Hello Sockeye Employees!
We look forward to a fun and rewarding summer in Haines and Skagway. If you have any questions about our company, your position, or the area, please get in touch with us. We want you to be as prepared as possible before you arrive. Here is a variety of information to help you plan your trip.
Getting to Skagway
You can board the Alaska Marine Highway System Ferry in Bellingham, WA and travel on it for four days all the way to Skagway. It is a great way to see Southeast Alaska. The ferry stops along the way in Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Juneau, and Haines. You can sleep on the floor, in chairs, bring food and set up a tent on the back deck. You can also drive to Prince Rupert BC Canada and board the ferry there bound for Skagway --
Most people fly into Juneau from Seattle on Alaska Airlines and either fly from Juneau to Haines/Skagway or take the state ferry for the last leg of the trip. Do not fly to Anchorage; it is 850 miles away and there is no bus service to Southeast AK.
From Juneau, you will need to take an AMHS ferry up to Skagway, or a connecting small plane. The ferry ride from Juneau to Skagway will usually take 6 hours, though there are some faster runs. If flying into Juneau and taking the ferry up, which is the less expensive option, it is difficult to avoid spending a night in Juneau. Alaska Seaplanes, offers flights from Juneau to Skagway/Haines. Let us know how/when you are arriving so we can pick you up.
If you spend the night in Juneau, be prepared for Alaska summer rates. The airport is located in the valley, which is 15 miles from downtown. The ferry terminal is located an additional five miles out the road from the airport. If you need to travel straight from the airport to the ferry terminal, it will cost about $12 by taxi. A ride into town will be $20+ from the airport.
There is a youth hostel downtown; it's worth giving them a call as they have odd hours. The cheapest motel option downtown is the Driftwood Lodge (907/586-2280). They have a free van pick up to and from the ferry terminal and the airport. The Best Western near the airport also has free transportation, breakfast and a higher price tag (907/789-5005). There is also a Super 8, a slightly cheaper option near the airport. Be sure to have a motel reservation before arriving as rooms often sell out. If flying into Juneau late, it is possible to spend the night in the airport on the lobby floor.
Bringing a Vehicle/Driving Up
A car is not necessary in Skagway, it’s a small community and nothing is more than a walk or short bike ride away. A vehicle certainly is nice to get out of town on your days off, or to adventure on your way to/from Skagway. Most of our employees don’t bring cars, but a few always do. There’s plenty of street parking near the shop.
For those of you driving up, enjoy your journey on the ALCAN and travel safe! Watch out for moose and loose gravel on the road. People rolling their vehicles or hitting animals is not uncommon. From down south, expect a minimum of four days on the road with 10+ hour/day driving segments. The ALCAN is constantly being repaired, resurfaced, widened and straightened. Expect some construction delays. You can also turn onto the Cassiar Hwy as an alternative route. You may encounter a snowstorm in late April and May. There are enough gas stations along the way, but don’t let your tank run to low as many have closed in recent years. You can camp just about anywhere and there are small motels and roadhouses as well.
You can purchase a copy of The Milepost, which is an excellent resource for what’s along the road on the Alaskan and Western Canadian driving routes. You can turn off the ALCAN at Jakes Corner onto the Tagish Rd to Carcross for the shortcut to Skagway or if you have extra time drive to Whitehorse to shop for food and supplies before driving down to Skagway. Make sure you check what is permitted to bring into the US for food before you purchase anything. Generally citrus and anything with seeds is prohibited for entry. If you are looking for a ride North or have some space in your car for a rider, please let us know. We can help pair you up and share expenses on the journey with other employees.
What to Bring
If you are in employee housing your room contains a bed, dresser and shelf. We have pillows. Bring twin sheetsand towels. The hardware store stocks some options but doesn’t have many choices and items are much more expensive. Find out if you will be in a twin bed or double bed.
It is strongly suggested that you bring full camping gear, tent, pad, sleeping bag, cook kit for outings during the summer. There are excellent hiking and backpacking opportunities in Skagway and the surrounding region, including the Chilkoot Trail. We have several company outings/events. We sponsor a team for two different bike relay races, road, and mountain, We generally take the staff to Atlin for a weekend during the Atlin Music Festival, July.
You can purchase camping gear in Skagway at The Mountain Shop, and in Haines at The Backcountry Outfitter, . Alaska, BC and the Yukon is a backcountry paradise, so bring your outdoor toys! Plan for snow at higher elevations through June where you will be able to hike to ski and snowboard.
For work and other outdoor activities plan to dress in layers with a breathable and waterproof outer layer, pants and jacket. Fleece, wool, Capilene and Gore-Tex are necessary to wear while working outdoors all day. You will also need waterproof gloves for cycling in the rain and fleece gloves for cool dry days. You also need a sturdy pair of sport/hiking shoes for work. We do not allow Crocs, sandals or any kind of open toed shoe while cycling. Plan for average daytime temperatures in Skagway in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s. We do get some sunny days in the 70’s and 80’s but the norm is cool and windy. Bring a neck gator and sport glasses for sun and eye protection.
