The Tripod, Fall 2025

Dir ko ) TRAIL * STORY * STEWARDSHIP The Tripod The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance promotes awareness of the Iditarod National 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. New Trail, Bridge near Moose Pass © 08 06 a New section of Moose Pass Trail, part of Iditarod National Historic Trail. Map and photos courtesy Chugach National Forest. This summer, Chugach National Forest completed work in the Victor Creek area, south of Moose Pass. They constructed 2.5 miles of new trail and a bridge. They also reconstructed 2 miles of existing trail, making it much more user friendly and sustainable for future maintenance needs.

This work is part of the Moose Pass Trail segment of the INHT Southern Trek. When complete, the Moose Pass Trail will be 15 miles long, and lead from the Moose Pass townsite to Snow River. Victor Creek Trail, which heads east from Milepost 20 of the Seward Highway, connects hikers to this segment of the north-south Moose Pass Trail. From the junction, head south towards Snow River or north towards Ptarmigan Campground. The newly built trail travels through a spruce/hemlock forest with intermittent views over Kenai Lake and the surrounding peaks. A particular highlight is a new 105’ bridge over Victor Creek, just south of the junction with Victor Creek Trail. The bridge is over an impressive canyon with views in all directions. The section of new trail north of Victor Creek Trail currently dead ends at a small waterfall, but work is underway to extend it further.

AMERICA 250 2026 is America’s 250" birthday. Events all across the country will be celebrating our heritage as a nation. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Ceremonial Start has been selected by BLM as its featured America 250 celebration event for Alaska! Watch for details about how to celebrate with us, coming soon. RENEW NOW Your Alliance membership y= ends in December. NA Re Renewing now provides important support to our mission. Renew online now: https://www.iditarod100.org/store/c4/ IHTA_Membership.html NEW SCHEDULE The Tripod has moved to a quarterly schedule. Look for Alliance news updates, upcoming events and meetings, and more on our Facebook page and via email.

To be added to our email contact list, please send a request to iditarodHTA@gmail.com The Tripod Fall 2025 Tracking the Typhoon In October 2025, Typhoon Halong devastated Western Alaska and displaced an estimated 1,800 people. Unlike what happened during Typhoon Merbok in 2022, it appears this time the Iditarod National Historic Trail escaped the worst damage, which mostly occurred in Southwest Alaska, farther south than where the Trail reaches the coast. We are continuing to collect reports of the impact and will support rebuilding the Trail where needed. New 1-mile Trail in Chugiak Beach Lake Park in Chugiak-Eagle River has a new multi-use trail along the Iditarod National Historic Trail! Maps show an original Iditarod route that went across the middle of the frozen Beach Lake. The new 1-mile trail parallels the west side of the lake, ending at Cook Inlet near the mouth of Fire Creek.

Mushing trails in the vicinity were also improved, with guidance from the local dog mushers association, and relocated in places to accommodate the new multi-use trail. This trail is part of an ongoing effort to extend Anchorage’s Coastal Trail to the north. Spectacular views along the lakeside and at the = inlet viewing platform will certainly make this wide, flat trail a ibbon cutting at Beach Lake trail popular destination for all ages and abilities. with Mayor LaFrance, June 2025. Photo: IHTA Around the Trail A 5-kilometer foot race - dogs welcome! - was named in honor of lifelong Iditarod advocate Dan Seavey. The route included the first mile of the Iditarod National Historic Trail, known as Mile O for its famous milepost on the coast in Seward, Alaska. Dogs, runners, and spectators along the first mile of INHT at the Dan Seavey Trailblazer 5K.

Photos: Seward Trail Blazers Facebook page Iditarod Trail Committee, host of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, celebrated the race’s first inductees into the Iditarod Hall of Fame at the Alaska Aviation Museum in October. The history of the race and the history of Iditarod National Historic Trail are permanently linked. Of course the name “Iditarod” has been made famous by the race, but also because many of the same people who started the race in 1973 were instrumental in getting the Historic Trail designated by Congress in 1978, including Joe Redington, Sr. and Dan Seavey. Board members and friends of Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance filled a table at the Iditarod Trail Committee event.

Photos: IHTA Iditarod National Historic Trail, Inc. dba Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance 3705 Arctic Blvd #272, Anchorage, AK 99503-5774 iditarodHTA@gmail.com www.iditarodhistorictrail.org The Alliance is an equal opportunity program provider and employer.