15 July Wednesday

Day started early as the ship docked in Ketchikan at 0615, early. We were up as the day was filled with a tour and shopping. We left the ship and walked some 15 minutes to get to the heart of town. There we took advantage of the free gifts offered to the cruise passengers and bought a few items.

We then walked back to the dock and our tour bus was waiting. We chose the Potlatch Park and fish hatchery tour. The Potlatch Park is privately owned, supervised by the state. It is a recreation of an original Tlinghit village. There are several totems depicting the clans of the various Indians. There is also a carving house with a master carver working daily. This master carver is unique in the fact that it is a woman. Women were not allowed to carve in the early days. But after the Tlinghit people were nearly wiped out, the elders agreed that women could carve.
Currently there are 3 women master carvers. A master carver will take a commission to do a totem. To carve a pole it would cost between $3000 &$5000 a lineal foot, not cheap. The master carver also makes all his own tools. Only blades are used, never any sandpaper or electric devices.

In the evening we sat in the front of the ship as we cruised thru Snow Pass. This is a narrow passage where whales, otters and seals are prevalent.