WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 PAGE 1

Wrangell St. Elias News “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty” Volume Nineteen Issue Two March & April 2010 $2.50 A winter “Mail Day”—McCarthy style

our mail pilot tries ail days in McCa- again the next day. rthy look much Copper Valley Air Mdifferent than Service has a variety of mail day delivery in the “big airplanes and pilots. city.” Dave Parmenter, own- First, it is not 5 or 6 days a er, is often our “mail week but twice a week; that pilot.” Dave is pictured is, unless the weather keeps here as he prepares to our mail pilot on the ground unload his Cessna 185 in Glennallen, about 125 with all our mail day WSEN staff photo miles west of our community. goodies. Wheel skies Dave—our mail pilot. are still a “must” dur- ing the latter part of or just seek out those warmer February. climes. Winter mail days Transportation to mail is are usually sparsely usually by snowmachine with attended by local sleds to haul incoming boxes. residents. The (continued on page 11) McCarthy/Ken nicott area population is only about 50- 60 year round WSEN staff photo folks and work Bonnie Kenyon, Howard Haley, Jim Edwards is seasonal— and Mike Monroe. mostly in the summer Wednesdays and Fridays months. In recent are the scheduled days for years, the majority of us both incoming and outgoing take advantage of the WSEN staff photo mail. For the most part, if one slower-paced winter Park Ranger Stephens Harper meets incoming of those days is missed due to months to travel and passenger, Erica Edmonds who is the new adverse weather conditions, visit family and friends Kennecott Interpretive Ranger. PAGE 2 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 A note from the publisher with an approximate snow depth of art, Florida. To be honest, I wasn’t t’s February 23rd and the 31 inches on January 11th. too keen on putting my hand under- McCarthy area is still in Rick and I left just in time to water and actually “encouraging” hibernation mode. Rick beat the increased snowfall which Sting Rays to come and partake of I the tiny shrimp between my fingers. and I “reentered” that quiet, started Dec. 14. Mike recorded al- most 19 inches of snow over a 4-day Their mouths were so soft and gen- slower-paced season about 2 tle that there wasn’t any weeks ago when we returned need to hold back on feeding from our trip to the lower 48. these interesting creatures. I There were only 13 inches of guess you call it getting out snow on the ground Decem- of my comfort zone! Please ber 10 as we left McCarthy, be sure to find Rick’s story but 6 weeks later a whopping on page 6. 28 inches greeted us. Our While we were in Florida neighbor, Audrey Edwards, and close to our departure says that number was “after” date, we discovered the snow had settled. As we Walmart’s garden section was freshly stocked with drove up to our driveway on seeds. Rick and I brought the 8th, Audrey’s husband, varieties of vegetable seeds Jim, was busy snowblowing Photo courtesy Suzy Malcolm home and are now determin- our driveway! What a great Publishers feeding fish? ing dates for starting our “welcome home.” Thanks so garden transplants. Winter much, Jim. period. At the present, Mike’s snow may still be hanging on in the Mc- Carthy area, but residents are be- It was 3 pm when we made our depth reading is in full agreement ginning to foresee springtime. way up to the cabin. The outside with ours—both recording 23 inch- Wrangell-St. Elias News wel- temperature was approximately 18 es on the ground. Thanks, Mike, for keeping tabs on the weather! comes aboard the following sub- degrees and 26 degrees inside. By scribers: Thomas Turner, AK; Barry 8 pm the thermometer in the liv- As you can see, Rick and I paid Sullivan, HI. ing room read 70 degrees. Of a visit to a marine life center in Stu- course, that was with the wood- stove, oilstove and a propane heat- er (in the back bedroom) all Table of Contents working together for the same A winter “Mail Day”—McCarthy style...... 1 purpose—heating our log cabin. A note from the publisher...... 2 Items of Interest...... 3 Our minimum thermometer Feeding the rays!...... 6 read -42 degrees which verified neighborly reports that McCarthy Personnel changes at WRST...... 7 did have quite a cold snap end of McCarthy-Kennicott Historical Museum newsletter...... 8 December and into the first week of Friends of Kennicott newsletter...... 