Celebrating the art — and heart — of wood stacking in Juneau
- Dorene Lorenz
- Oct 6
- 2 min read
By Dorene Lorenz
Community isn’t something we simply talk about in Juneau, it’s something we build. We can see it in the way neighbors shovel each other’s driveways, keep watch over a friend’s boat, or share the bounty of a good fishing day. And, perhaps most beautifully, we can see it in something as humble and enduring as a neatly stacked pile of firewood.
During October, the Pioneers of Alaska, Juneau Igloo, is hosting their Third Annual Wood Stacking Contest, a lighthearted community event that honors a timeless practice and the pioneer work ethic that has long defined life in Alaska.
Five categories celebrate different approaches and styles, from the precise to the practical, with locally donated firewood-related prizes awarded by drawing among the winners. But this isn’t about competition as much as it’s about connection.
Firewood stacking is one of those seemingly simple tasks that carries a deep, quiet wisdom. It’s about preparation: for winter, for family gatherings, for the long dark months when a warm home means safety and comfort.
It’s about care: how each log is placed with intention so that the stack stands strong through wind, rain, and snow. And it’s about pride: the satisfaction of looking at a woodpile and knowing your household, and perhaps a neighbor’s too, will be warm because of your work.
The Wood Stacking Contest doesn’t ask residents to do anything extra. Participants are simply nominated for what they’re already doing — stacking their firewood the way Juneauites have done for generations.
On a crisp October morning, a small crew from the Pioneers visits each nominated site, meets the host, takes a photo, measures the stack, and assigns it to a category. The atmosphere is festive and neighborly, more about swapping stories and admiring craftsmanship than crowning a champion.
The contest categories recognize the many ways Alaskans approach this shared ritual: some stacks are architectural wonders; others are rugged, practical monuments to sheer effort. Some are family projects, with kids handing up small pieces as parents work the ax. Others are the handiwork of elders, each log telling a story of decades spent heating homes the traditional way.
What ties it all together is our pioneering spirit — a mix of ingenuity, resourcefulness, and quiet pride in hard work well done. These are the values that helped build Juneau from its first inhabitants thousands of years ago and continue to knit the community together today.
The Pioneers of Alaska invite residents to nominate their favorite wood stacks for this year’s contest. Maybe it’s your neighbor who builds a perfect round “beehive” stack, or a family whose pile grows a little every evening after dinner. Maybe it’s your own. All are welcome.
This isn’t just a contest, it’s a reminder of who we are as a community: resilient, connected, and proud of the work we do to sustain one another.
For nomination information or to learn more, contact the Pioneers of Alaska, Juneau Igloo Wood Stacking Contest Chair, Kara Johnson at (907) 419-8884 or hippychiquita@gmail.com.
• Dorene Lorenz is the vice president of Pioneers of Alaska, Juneau Igloo.
