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The Tripod Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance August 2014 iTREC! summer institute The Iditarod Trail to Every Classroom (iTREC!) summer institute was held August 4 to 8 at the Hotel Alyeska in Girdwood. Teachers attending the institute were from Anchorage, Palmer, Wasilla, Ruby and Nome. The focus of the summer institute is an introduction to the Iditarod National Historic Trail, place based education, service learning and curriculum planning. Teachers who participate in iTREC! develop their own curriculum. These curricula integrate hands-on study of the natural and cultural resources of the communities along the Trail, addressing concepts in ecology, sense of place, history, outdoor recreation and volunteerism.
Through the iTREC! program, the Iditarod National Historic Trail can be used to foster awareness of and a personal connection to the Trail, connect rural and urban communities along the Trail and engage youth and communities in active outdoor experiences. The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance promotes public awareness of the Iditarod Trail and its gold rush and Alaska Native heritage by encouraging education programs and historical research, assisting in the protection, improvement, maintenance and marking of the trail, developing partnerships that foster stewardship commitments and support from land owners, local communities, organizations and others. The trail for all seasons (above) Annette Heckart, iTREC! coordinator and Delia Clarke, Institute facilitator and trainer.
On August 5, Alliance board members Dan Seavey (right) and Lee Poleske spoke to the teachers about the history of the Iditarod Trail and the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Teachers (left) from Machetanz Elementary, Wasilla, show their school’s relationship to the Trail and other resources in the area. This is the fifth year of the iTREC! program. Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance PO Box 2323, Seward AK 99664 IditarodHTA@gmail.com http://www.Iditarod100.org “Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move my thoughts began to flow.” Henry David Thoreau The Tripod New book America’s Great Hiking Trails by Karen Berger, photography by Bart Smith, Rizzoli New York, September 2014, $50.00 hardcover, 336 pages. America’s Great Hiking Trails provides an in-depth look at the national scenic trails of the National Trails follow the meander of the Susitna and the Yentna rivers.
Along with the new trail, located about midway, is a newly established roadhouse. At the mouth of the Skwentna river is another roadhouse. There is also one over on the Kuskokwim side of Rainy Pass. It is also reported that Superintendent Walter L. Goodwin and his party have completed the big cut-off on the Kuskokwim side. From Rainy Pass it is now possible to travel direct across country to Tocotna. The former way was to follow the meander of the Rohn and Kuskokwin rivers. This cut-off renders a saving of something over 100 miles of travel. Superintendent Eide, at last report, was engaged in placing in position a bridge over the Kahiltna river. “Seward Weekly Gateway” June 4, 1910 System. Each featured trail has its own section complete with a map and photo gallery, along with suggestions for shorter weekend and day hikes.
The photographs are by Bart Smith, the first person to hike all eleven national scenic trails from end to end. A percentage of proceeds from the book will benefit the Partnership for the National Trails System. Some archives to remain in Alaska Some historical records from the 49th state will stay in Alaska when the National Archives and Records Administration closes its Anchorage branch in September. A deal has been reached to house court records from Alaska’s territorial days at the Alaska State Archives in Juneau instead of moving them with other research materials and government records to Seattle.
From the past… “Seward Weekly Gateway” February 1, 1911 CUT-OFF TRAILS ARE COMPLETED From Susitna comes the report that Superintendent Anton Eide, of the Alaska Road Commission, has completed the cut-off trail leading from Susitna to the Skwentna river, thus saving about forty miles of circuitous travelling over the old route, which was to Camping on the Iditarod Trail 2014 style Mile 1.25 on the Iditarod National Historic Trail as it winds along Resurrection Bay in Seward.