The Tripod, June 2019

Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance, PO Box 2323, Seward AK 99664 http://www.Iditarod100.org IditarodHTA@gmail.com The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance is an equal opportunity program provider and employer. The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance promotes 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. Gold Sheet The Partnership for the National Trails System has published its Gold Sheet, listing the contributions made in 2018 to support the National Trails System by national scenic and historic trail organizations.

The totals for the 27 organizations: active volunteers: 29,181; volunteer hours: 978,034; value of volunteer hours: $24,871,405; private contributions: $14,489,472. The top organization in all categories was the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, with 5,832 active volunteers, 199,290 volunteer hours, with a value of $5,067,945 and receiving $7,490,00 in private contributions. The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance totals were: active volunteers: 1,800; volunteer hours:15,000; value of volunteer hours, $381,450 and private contributions of $16, 024. National Trails System Webmapping Application A Geographic Information System is a powerful tool that allows users to view a variety of geographic data, perform spatial analysis and conduct locational based research in both a desktop and online environment.

Over the past year, the National Trails System has made tremendous strides in utilizing this technology to enhance its capabilities at a national, systems-wide scale. With the development of the National Trails System Webmapping Application, users now have the ability to view, download and analyze authoritative centerline data for all the national scenic and historic trails. Simply being able to see the whole National Trails System overlaid on one map is an astounding way to see the extent of the system, but the Webmapping Application offers much more than that. With it, users can zoom in and interactively explore each trail, they can turn on and off individual layers and they can access additional information and links to official web pages by clicking on any trail.

View the National Trails System Webmapping Application at www.pnts.org/new/map-interactive-gis/ From the past… “Iditarod Pioneer” May 13, 1911 MOSQUITO FLEET BUSY PUTTING ON WAR PAINT The big family of small craft used in the freight and passenger business between this city and Dikeman has been undergoing spring treatment lately and nearly all launches and small steamers are ready to go into commission, waiting for the belated breaking of the ice above the city. The Dominion Commercial company’s barge, which has lain opposite the city all winter, has been dropped down around the bend, to be out of the way of the oncoming march of the ice cakes. The Northern Commercial company’s barge Fox will be moved upstream close to the sawmill, in order to get her out of an exposed position.

Among other craft, the gasoline launch Comet has been lengthened 10 feet, under the direction of Eugene Norton, owner. 1 The Tripod June 2019 The Edna, Ross and Haley owners, will be able to handle 50 tons at a good stage of water, it is figured. Frank Larson will act as pilot of this boat this summer. The Cecil, belonging to Mrs. Jack Baird, will be put into commission just as soon as the guy who swiped the propeller, brings back the necessary portion of the machine machinery. The Marathon formerly a side-wheeler, has been remodeled into a stern wheeler and will be ready for business with Bill Sherman on the job. The steamer Little Snug, owned by Captain Tucker, has been undergoing an overhauling both inside and out, and will be practically a new boat when completed. She will be a big factor in the shipping this summer.

The Zodiac, over which the owners are now squabbling, has been fitted with new machinery, and will be ready with the rest of them if the question of title is settled in time. Brumbaugh, Hamilton and Kellogg are the owners of two fine launches in the Joyce and the Alaskan, both of which are in shape and ready for fast trips up and down the river. The Emerald, owned by Charles Martin, is lying about 35 miles below town with her barge Erin. She will be towed to the city by the side-wheeler Gertrude, as soon as the river clears, and will be overhauled and made ready for business. The Helen M. and the Flyer, both big money makers of last season, are being treated to a mustard plaster or something at Dikeman and will come sailing in most anytime with a bunch of chechakos. Near Dikeman are the Samson, Teddy H., Little Delta and the Pup, all being made ready.

The Lois was sunk while being cut out of the ice, but will probably be saved. Up at Otter city two large scows for Otter Creek transportation are being built for Sam Sanderson, Charles Gobal and Doc Mading. Alaska Trail Stewards Alaska Trail Stewards is an Alaska Trails program designed to help give volunteers opportunities to maintain and improve the trails that they and many others love. Below are the volunteer days we have scheduled so far. For more information on the program and to register for one or more of the work parties see: http://www.alaska-trails.org/alaska-trail-stewards.html • June 8: Rocky Creek - Iditarod National Historic Trail Work Day (near Kenai Lake) • June 8: Middle Fork of Campbell Creek Trail Work Day • June 15: Winner Creek Trail Work Day (near Girdwood) • June 22: Lazy Moose Trail Work Day (near Palmer).

National Trails Day® celebration in Seward The Seward Iditarod Trail Blazers had a National Trails Day® celebration at the Branson Pavilion in Seward on June 2. There were hot dogs, special decorated cookies and other goodies, door prizes and information on the Iditarod Trail, Seward Trail Blazers and the Alliance. 2