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The Tripod May-June 2025 Iditarod National Historic Trail, Inc. dba Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance PO Box 2323, Seward AK 99664 iditarodHTA@gmail.com www.iditarod100.org The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance is an equal opportunity program provider and employer 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. September 24-27 – Alaska Historical Society Conference, Fairbanks theme: Vital Lifelines in Alaska’s History – commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Nome Serum Run, among other anniversaries.
AHS website July 14 – “Iditarod 53: The River of No End” – the untold stories of mushers and their canine companions – Bear Tooth Theaterpub, Anchorage. Purchase tickets on-line Remembering Dan Seavey… On May 8, 2025, IHTA received the news that Dan Seavey had passed away at the age of 87. Dan served on the Board of IHTA since its incorporation in 1998. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Iditarod Trail as a National Historic Trail in 1978 and was a founding member of the Seward Iditarod Trail Blazers, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the historic trail from Seward to the Interior. Dan came to Alaska from Minnesota as a social sciences teacher. In 1973, he helped create and then ran the first Iditarod Sled Dog race; 53 years later that race continues to celebrate the dogs and the history of the Iditarod trail due to the tireless support of men and women like Dan Seavey.
Dan Seavey was more than a musher – he was a historian, an educator, a family man, and an advocate for the preservation of Alaska’s rich heritage. His contributions have left an enduring legacy in Alaska’s history. June 21, 2025, 1 pm – All are welcome to attend Dan’s Celebration of Life. In person: Avtec Gymnasium, 519 Fourth Avenue, Seward and On Zoom: Meeting ID: 817-2297-5799 Passcode: 886026. More about Dan Seavey’s life – Facebook tributes and memories – Project Jukebox Oral History Program The Tripod _________ May-June 2025 Comprehensive Management Plan As required by the National Trails System Act, each National Scenic or Historic Trail is guided by a long-term strategic document called a Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP). The CMP is the foundation for partnership among land owners and the public in managing the trail.
What does a CMP do? it outlines the trail’s historic, natural, and cultural resources; how trail users can experience the trail while minimizing the impact on those resources; and how the historic quality and features will be preserved. Some of the objectives to be met include land use, defining visitor use and facilities, protecting the resources, and educating visitors about the trail’s historic and cultural significance. The current CMP for the INHT was completed in 1986; after 40 years in place review and revision are timely. The process is being managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the federal agency charged with administration of the INHT. This is the timeline for the two-year process: In 2025, IHTA and many other identified stakeholders have been meeting and will continue to meet with the BLM to guide the new draft. Public review and comment will also be solicited.
IHTA will announce those dates as we become aware of them. NEPA=National Environmental Policy Act Meet Robin Lewis –Trail Administrator, INHT In May, Robin relocated to Alaska after nearly 15 years living in western Colorado. For the last decade, she has worked with BLM and NPS in a variety of roles in outdoor recreation, national conservation lands, and land use planning. Her professional interests include visitor use management, collaborative decision-making, strategic planning, and youth corps mentorship. National Trails Day, Seward IHTA President Judy Bittner and her family biked the first miles of the Iditarod National Historic Trail to celebrate.
National Trails Day, Portage Valley IHTA Executive Director Betsi Oliver spent the day with US Forest Service staff and volunteers from Alaska Trails grooming the Trail of Blue Ice, a segment of the INHT popular with day hikers and tourists.