?	You can collect plants without a permit for personal use. For commercial purposes, you need to visit your local ranger district and apply for a permit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated June 13, 2001 Nita Nettleton, FSIC

Updated June 13, 2001
Nita Nettleton, FSIC