Five Finger Island Lighthouse has been a resource for mariners to traverse Frederick Sound for over a century. However, now it serves as a place for education. Each summer, the secluded lighthouse attracts a large number of tourists seeking to know more about the fascinating nature and history that is Five Finger Island.
Five Finger Lighthouse Society director Jeff Erickson was skiffing a group of volunteers to Five Finger Island. He steered his boat away from the city of Petersburg’s South Harbor and into the thick fog hanging over the Frederick Sound.
It’s a long drive to the island it’s located halfway between Juneau. The journey takes about two hours in calm waters. Jeff’s boat rattled across the smooth water’s surface. There was not much to take in The mountains were covered with fog. But the gray monotony didn’t last for long.
This is because, seemingly out of thin air, Erickson had to cut the engine, even when the island was not to be seen.
He was waiting for an entire whale pod. The passengers peeked outside to stare at them.
A short time later, the lighthouse was in focus. Erickson was anchored near an edifice of cliffs and his passengers begin to unload equipment for the residents at the lighthouse – – the keepers -crates of food, other amenities and bits of what’s to be their new heating system.
Keepers of the Lighthouse Briana as well as Don Drury came out to meet us. They’re both married and hailing originally from Oklahoma. They both worked remotely with Starlink to connect to the world outside. They’re also working on the lighthouse which is in itself.
“There is plenty of work that has to be done in this area,” said Briana. “Tons of projects that we’ve been working on to improve the solar array as well as the water pumps, batteries and finding electrical issues… Also, all general cleaning.”
The lighthouse’s beacon has been automated via the U.S. Coast Guard. Therefore, Briana and Don do not have to be present to maintain the lighthouse’s glow. But the keeper’s — as well as a group made up of people from Petersburg are putting in the effort to ensure that the structure is safe and accessible to visitors.
Briana and Don have said that the gig provides a relaxing escape from the stresses of daily life. However, there’s still plenty of things to do hereas well as plenty of chores to do.
(Shelby Herbert/KFSK)
The most difficult task for Don and Briana’s less favorite things: tackling their waste. All of it has to go out on a vessel from the Five Finger Lighthouse Society, which is only available every few weeks. But, Briana said, for the experiences they’re getting it’s worth it allright down to the final drop of trash.
“I consider it’s the most beautiful spot in the world,” said Briana. “So when the board decided they required lighthouse keepers to work for three weeks towards the conclusion of the season we thought, ‘Absolutely!'”
Another of their responsibilities was to greet guests who would occasionally arrive from the cruise vessels and take them on a tour.
“We’re new to the work,” said Briana. “So we’ve not received any visitors but you! It’s a good idea to show them the area… Informing them of the background and soliciting them to support as it’s a charity. Therefore, if there’s no funds to repair something, it won’t be fixed.
Briana says it takes a special kind of person to be able to perform to the task.
“If you like solitude and you like the ocean and MacGyvering this is the perfect job to do,” said Briana.
The Drurys are able to handle cobbling complex mechanical devices however the main draw for them is the natural environment. The waters surrounding the lighthouse are full of marine life, and whales are the stars of the show in this case.
The best spot to watch whales is on the island’s helipad. Don was on the helipad, talking with a group of humpbacks off in the distance.
“Remember Moby Dick!” Don exclaimed to them.
Briana told me that the helipad wasn’t only the most ideal place to view whalesbut it’s also a great location to hear the whales.
“You are able to close your eyes and listen to these massive animals making the most primitive, primordial sounds,” said Briana. “In the night, they begin to bellow and make these deep rumbling sounds that make you are able to feel much more than what you can hear.”
Despite the beauty of the area, Briana admitted that, after a few minutes, the place is a bit eerie. The author Sue Henry wrote a murder mystery novel based on it. “Murder” at Five Finger Light. In contrast to the characters of Henry’s novel, visitors won’t find a secret corpse in the area. They might however find hidden treasure. There’s a geocache hidden inside an uncut tree, next to a sloping slope.
“It’s among the most difficult ones to reach in the event that people attempt to follow the directions,” said Briana. “We’ve been told of people who tried to land on this cliff and scrambling up the rock. They’re simply following GPS coordinates, but not searching the island for the best place to anchor!”
Briana took the lead returning to the lighthouse grabbing several thimbleberries as she walked past them. It was a wonderful ending to the day particularly for the people who, after lots of sweat and maybe some tears of frustration, succeeded in installing a new boiler.
The outcome of their efforts that was funded by community donations as well as the Rasmussen grant, will mean that the lighthouse is now a solid source of heating that can protect it from mold and humidity. Jeff Erickson said the upgrade will have a significant impact on what’s to come for the Five Finger Lighthouse.
“What was achieved todaywe finally have our heating system working,” stated Erickson. “The boilers are now connected and we’ve got warmth in the lighthouse which is a major accomplishment. The lighthouse has never been connected to the grid before. This is an thrilling morning for our team.”
During the winter months the lighthouse is without a visitor. However, that may change in the near future. Erickson says his new heater may permit them to keep their keeper longer into fall, and begin this season prior to spring. That means more chances for them to showcase the beauty of their haunting landscape and treasures hidden from the world at large.
