The Tripod, May 2017

Iditarod HistoricTrail Alliance May 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 AlaskaNative 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. National Trails Day® National Trails Day® is Saturday, June 3. The Seward Trail Blazers and the Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance will be celebrating it on both June 3 and 4.

On the third the Trail Blazers will be encouraging people in Seward, though newspaper articles and posters, to get out and walk the trails around the town and the Kenai Peninsula. In town there are the bike path/Iditarod Trail and the Two Lakes Trail, also the climb up Mt. Marathon. The bike path extends to mile 5, where you can access the Lost Lake Trail, also the Iditarod Trail can be accessed at Bear Lake or Saw Milll Creek. On Sunday, the 4th, the Seward Trail Blazers and the Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance will be hosting a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the building of the bike path/Iditarod Trail through Seward. It will be held at the Branson Pavilion, which is on the Iditarod Trail at the bottom of Adams Street. There will be hot dogs, birthday cake and other refreshments.

There will also be a lot of information about the Iditarod Historic Trail, the Seward Iditarod Trail Blazers and the Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance. Walk the first mile of the Historic Iditarod Trail The Seward Iditarod Trail Blazers are promoting the fact that only in Seward can residents and visitors walk the first mile of the Iditarod National Historic Trail. The Trail winds along beautiful Resurrection Bay, and besides the magnificent scenery, you never know what else you might see, such as an eagle looking down on you from a tree along the trail, or an otter looking at you from the Bay. 1 Iditarod HistoricTrail Alliance The Trail Blazers are preparing a pamphlet with a map of the first mile pointing out some of the scenic and historic sites along the Trail.

It will also have a space for the Iditarod Trail Mile O stamp available at the Kenai Fjords National Park visitor center in the Seward Boat Harbor on 4th Avenue. Great Outdoors Month®. This June celebrate the natural wonder and outdoor spirit of America by getting outside during Great Outdoors Month®. What started as Great Outdoors Week under President Clinton in 1998 has grown significantly over the years and has become Great Outdoors Month®. If you love getting out and about and enjoying yourself, Great Outdoors Month®. is the perfect month for you! It’s a great opportunity to encourage children of the importance of outside play and how getting out and about can be part of a healthy lifestyle and a great way to learn about nature and the environment. Alaska Trails Conference The Alaska Trails Conference was held in the BP Energy Center in Anchorage on April 20-22.

Conference presentations are posted at the Alaska Trails website: http://www.alaska-trails.org/ conference-presentations.html May 2017 From the past… "Iditarod Pioneer" May 16, 1914 BREAK-UP OF IDITAROD RIVER BRINGS DISASTROUS INUNDATION The break-up of the ice in the Iditarod river this year was accompanied by the highest water in the history of the camp. The flood caused severe losses to business men and citizens generally, and it is thought the damage will total many thousands of dollars. The heaviest losers are the Northern Commercial Company and Crowley & Porter, but numerous persons lost property estimated in value from a few dollars up to several hundred. Shortly after noon on Saturday last the ice in the river commenced to disintegrate, and thus continued intermittently until evening, when a steady run set in.

The water had been rising steadily for some days and with the break-up an added volume increased the flow until it was rising at the rate of several inches an hour. On one occasion a rise of over a foot was recorded in a sixty-minute period. Late Saturday night it seemed as though the flood had reached its limit, and tired watchers retired to their homes. The water kept steadily rising however, and by daylight, warehouses, places of business and cabins on the riverfront were inundated. By noon the water was several inches deep on the floor of Mrs. Peterson's bakery, and the place had been deserted. The Cascade laundry was flooded, and the water had reached the restaurant kept by Mrs. Sims, near the corner of Willow and First streets.

The creek which runs into the river at the foot of Willow street had backed up until there was two feet of water at the intersection of First and Willow street and the west side of the latter thoroughfares impassable. Further down the river several cabins were under water, and the warehouse of Karl Thiele contained several feet of water, but the merchandise had been removed without damage. At the foot of Richmond street the N. C. warehouse containing qualities of goods, was submerged, and much damage was done. Further up the river, at the Cleveland mill, the housing used by Crowly & Porter as a warehouse was completely flooded. The building was well filled with merchandise. Men had been put to work moving goods here early Sunday morning, but so fast did the water rise that comparatively little could be moved, and the loss will be very heavy.

Residents on the river bank directly opposite the city were driven from their homes on Saturday night, and were able to take but few of their belongings with them. The houses across the river were all several feet under water, and their contents were ruined by the water. 2