The Tripod, November 2019

The Tripod 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. November 2019 The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance promotes public awareness of the Iditarod Historic 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. Membership dues If you have not yet renewed your membership for 2020, please do so now. A membership renewal form was sent with last month’s newsletter. If you have renewed your membership thank you for your continued support.

Annual meeting and board election The annual meeting of the Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance will be held in Anchorage on December 4 and 5. The first day will be a workshop for the board members at the Campbell Creek Science Center. The annual meeting of the Alliance will be on December 5th at the Lakefront Hotel in Anchorage, 4800 Spenard Rd. Board of director seats up for election this year are: Seat E: Cook Inlet/Susitna region, Judy Bittner, Anchorage, Seat F: Kuskokwim region, Mike Tierney, McGrath, Seat G: at-large #2 Dan Seavey, Seward, Seat H: at- large #3 Leslie Schick, Anchorage. Ballots for the election of board members and proxy forms will be sent out soon. To conduct business at the annual meeting we need at least 25% of the members present in person or by proxy, so it's very important that you send in your proxy if you cannot attend in person.

From the past… “Seward Weekly Gateway” December 11, 1909 DIFFICULTIES POINTED OUT Superintendent Goodwin of the Alaska Road Commission, has prepared a table of distances that will be of substantial aid to prospectors and travelers who may undertake to make the trip this winter, although there is no chance, he says that travelers will be able to follow the route of the proposed new trail from the upper Kuskokwim to the Tachatna* river, as this part of the trail is practically impassable and will continue so until the trail is cut through. This table of distances, says Superintendent Goodwin, will be of some service from the Kuskokwim to Susitna Station to persons who may undertake to make the trip this winter, as careful and observant travelers will understand what points they should make and the approximate distances they are apart.

There are three passes that have been more or less traveled. Rainy pass, over which runs the route of the new trail; Simpson pass, some ten miles to the northeast and Ptarmigan valley, 20 miles to the southwest. The last two passes make the route longer and the natural conditions are likely to confuse the traveler. Mr. Goodwin says that in going to the Iditarod from Seward it should be understood that the route of the new trail cannot be followed from Farewell mountain to the Tachatna*. The only available course is down the south fork of the Kuskokwim to the Indian village at Nickoli’s place north of the Tonzona river. From that point there is a portage that saves much travel. * Now spelled Takotna 1 The Tripod November 2019 Mr.

Goodwin’s table of distances beginning at Seward: Seward to Girdwood 75 miles Skwentna to Mouth Hays River 30 miles Girdwood to Bird Creek 12 miles Hays River to Happy River 17 miles Bird Creek to Indian Creek 1 mile Happy River to Pass Creek 29 miles Indian Creek to Sibly Camp 5 miles Pass Creek to Summit (Rainy) 9 miles Sibly Camp to Forks Ship Creek 5 miles Summit to Rohn River 12 miles Forks Ship Creek to Eagle River 17 miles Rohn River to Kuskokwim River 4 miles Eagle River to Old Knik 16 miles Kuskokwim to McGrath 100 miles Old Knik to Knik 20 miles McGrath to Gane Creek (Innoko) 25 miles Knik to Susitna 35 miles Gane Creek to Iditarod diggings 65 miles Susitna to Mouth Skwentna 40 miles Fall workshop of iTREC! The fall workshop of iTREC! was held in Seward on November 1-3.

Pictured above are the participants in this year’s class and the instructors at Mile Zero of the Iditarod Trail in Seward. During the workshop participants described their projects and the progress they are making in their development. Seward Iditarod Trail Blazer members Dan Seavey and Lee Poleske talked to the class about the history of the Iditarod Trail and Seward’s role in that history and about the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Teachers who participate in iTREC! develop their own curriculum that increases student literacy skills and fosters student understanding of and appreciation for the public lands and resources connected by over 2,400 miles of the Iditarod National Historic Trail.

These curricula integrate hands-on study of the natural and cultural resources of communities from Seward to Nome addressing concepts in ecology, sense of place, civics, outdoor recreation and volunteerism. At the heart of iTREC! is the belief that students who are immersed in the study of their own “place” are more eager to be involved in the stewardship of their communities and public lands.