10 January. Mike Monroe lives in Ken- A winter “Mail Day”—McCarthy style...... 11 nicott year round and does a good Nabesna Mine Site community fact sheet...... 12 job of taking notes of weather con- Be snow smart...... 12 ditions. I touched bases with him to Good News from the Wrangells...... 13 see the difference in low tempera- THE McCARTHY WEEKLY NEWS...... 14 tures and snow depth between our Bitter weather may have wiped out reindeer...... 16 home in the valley and his on the Book review—Little People Little Patriots...... 17 side of the mountain. Usually Mike Cooking with Peggy...... 25 is much warmer than we are “down” FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION...... 26 here. He said Kennicott experienced LETTERS TO THE EDITOR...... 27 -23 on the 1st and 2nd of January Items of WRANGELLInterest ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 PAGE 3

America’s Child” and a live con- wood supply in before summer Dave Hollis: Dave is about as cert featuring John’s music. For begins. His summers are busy far away from the “ice” as you can further information you may working for the National Park Ser- get this winter. He’s presently in email: [email protected] or vice. He figures this is his 10th Hawaii, basking in the sun and phone 907-554-4464. season to work in Kennicott. doing whatever McCarthyites do Mark Wacht: Mark is back in In the meantime, Mark is when they visit these warmer the neighborhood after spending making the most of the remaining climes. It seems to be a popular a couple months “outside” visit- winter months and thoroughly gathering spot for local folks. ing family and friends. He cele- enjoying the warmth of impend- Here is Dave’s “item” in his own brated Thanksgiving in Texas with ing spring! words: his mom and other family mem- Wedding blessings: We ex- “Aloha from the big Island! bers, then climbed Texas’ highest tend our blessings and best wishes I’ve been having a great time in mountain in Guadalupe National to Tracey (Gressel) and Aaron Volcanoes National Park — Park— to the tune of 8,749 ft— Gerrard who married on Novem- playing with the Hawaiian goddess with a friend, Alysson Jones. ber 28, 2009, in Valdez where of Fire Pele, she’s hot! I’ve ex- Before heading home, he they are presently living. Many of plored the isle with McCarthy made a trip to the northern part our local folks know Tracey, her friends, including Terry Blosser, of Mexico, visiting other family brother Carl, and their mother Diane Malik, Spuddy, and JT. Ter- members. Michelle Casey, who owns proper- ry and I had an amazing experi- Since returning to his cabin ty and a cabin on the west side of ence helping dig up a very rare south of McCarthy, across McCa- the Kennicott River. Congratula- Hawksbill Turtle nest, then releas- rthy Creek, he’s been putting tions, Tracey and Aaron! ing the just-hatched baby turtles miles on his new SKIDOO Ladies’ Cookie Exchange— to the Pacific Ocean.” “Backcountry” snowmachine. 2009: McCarthy area ladies gath- Thanks for the beautifully-il- When he’s not out and about play- ered for the 14th annual cookie lustrated poster and map of the ing in the snow, his winter proj- exchange at the home of Audrey area, Dave! We’ll expect to see ects include installing new tile in (and Jim) Edwards on Saturday, you back in the neighborhood his kitchen which should pretty th come springtime. well complete the downstairs, he December 19 . John Denver Tribute III: says. Another home project is the Nestled in the spruce trees Writing about “Hollis” reminded building of a woodshed/shop com- near Swift Creek, the Edwards’ me to remind you about the John bination. home has served the local ladies Denver Tribute III which is sched- Springtime, which is just as a cozy and comfortable place uled for June 18, 2010, at 6 p.m., around the corner, is designated to bring cookies and candy to in Kennecott, Alaska. On the time for “cutting firewood.” Mark share with one another. Instead of agenda is a potluck dinner and is one of those who plans ahead a family, or individual, having to social, movie clips from “Alaska— and likes to get his winter fire- eat just one kind of Christmas “sweet,” they can take home a

