Time Travel: Welcome To Meyers Chuck Boats are the only transportation in this small Alaskan village By Sally Bee Brown Pete Wingert of Sitka, Alaska, remembers when he first saw Meyers Chuck 30 years ago. “I burst out laughing because it reminded me of Dogpatch in Li’l Abner —crooked chimneys and strange little houses.” But as time changes, so do opinions, and today he knows the small community as an artsy, friendly place. “People are individualistic in a positive way,” he says. Bringing a boat alongside the government dock at Meyers Chuck, Alaska, is a step back to a peaceful time when life was far less complicated. An outsider might wonder if it’s worth the stop, but what is there brings huge satisfaction to the 15 year-round residents who make up nine households…and tourists find its charm contagious. Population expands to as many as 35 when counting part-timers, most of whom take up residence in 12 additional cabins scattered around the town. Don’t expect to find any hair salons, drug stores, or restaurants with stacked, pricey meals. There are no cars because there are no roads. Even electricity is by generator only. Census figures don’t count the “other” population—travelers who can be seen milling around the docks during boating season. Many come back time and again, drawn to the ambiance of genuine community. Getting There Meyers Chuck lies on a hillside 40 miles northwest of Ketchikan, about four hours by boat, depending on speed. It includes a small island grouping on Cleveland Peninsula’s west side. To get to Ketchikan from there, one must navigate Clarence Strait, the area’s interstate highway, where frequent ocean winds and storms funnel through to create difficult seas. The harbor has long been a protective haven for boats caught by weather. Pete rates the harbor as difficult, though. “It’s hard to get an anchor to stick—pretty greasy,” he says. But the town looks after its visitors. Once when he was dragging anchor, residents came out and told him he needed to be against the dock. There wasn’t an empty slip, so they moved boats around, some ending up on his outside. Tides are impressive in Meyers Chuck and can vary 18 or 20 feet. “What’s the water today?” is the big question. For the residents, it doesn’t matter if it’s day or night—if something needs doing and waters are there, it gets done then. Weather is similar to a rain forest area, with temperatures likened to Seattle minus 10 degrees. One can figure measurable precipitation on about 60 percent of the days. “With good gear and a little internal optimism, rain can be looked upon as a wonderful condition,” says year-round resident Vince Langley. This isn’t the Alaska of travel brochures or cruise ships, but ...

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