The Tripod, February 2021

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. February 2021 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.

Virtual Hike the Hill 2021®, March 8-26, 2021 Now in its 24th year, Hike the Hill® is a joint effort between the American Hiking Society and the Partnership for the National Trails System to bring together the trails community to advance shared trail priorities with congressional and federal agency leaders including trails funding, public lands management, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI), and other top priority issues that sustain trails and improve access to public lands. In 2021, due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, trail partners from across the nation will come together virtually to advocate for legislation, learn about new policies, and meet with federal partners, elected officials and their staffs, and fellow trail organizations. The 2021 Hike the Hill® will occur on select afternoons (2pm-5pm EST) over a three-week period.

For more information go to: https://americanhiking.org/advocacy/hike-the-hill Alliance plans virtual outdoor week with legislature The Alaska Outdoor Alliance is making plans for its 4th Annual Alaska Outdoor Week Fly-In on March 1-5. The annual event is an effort to educate legislators about the importance of the outdoor recreation economy and stakeholder priorities. There will be virtual hearings with House and Senate Transportation and Natural Resources committees, virtual deskside visits, a legislative Lunch & Learn and more. Main themes include: making Alaska more bike and walk-friendly, winter recreation needs, and state investment in outdoor recreation infrastructure. For more information contact the Alaska Outdoor Alliance (leehartak@gmail.com).

From the past… “Seattle Daily Times” March 9,1911 PROSPECTOR FOUND FROZEN ON HIS SLED Setting on his sled and frozen stiff in death, John Olson was found on the trail near Disknket, about 60 miles from the Iditarod, in the latter part of January. This is the only casualty reported by Ross J. Kinney, an employee of the Alaska Road Commission, who traveled from Nome to Seward in a caravan drawn by forty-dogs and who reached Seattle today. They surveyed the proposed wagon road from Nome to Seward which will go through the Kuskokwim and Iditarod diggings and for the building of which an appropriation of $50,000 was made at the session of Congress just closed. 1 The Tripod February 2021 The party consisted of eight men, under the supervision of Walter Goodwin.

They were on the trail, living out in the open most of the time, in a temperature ranging as low as 60 degrees below zero, from November 15, 1910, until February 25, 1911. The distance from the Iditarod to Seward, according to the survey, is 512 miles, and while a few small hills have to be crossed, a wagon road to the interior diggings, which greatly will facilitate winter travel, is regarded as being eminently practicable. The members of the party are enthusiastic about the prospects recently uncovered in the Kuskokwim region. Hundreds of prospectors were going down the valley of the big stream and following its tributaries when the party passed through. Fairly good prospects have been discovered in several places, and in some cases preparations were being made to open up the ground next summer. Food of certain kinds was plentiful in the Iditarod.

There was an abundance of whiskey, beer and cigars on hand, more than sufficient to sustain the camp during the winter, but fresh meat, ham, bacon, sugar, butter, cream and a few other commodities were scarce. The meat situation was relieved by some Eskimo reindeer herders who drove in a flock of 150 deer and slaughtered them for local consumption. Ross Kenney, one of the engineers with the party brought to Seattle the famous Mackenzie River husky dog “Tommy” who holds the record for traveling between Valdez and Nome. “Tommy” has traveled thousands of miles in mail teams and has made a great reputation in the North as a leader of racing teams, winning for his owners and backers many thousands of dollars. “Tommy's” mushing days are ended and he is to be pensioned off with a good home in Seattle the rest of his life.

Tony Knowles takes Long Trail leadership post Since the inception of the Alaska Long Trail, former Governor Tony Knowles has been a champion for the effort. He has lent his voice and pen to help publicize the Trail and has agreed to help plan the next steps for the Long Trail. That effort became more official in January when Alaska Trails named Tony Knowles as the chair of the Advisory Group for the Alaska Long Trail Project. To read more about the Alaska Long Trail see: www.alaska-trails.org/the-alaska-long-trail Ideas for the 2021 trails conference needed Alaska Trails is seeking proposals for presentations and workshops for the Annual Trails Conference that showcase best practices in trail construction, trail maintenance, economic development, volunteers, trail design, partnerships, trail benefits and trail-related policy. The Conference will be held on April 15 to 17.

Send your ideas with “2021 Trails Conference Presentation” in the subject line to office@alaskatrails.org. Trailbound Alaska project Max Romey is seeking donations for his project Trailbound Alaska, which highlights some of Alaska’s trails and the stories found along them. Much of the route of the Alaska Long Trail is included in this venture. Read more about the project and how to support it: http://maxromeyproductions.com/trailboundalaska