We will provide you with a high-visibility guide jacket, which is water resistant but not waterproof. You will be required to wear it while guiding for visibility. For the really wet days a low cost rubber rain-suit and rubber boots to keep your feet dry are best. Bring clothes that are comfortable for outdoor activities. There are a few costume and dress-up events in Skagway but no one is a fashion statement on a regular basis.
You will be identified as a Sockeye employee by either your guide jacket, one of our t-shirts, or by wearing one of our Sockeye logo hats. You will receive these during training. You must bring a watch to wear while working to stay on schedule. You are not allowed to use your cell phone at work for any purpose.
Bringing a Bike
There are many opportunities for road and dirt road riding out of Skagway, as well some of the best single track riding in the Northwest in Carcross and Whitehorse, a one to two hour drive north. We encourage you to bring a bike for your personal use; you can also purchase one through us after 30 days of employment. See the Employee Purchase program details in the Personnel Policy. We also have a few basic house bikes for shared use around town. The company tour, rental and guide bikes are not available for personal use.
You should bring your bike with you if taking the ferry or driving. If flying, it is usually cheaper to fly with your bike than to ship it, especially if flying Alaska Air. Check specific rates with your airline. You can expect to pay $100-$200 for shipping depending on the box size, weight, and origin. Also, it can take 3-6 weeks to receive your bike if shipped via USPS. UPS may be a faster option, but likely more expensive. DO NOT ship FedEx; it is the most costly and least direct route.
We will provide you with a bike for guiding. It will not be available after hours for personal transportation. Due to insurance liability, you will not be able to ride your personal bike on the job. Bring a helmet or you can purchase one through us at a reduced rate. We have some old tour/rental helmets that are available for guide use as well. And finally, don’t forget the sunglasses and gloves of various weights, fingers and waterproof capabilities.
Shipping & Mail
Please do not send mail to our shop. We have a PO Box set up for seasonal employees. The address is:
Your Name
PO Box 1338
Skagway, AK 99840
Do not give out this address for bills, junk mail or other important year round documents. Before you leave Skagway you will need to fill out a mail forwarding slip at the post office.
Again please check with us before sending bikes or large boxes/parcels to this address as we may be able to suggest a more efficient way.
Phones
Most cell phones work well in Skagway. The local cell phone provider is AT&T, Verizon also works, Sprint does not seem to work as well. Cell service works in town but pretty quickly dies outside of town. If you have a nationwide plan, you shouldn’t be charged roaming fees.
Internet Access
We have limitedWIFI available in the house for personal use. This is meant for everyone to share to keep in touch via email, and do basic web surfing. We pay by data use and can’t have devices constantly connected and regular downloading or any streaming of data. There is also free internet access at the local library. Skagway also has reasonable coverage for smart-phone data use. Skagway does have subscription based town-wide wireless for $25/mo., which works pretty well in the house and is recommended for anyone that spends a lot of time online. The house WIFI will not be available if monthly data use approaches the limit.
Health Care/Emergencies
While working you are covered by Workman’s Comp insurance for injuries on the job. Skagway has a medical clinic, which can take care of most basic needs. The clinic operates on a sliding scale based on income and accepts many types of insurance. If you are seriously injured while off the job, you willbe flown medevac to Jueanu or Seattle, which is extremely expensive. We recommend that you obtain medical evacuation insurance. The cost is $125 for a year, which includes ambulance service in Skagway,
Training
On the staff webpage, we have posted extensive information on the area and Sockeye specific logistics and procedures. Guides and mechanics will attend a five-day training session when they arrive. The more you familiarize yourself with the tour logistics and area information, the easier training will be and the first few weeks of tours as well. Guides will be tested on and required to talk about these five topics, native culture, AK & gold rush history, environmental issues, climate/geography/geology and plants and wildlife as they pertain to the local area and region. As soon as you are hired we recommend that you start studying this information at a minimum of two hours per week.
Skagway has a fascinating and colorful history from its roots in the gold rush to its current setting as a tourist destination. The more you know the better your tour will be for our clients and the more enjoyment you will get out of work and the summer. Our clients go on our tours to learn about the area, not just to ride a bike.
Paperwork
Please refer to the employee section of the website (url:user:staff pass:alaskafish) for all documents. Send us your:
-Medical examiner (DOT) health certificates
-First Aid/CPR cards
-DMV driving records
-Contract, and job description (signed) as soon as you can.
If you are planning on living in the house you need to fill out the Housing Agreement and send it in with your deposit. Your room is not guaranteed until we receive this. We will give you instructions on obtaining an Alaska State drivers license when you arrive in Skagway. A copy of your driving record will be forwarded to our vehicle insurance provider in order to add you to our policy.
Make sure that you bring your Passport or passport card, which is good for all land crossing between Canada and Mexico. You cannot cross the border without one. The majority of our tours enter Canada. You will also need your social security card to obtain a Skagway Chauffer’s Permit. Please bring all the original andsigned copies of your contract, job description, DOT Med Card, personnel policy, first aid cards, etc., everything that we have sent you and asked for in return. We will need the originals for our files and will return a signed copy to you.
Spending a summer in Alaska is a great experience and one that you will never forget. Welcome to our staff. We look forward to a great season! Please call or email with any questions.
Sincerely,
Thom Ely - President
Dustin Craney – General Manager
Becky Hill – Office Manager
Updated 9/28/17 TE