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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. Pick.ClicK.Give Remember you can make or increase a Pick.Click.Give donation to the Alliance until August 31. Go to http://www.pfd.state.ak.us/ and select the green “Add or Change Your Pick.Click.Give. Donation” button.
Iditarod Trail Committee names new CEO The Iditarod Trail Committee has announced the appointment of Rob Urbach as its new CEO, replacing Stan Hooley, who retired last year after about 25 years on the job. As the race organization’s CEO, Urbach will direct and oversee all operations of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, including business operations, human resources management, information technology, fundraising, and public relations. He will begin work on July 29, 2019. Urbach, who hails from Colorado, served as the CEO of USA Triathlon from 2011-2017 and handled all dayto-day operations for the national governing body for USA Triathlon. Prior to his time at USA Triathlon, Urbach was the executive vice president for Octagon, a global sports management and marketing firm.
At USA Triathlon, the largest multisport organization in the world with more than 500,000 members and 4,300 local events each year, he led the development of a weekly television show, the launch of the USA Triathlon Foundation, the rollout of the NCAA program, a large-scale youth membership drive and other initiatives designed to achieve strategic objectives. Urbach has completed 80 triathlons, including the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. “Rob embraces our vision of an Iditarod that is committed to the priority of canine care both on and off the trail.” said Iditarod Board of Directors President Mike Mills.
“In addition to his extensive credentials, Rob has proven himself to be a nimble and strategic leader and we’re looking forward to Rob taking the helm of the Last Great Race on Earth.” From the past… “Iditarod Pioneer” September 28, 1912 THE GOING-OUTSIDE HABIT In the early days when people came to Alaska to dig gold, their one desire was to make a stake and get out. Then there were no conveniences. Homes were rudely constructed, no attempt was made to beautify lawns or raise gardens. Get gold and get out was the dominating desire. After awhile many began to discover that conditions were as conducive to home making and happiness right here as anywhere else. Today this Northland is slowly being settled up with people who have learned to satisfy the heart’s desire with the things that are ‘round about us.
Still from force of habit, from the process of thinking so, there are many who feel urged to go Outside, as it is 1 The Tripod July 2019 called, each winter and come back in the spring. The money that is spent each season in going Outside, would build homes and create surroundings more beautiful right here than a majority of the people Outside possess. The cities of Alaska today are suffering more from this fad of going Outside, of spending their money and time in Seattle and elsewhere than they are from the effects of conservation or any of the political bugaboos that are being held before us as reasons for all our ills. This going Outside is a nervous and meaningless habit. It is like buying an Easter bonnet whether you need it or not. We do it because someone else set the pace years ago. – Skagway Alaskan.
Alaska Trail Stewards projects Alaska Trail Stewards is an Alaska Trails program designed to help give volunteers opportunities to maintain and improve trails in Alaska. 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 Work parties scheduled this summer are: July 16-Government Hill: Brown’s Point Park July 19-Volunteer Day in Hatcher Pass July 20-Independence Mine State Historical Park Work Day July 27-Middle Fork Trail Work Day August 3-Whittier Trail Work Day August 10-Middle Fork Trail Work Day, August 13-Government Hill: Brown’s Point Park August 20-Government Hill: Brown’s Point Park. A history of the National Trails System In 1968 Congress passed the National Trails System Act which established National Scenic and National Recreation Trails.
A decade later National Historic Trails were added to the System. A Grand Experiment: The National Trails System at 50, published in 2018 by Palmetto Press is the remarkable story of this Act told by Steve Elkinton, an insider who spent 25 years of his career working on these trails. Steve served as the Program Leader for the National Trails System in the National Park Service from 1989 to his retirement in 2014. For most of the second half of the history of the System, Steve provided leadership and worked to further the intentions and spirit of the Act. In this book Steve has compiled a history of how the System came to be and how it has evolved. Steve concentrates on the actions and personalities that shaped the evolution and progress of the entire System. Proceeds from the book will benefit the Partnership for the National Trails System.
For copies contact Steve Elkinton at elksteve50@gmail.com iTREC! The initial workshop for this year’s Iditarod Trail to Every Classroom teachers will be held in Anchorage on July 29-August 2. The second workshop will be in Seward the first weekend in November. Depending on available funds a third workshop will be held in Nome in the spring. First mile of Iditarod Trail On the 4th of July a survey taken from 2-2:30 p. m. at the mid-point of the Iditarod Trail through Seward, counted 98 walking, 8 biking, 5 on scooters and 2 on skateboards, for a total of 113 people going over the Trail in that half-hour. 2