Fairweather Ski Works handcrafts skis and snowboards out of locally harvested Sitka Spruce and birch wood in “the biggest and baddest backyard R&D laboratory in the industry.” Founder and craftsman Graham Kraft uses small-scale timber harvest and local value-adding production that benefits both economies and ecosystems and produces high-quality skis to tackle glaciers, powder days, and everything in-between.
Port Chilkoot Distillery captures the taste of Alaska with small-batch artisanal spirits made using locally sourced ingredients: water from a nearby lake, organic grains, and hand-gathered herbs like spruce tip and whole juniper berries. Wife and husband team Heather and Sean’s craftsmanship and attention to detail are so exceptional that their 50 Fathoms Gin was awarded a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Fireside Herbs is not so much a business as it is a way to keep making art and other creations. The owner, Ariel, was born and raised in Alaska and currently resides in a very tiny dry cabin outside of Haines. She spent childhood summers running around Funter Bay (Kootznoowoo), blowing her bear whistle and investigating tidepools. Her childhood forest and beach romping grew into a life-long sense of wonder for Alaska.
