The Tripod, February 2017

Iditarod HistoricTrail Alliance February 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. 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. Pick. Click. Give. Remember when you file for their 2017 Permanent Fund Dividend on line, you can chose to give a donation of $25 or more to the Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance as a part of the Pick. Click Give. Program.

French documentary on Iditarod Sled Dog Race This year, Nicolas Vanier (at left), a French film director and author of some 50 books, is running the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Born and raised in France, Vanier started traveling in the "far North" at the age of 18 and has spent most of the last 35 years traveling through Canada, Alaska, Norway and Siberia. He has mushed from Skagway to Quebec and spent four years in Siberia where he has done about 20,000 miles in dog team expeditions. Two years ago he did the Yukon Quest, finishing in 9th place. His friend Pierre Michaut, MC4 production manager, is planning to film a documentary for French television on Vanier's running the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Michaut wants to include a segment about the history of the Iditarod Trail in the documentary and when he mentioned this to Mark Norman, the Trail Master of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Mark referred him to Lee Poleske, Alliance board member and historian of the Seward Iditarod Trail Blazers. Michaut contacted Mr. Poleske and made arrangements for a visit to Seward. On January 12, Michaut and a photographer took a four hour tour with Lee Poleske, around Seward to film important Iditarod Trail sites and learn about the history of the Trail.

They visited the Trail itself, the Mile Zero sign, the Founders Monument, to learn a little about the history of Seward, the Jujiro Wada statue, the Trail Blazers statue, the site of the old Bank of Seward, at 4th and Adams, where much of the gold brought over the trail was delivered for shipment Outside and the Iditarod Trail mural on the telephone office building. The Seward Museum was included on the tour and the Iditarod exhibit was filmed and Seward's involvement with the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race was explained, especially that of the Seavey family. 1 Iditarod HistoricTrail Alliance From the past… "Seward Gateway" February 9, 1917 HOOTCH SLEDS MAKE TRAIN'S TRAIL SLOW Since the order went into effect on the government railroad preventing the shipment of any liquor consignments to the interior, sled travel between here and mile 40* has increased to a remarkable degree.

So many sleds came and went between trains during the thaw of two days ago that the dogs and sled runners pushed snow on the rails which froze over night making hard going for the train next day. *Mile 40 was as far north from Seward as the railroad ran at this time. Note: Anchorage, which the Alaska Engineering Commission controlled as its main construction town, was officially dry at this time. "Seward Gateway" March 2,1917 Deputy U. S. Marshal Evens has received information from the deputy in Anchorage that the recent order forbidding the sale of liquor by local saloons for shipment to Anchorage has practically stopped the transportation of liquor over the trail.

Realizing that shipments arriving direct from the outside, intended for bootleggers at Anchorage, might be sent out, the Alaska engineering commission has placed a locomotive at the disposal of the local deputy, so that in event a sled of hootch left here during the night and was reported from any point out the line it would be an easy matter to catch it between here and Mile 40. Note: The Bone Dry Law which established prohibition throughout Alaska went into effect on January 1, 1918. February 2017 Aerial photographs of Seward and the Trail were also taken using a drone. To help him get a more comprehensive view of the history of the Iditarod Trail, Mr. Michaut was given a copy of The Frozen Trail, by Hannah Moderow, the history of the Trail published by the Alliance.

National Trails Day® Each year, on the first Saturday of June, this year June 3, the American Hiking Society and the trails community invites Americans of all ages and abilities to find their own adventure and discover their unique story at one of the thousands of events hosted throughout the country. By coordinating a wide array of trail activities on a single day, National Trails Day® attracts new trail users and helps connect existing trail enthusiasts with local clubs and organizations with the hopes of creating trail advocates and stewards. To register an event or locate one near you go to: nationaltrailsday.americanhiking.org Photo Contest Alaska Trails is teaming up with the Safe Routes to School National Partnership on a photo contest highlighting physical activity, walking and biking to school, and active transportation in winter months.

They will post the best photos of: • walking/biking to school in cold weather or darkness • people riding bikes on snowy streets and trails • active commuting (walking or biking) in snow/cold/inclement weather • infrastructure that supports winter physical activity (i.e. a bike lane that is plowed) • challenges of physical activity in snow/bad weather E-mail your photos to: office@alaska-trails.org with Photo Contest in the subject line. Please include a caption and contact information. You will be asked to sign a release for the photos you submit. Alaska Trails and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership will retain rights to the photos and use them in order to promote active transportation. This will include, but is not limited to, use in the Alaska Trails and SRTS NP Facebook page, websites, and newsletters. 2