Wrangell St. Elias News (USPS 011301) VOL. Nineteen, Issue Two, March & April 2010. Published every two months at McCarthy, Alaska. McCarthy, PO Box MXY, Glennallen, AK 99588-8998. Phone (907) 554-4454. FAX 1-866-487-7657. E-mail: [email protected] “Copyright © 2010 by Wrangell St. Elias News. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the express permission of the publishers.” Contributors to this issue: Peggy Guntis, Ned Rozell and Dorothy Adler. Subscription price is $14 for one year in the USA. Canada $16. Other countries $23. Advertising rates upon request. Deadline for publication in next issue is April 15. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GLENNALLEN, AK. 99588. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Wrangell St. Elias News, McCarthy #42, PO Box MXY, Glennallen AK 99588-8998. PAGE 4 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 variety of homemade goodies, just Right now, he’s busy putting in home for the winter this year. Union in time for the holiday season. ski trails to the water hole and his Square in Manhattan, New York, is a Audrey has served as “hostess” wood lot, and then there was a far cry from McCarthy, Alaska, but for the major portion of these an- snowshoe trail to and from his that is where Neil is working— nual festivities. Carly Kritchen, parked truck to rescue his fresh making good use of his cooking skills at The Whole Foods Market. who pioneered the occasion, is produce he brought in from the He is having a great time, he says. now living in Bakers City, Oregon, big city. Actually, I expected to hear a bit of with her husband, Ken. Every This trip was the longest time homesickness in his voice when he cookie exchange carries with it he has spent away from home called this morning, but I think he warm and heartfelt thoughts for since he moved to the area in was too excited and eager to share Carly and her desire to see the 1987. “It was a nice break,” said his good news. Before I pass on his ladies of our community gather Mark. His travels took him to announcement, I must backtrack to around good food and conversa- Pennsylvania where he stayed 3 earlier this year. tion. weeks with his 88 year old aunt While Rick and I were out-of- This year the McCarthy area and painted her house and did her state, we received word from McCa- female population was sparse, but yard work. Then off to a nephew’s rthy Mercantile owner, Peggy Smith, all but one lady showed up to help wedding in upstate New York. One that she and her family would not keep the annual celebration alive. of the highlights of his trip back be opening their downtown store Those in attendance were: Jeannie east was a reunion with his little anymore. The Smith family has done Miller, Dee Frady, Laurie and Han- sister after a very long 25 years. an outstanding job in pioneering a nah Rowland, Chris Haley, Carmen After a month visiting with family business that town folks, and visi- Russo and, of course, Audrey. and friends, it was time to return tors to our area, really needed but just didn’t have the vision for—that Hot tea and a lovely lunch to Alaska, and to his winter job is until Peggy and Kurt picked up awaited the ladies. After lunch and and a Thanksgiving celebration with friends in Anchorage. Thank- the ball and ran with it several years the “exchange,” cookie plates ago. So... we had a small-town gro- were prepared for all the single fully, he says, he survived the icy roads and sidewalks while com- cery and hardware store that was a men in town. Audrey says their grand place to shop, visit and hang number exceeded the ladies in muting to work on his bicycle. Somehow the sidewalks looked out at. Kurt and Peggy with daugh- attendance this year. ter Kelsey proved it was a viable much safer (and proved to be) Thank you, Audrey, for open- business for our town and did more than dodging the many vehicles ing your home to the ladies and than dream it into existence. They on the slick roads in his truck. hosting such a grand event! built something that would last—as Once the end of February ar- Jim Kreblin: While talking to long as someone would take the ba- rives, so will his yearly gardening Jim about the fishing derby, he ton from them and continue their project which includes not only informed me he was replacing his dream. And, now, that leads me up his own garden but starts for com- to Neil’s phone call and his grand boat dock with an updated 20' munity members. Mark is looking announcement: McCarthy Ventures dock at his Long Lake cabin. It is forward to another warm summer (which also includes the McCarthy expected to be in place and ready season without the smoke from Lodge and the Ma Johnson Hotel) is for use this spring when the ice last year’s forest