The Tripod, May 2015

The Tripod Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance May 2015 It’s not too late! It’s not too late to donate to the Alliance through the 2015 Pick. Click. Give Program. Alaskans who filed online for their 2015 PFD can add a donation through Pick. Click. Give until August 31, 2015. Just go to your MyAlaska profile and select your 2015 dividend. There is an option to add or change Pick. Click. Give donations. Your support will be much appreciated. Public service/public recognition The Seward Iditarod Trail Blazers participates in the Alaska Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway program. Participants agree to remove litter from their adopted stretch of highway twice a year. The Department posts signs at each end of the adopted section with the group’s name to show its participation in the program.

The Seward Trail Blazers has a section of the Exit Glacier Road which leads to Exit Glacier, a popular tourist destination. The spring cleanup was done on Saturday, April 4th. 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 Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance PO Box 2323, Seward AK 99664 IditarodHTA@gmail.com http://www.Iditarod100.org Pictured above are some of the litter picker uppers: Dan Seavey Pat O’Leary, Harold Faust, Kerry Martin and Harold’s dog Gina.

Other members who helped clean-up were Jonathan and Linda Sewall and Lee Poleske. So far the Alliance has received $1,100 in donations through the 2015 Permanent Fund Pick, Click, Give Program. The Tripod From the past… “Iditarod Pioneer” May 22, 1915 and ride on the Natchez Trace Parkway to observe and note safety challenges and opportunities. ●Design and Building. Participants will learn the basics of laying out and constructing a new trail at Timberland Park, a new county trail center on the Natchez Trace Parkway. For more information about the Conference go to www.pnts.org Comment period extended National Trails Conference The Partnership for the National Trails System’s 15th National Scenic and Historic Trails Conference will be held in Franklin, Tennessee on June 27-July 1, 2015.

The Conference tracks and presentation titles are: “Cultivating and Sustaining Community Support for Trails,” “Preserving Special Places and Protecting Trail Resources” and “Strengthening our Trail Organizations and our Trail Communities.” Attendees also have an opportunity to enroll in four mobile workshops along the Natchez Trace Scenic Trail: ●Interpretation of Three National Trails. Participants will take a bus tour along the Natchez Trace Parkway and first visit the Sheboss interpretive area near a historic stand of the Old Natchez Trail, then visit the Meriwether Lewis Death and Burial Site to review rehabilitation efforts and lastly onsite discussion of the challenges of developing a new 22 mile section of the Natchez Trace Scenic Trail. ●Natchez Trace Parkway Association’s Trail Fit Program.

Participants will participate in a study to help determine the amount of water hikers should consume based on temperature, humidity and exercise. ●Cycling Safety along the Parkway. Participants will be provided a bike The Preliminary Alternatives comment period for the Bering Sea-Western Interior Resource Management Plan has been extended to May 31. The Bureau of Land Management has extended the comment period to allow additional time for review and comment on the Preliminary Alternatives documents. The area covered by the Plan includes about 700 miles of the Iditarod National Historic Trail. Detailed maps of the area and the Preliminary Alternative Documents are available at www. blm.gov/ak/planning/bswi The website also includes a “Contact Us” form.

You can also email comments to BSWI_RMP_Comment@blm.gov or by regular mail to: BLM, Anchorage Field Office, Attn: BSWI RMP, 4700 BLM Rd, Anchorage AK 99507 National Trails Day® The 2015 National Trails Day® will be Saturday, June 6th. National Trails Day® is the American Hiking Society’s trail awareness program. For a list of events scheduled so far go to nationaltrailsday.org Wada musical After the Mikan Ichiza Playgroup performed “Chasing the Aurora The Samurai Musher The Tale of Jujiro Wada” in Seward on April 29, there was time for the cast to visit the Iditarod National Historic Trail Mile 0 sign. Alliance board member Dan Seavey provided a sled and dog for numerous photographs.