Made a trip up to Kake in SE Alaska. After fueling up in PAKT Ketchikan we made the 200+ NM trip North to Kake. I had never been there before and I was a little frustrated about the information I found ( or lack of ) on the internet, so I thought I would share what I learned about Kake. I flew the GPS rwy 11 approach in. It was raining heavy, and I clicked up the runway lights. The REIL's where NOTAM'd out, but the PAPI was good and bright. The runway lights were very dim and I never did see them until I was taxing in. There is a pretty good size hill South of the runway so I am glad the wind favored rwy 11 that day. Not a place I'd fly in to at night.

Lots of space to park there. I noticed a bear scat on taxiway and runway, so keep that in mind. There is a bus shelter with a phone and a Port-a-Pot, but not much else. No fuel, try Sitka. Verizon and AT&T phones worked well up at the airport. Spotty cell strength in town depending on where you are. Text messages always worked.

Kake Rwy 11 final pic. Good size comm tower bottom center of pic.


Kake ramp pic.


So now what?

We stayed at the Waterfront Inn. The owner is Patty. She will cook for her guests, and there was a guest kitchen and coin laundry. Sorry, I don't have the phone number. She is a fantastic cook and I enjoy talking to her husband. Keex Kwaan Lodge is just below the airport. Looked nice, and you can walk there. Wally James Taxi will come up and get you. SOS Grocery Store is on the South end of town below the runway. There are no restaurants in town. We found Eye Opener Coffee along the main street. The guys also found the liquor store near the post office, but that is another story. You can call City Hall if you have any questions about your trip. They were a big help to us.

Homes near the boat dock.


We stayed 4 days and had a good time. The guys caught a 90 Halibut, no crab in the pot, but some black trout went on the portable grill. We also tried a shrimp pot in 300 ft deep water. They have a big 4th of July celebration every year, but we were not able to stay for that. Everybody we talked to was very nice to us, and I'd enjoy going back there some day.

It was time to go. We headed up the hill and fired up. I back taxied and took off on rwy 29. There was a significant big dip in the rwy about 1000 ft down the rwy. It attempted to launch me ( more like eject me ) off the rwy before I was ready to rotate. Mental note on that one.

It was a really nice day so I took some better pics for you on the way South to Ketchikan.

Kake airport.

Kake overhead pic.

Great & informative write-up!
Thanks for the time you spent sharing your experiences about Kake.

I flew in there twice in a Caravan in 2011. I remember the runway slope distinctly.
It did not look like there was much to speak of as far as the village of Kake is concerned.

ZP

Thanks Zpilot! Not much there, but the good news is that Kake has the most sunny days in SE Alaska ( just repeating what I was told ), so I would most definitely duck in there if I needed to. If you look in the last pic, you can see the lodge on the far upper left ( red roof ) and the grocery store ( middle left, blue roof ). The Port-a-pot behind the bus shelter is always good to know about.

I just had the local computer Yoda rid my system of a nasty virus, so I put up the full size pics in my first post. I was unable to view the "properties" of any pictures, so that's why I only had the thumbs there.

Next stop Bella Coola.

Used to go to Kake every week in the Beaver. They didn't have a runway then. Loaded groceries till the floats began to sink.
I never saw that part where it was sunny though. Rained on a flat rock all the time. But the Beaver has a good heater and will melt your tennies if not careful.

Nice TR, BR. I can't wait to explore that part of AK.