fire. I couldn’t ready to add another “venture” to goes out. Neighbor Cal Ward agree more, Mark! their conglomerate—a brought the lumber in for him on I expected him to tell me he grocery/hardware store. However, it one of Cal’s return trips from Fair- will be under a new name, McCarthy was now in for the long haul, but banks. Sounds like another great Center, but in the same building. he informed me another nephew is addition to your living quarters, Neil plans to continue where Peggy Jim!! expecting Uncle Mark to attend and Kurt left off. “Peggy and Kurt his wedding in June. I couldn’t Mark Vail: From Jim’s place, created a very successful business. help but ask him how many neph- across the Long Lake ice and They proved it could be done. It was ews he has. Only two, he said, with down the road towards McCarthy, something McCarthy really needed some relief in his voice. is Mark’s home—off the beaten and I’m proud to take over in their track. After being gone for 4 Welcome home, Mark! footsteps!” says Neil. months, Mark is “home” and set- Neil Darish and McCarthy Ven- I’m not sure Neil can scoop up tling back in to his winter routine. tures: Another local resident and an ice-cream cone like Peggy or neighbor, Neil, is a long ways from Kelsey, but I have a feeling he is go- WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 PAGE 5 ing to give it a good try! Thank you, item she starts, she says, is hot weighed in at 4 lb. 8 oz. Although Neil, for stepping up to the plate peppers. She and Jim like making she was pretty small, Audrey re- and thank you, Kurt, Peggy and their own salsa in the fall so it’s ports that baby Alyssa was ready to Kelsey for believing enough in “our about time to begin that process. town” to take the risks you did— Cutting firewood is a chore just because you love us and care they both take part in during this about those who travel so far to time of the year and catching up on visit our neck-of-the-woods. You are their reading material. As quiet as loved and greatly appreciated more the winter months are for the Mill- than you know! ers in Kennicott, summer is on the Jim and Jeannie Miller: Kenni- way and with it comes much activi- cott is extremely low in population ty for both Jim and Jeannie. For this winter (Jim, Jeannie and Mike Jeannie it is cooking for Kennicott Monroe, to be exact), but the Mill- Glacier Lodge. For Jim, it is con- ers don’t seem to mind. In fact, struction work for the park service they are enjoying the peace and in Kennicott. However, in the quiet that the winter season offers. meantime, relax in what is left of Christmas brought a special the slower-paced lifestyle of winter, surprise for Jeannie, she said. Jim Jim and Jeannie, and thanks for and daughter Stacy presented her sharing your world with us! with a present—a little one, that Jim and Audrey Edwards: Jim is—furry, short-legged and definite- says things are “normal and usual” Ella May and Alyssa Jean. ly feisty. Lexi is a female Corgi and down at their home on Swift Creek. Border Collie mix (Jeannie Building useful items is interesting thinks!). Whatever the “mix”, Jean- to Jim. His latest project is tying “go home at once and create havoc nie is so pleased to have Lexi, now up the loose ends (literally) for the for everyone!” 4 months old, as a new member of new wall in their bedroom. The Ella May, 3, Alyssa’s big sister, the Miller household. loose ends are related to the bat- is really pleased to have another Lexi loves routes already and is tery bank he and Audrey rely on for playmate and Audrey is thankful for always eager for her twice-a-day their power source along with a another great granddaughter. walks with Jeannie. Interestingly diesel generator. Moving the heavy Congratulations, Audrey, and, enough, Lexi prefers her walks to batteries and enclosing them in Jim, keep up the good work! entail Kennicott instead of down their own designated “alcove” off Betty Adams: Last, but certain- the hill toward McCarthy. At night, the bedroom has been his priority ly not least, is the desire to share Lexi has her own sleeping this winter. It’s been a slow, te- our love and prayers for Betty, her quarters—inside her kennel in the dious project but the end of this son Kaylin and Lane Moffitt, during house. I asked Jeannie “why” the chore in now in sight. these challenging days. Shortly be- kennel and she informed me, “So In-between “building” he finds fore Rick and I returned to Alaska Jim and I