The Tripod, January 2017

Iditarod HistoricTrail Alliance January 2017 The Tripod PO Box 2323 Seward AK 99664 IditarodHTA@gmail.com http://www.Iditarod100.org The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance is an equal opportunity program provider and employer. Pick. Click. Give. The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance is one of the organizations Alaskans, who file for their 2017 Permanent Fund Dividend on line, can chose to give a donation of $25 or more as a part of the Pick. Click Give. Program, created by the Alaska State Legislature in 2008.

Making a donation to the Alliance will help it accomplish its mission to promote 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 and developing partnerships that foster stewardship commitments and support. 2017 Hike the Hill ® The Trail for all Seasons 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 and developing partnerships that foster stewardship commitments and support. The 2017 Hike the Hill ® will be held in Washington D. C. February 12-15.

The event is jointly sponsored by the American Hiking Society and the Partnership for the Nation Trails System. Trail advocates from around the nation come together to discuss issues affecting trails as well as meet with their congressional delegates and with management agencies: U. S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U. S.Fish & Wildlife Service and National Park Service. The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance will be represented at the event by our president, Judy Bittner. Greg Bill (1946-2016) Greg Bill passed away on December 10, 2016 at his home in Palmer. Greg was active in both the Iditarod Trail Committee and the Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance.

He was a volunteer for the first Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1973 and continued volunteering, selling raffle tickets, business memberships, and other jobs until he became the Development Director of the Iditarod Trail Committee in 1986. Over the years he raised millions of dollars on behalf of the race. In 2014 he was presented the Herbie Nayokpuk Spirit of Iditarod Award. After dedicating about 42 years of service to the Iditarod Sled Dog Race he retired in 2014. 1 Iditarod HistoricTrail Alliance From the past… "Iditarod Pioneer" January 20, 1917 Serious catastrophe is narrowly averted While driving a four-horse team with a large load of cordwood across a slough near the city on Thursday last, Felix Riley had a most interesting experience. The team included the two heavy draft horses brought in by J. E.

Riley last summer, and when about halfway across the slough these animals broke through the ice and were precipitated into seven feet of water. The team of Paul Laplant, which had crossed in safety but a few minutes previously, was brought into action, and after considerable difficulty the floundering animals were dragged to safety, although one of them had a narrow escape. No serious injury was sustained by the horses, but one of them was somewhat scratched by the jagged ice. Riley himself received a thorough ducking, and as there was a cold wind blowing and the temperatures several degrees below zero, he had a rather unpleasant time until he reached town. Toby was caught in storm Toby Perry had a most uncomfortable experience on Thursday night of last week.

Coming from Tolstoi he left Dickman on Thursday morning, and when but a few miles from the halfway roadhouse he was compelled to stop and dig in under a snowbank, owing to the ferocity of the wind. He was wet to the skin, but as it was impossible to travel further in the storm in darkness, he had no alternative. He was compelled to lie buried in the snow for 19 hours. Luckily, the temperature was not low, and he suffered no ill effects. January 2017 Greg was one of the original incorporators of the Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance in 1998. He represented the Iditarod Trail Committee on the Alliance board from 1998 until 2014.

Both the Committee and the Alliance benefited greatly from his many years of service. 2017 International Trails Symposium American Trails will host the 23rd International Trails Symposium May 7-10, 2017 in Dayton, Ohio, home to the largest paved trail network in the United States. The theme of the symposium is "Trails Take Flight: Connecting People, Places and Possibilities." The Symposium will include numerous educational sessions and workshops. A full schedule of events is available at: 2017 International Trails Symposium - index Active Transportation Summit Alaska Trails and the Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions co-sponsored the first active transportation summit in Anchorage on October 11, 2016.

Active transportation includes active modes and methods of travel such as: walking/jogging/running, cycling, in-line skating, skateboarding, non-mechanized wheelchairing and snowshoeing/ skiing. The summit featured active transportation expert Mark Fenton (at right). He also addressed the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, officials of the Alaska Department of Transportation and a leadership breakfast of elected officials and other decision-makers. Mark Fenton's presentations, his active transportation recommendations for Anchorage and active transportation resources can be seen at: http://www.alaska-trails.org/activetransportationsummit.html Mile Zero Fred Moore of the Seward Iditarod Trail Blazers has refurbished the Mile Zero sign on the Iditarod Trail in Seward and replaced the tripod for the sign. 2