can sleep at night.” winter a terrific season for catching in early February, we received news Jeannie’s cats just might get it in up on his reading. Nigeria and An- that Betty was diagnosed with their heads to “play” with Lexi gola are the subject matters at the breast cancer. She is undergoing while their owners sleep and, in moment, he says. Reading about chemo treatment and is on a jour- Jeannie’s words, “That would be the many challenges and hardships ney to recovery. If you, our readers, pure chaos!” I see her point. for the people of these countries want to stay updated on Betty’s When I called the Millers yes- causes Jim to express his thankful- situation, you may go to the follow- terday (Feb. 22), we had blue skies ness for the privilege of living in ing blog that she and her sister, and an abundance of sunshine. She McCarthy. Mary, have created for Betty’s many estimated their temperatures to be Audrey is also counting her friends and family members. It is: somewhere in the upper 40's while blessings these days. She is a Great http://bettyrememberwhen.blogspot.com our temperature down in the valley Grandma, again! Her grandson Ja- We travel with you, Betty, in was reading 38. She couldn’t help son Balentine and wife, Tiffany, be- our prayers and with words of en- but turn her thoughts to gardening came parents a second time. Alyssa couragement. You are special to us and those seed catalogs that were Jean was born on December 6th and and greatly loved! waiting her attention. The first PAGE 6 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 Feeding the rays!

rates it from ne of the highlights of what is known Bonnie and my trip to in St Lucie Ovisit family in Florida County as this year was a weekend trip to North Hutchin- Stuart, Florida, with our friends son Island, or Mark and Suzy Malcolm. Mark sometimes pastors the Port Orange Baptist “North Beach.” Church where my dad and Mark and I Bonnie’s mother attend. Mark are avid fisher- and Suzy spent several weeks men so we with us at McCarthy in 2007, couldn’t resist and we enjoy getting together throwing a line with them whenever we are in at North Beach.

Florida. Locals there Photo courtesy Suzy Malcolm Stuart surprised us all by were catching The ray takes a shrimp from my hand. being quite a modern, bustling blue fish and an city. We had envisioned some- occasional mackerel, but we Indian River Lagoon Scenic thing a bit more laid back, a lit- found we hadn’t brought the Highway runs along the western shore of the Island. We saw wild- life refuges, seashores, historic districts, local parks and sanctu- aries. The Lagoon is said to be home to more than 4,000 spe- cies of plants and animals. One thing that early explor- ers would not have seen are the multi-million dollar homes that dot the waterfront. And, one of Photo courtesy Suzy Malcolm the larger structures on the is- Gamefish caught by movie star Frances Langford. land is the St. Lucie Nuclear

tle more akin to Everglades City where we traveled last year with right tackle for John and Barbara Rice. the job. Next However, we were pleasantly time. surprised to discover Hutchinson “Much of Island. Hutchinson Island, just to Hutchinson Is- the east of Stuart, is accessed by land is unspoiled taking a bridge across what is and looks much called the Indian River Lagoon. as it did when Hutchinson Island is called a pioneers first barrier island. It is bounded on discovered it in the east by the Atlantic Ocean, the 1800's,” ac- on the south by the St. Lucie cording to the Inlet, on the west by the Indian advertising we found on the River, and on the north by the Photo courtesy Suzy Malcolm Internet. The Fort Pierce Inlet, which sepa- A sea horse, up close and personal! WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 PAGE 7 Power Plant. The plant contains the lecture and it was a kick to ident of Outboard Marine Corpo- two nuclear reactors in separate hold a shrimp between your fin- ration. containment buildings. However, gers and let the rays come take Unfortunately our visit was the plant does not have the clas- it from you! (They told us to use during what Floridians say is the sic hyperboloid cooling towers the “sting-ray shuffle” when wad- longest cold spell in recent his- found at many inland reactor ing in shallow waters to avoid tory. Center guides told us that, sites; instead, it uses nearby painful injuries from the ray’s unlike the rays, game fish just ocean water for coolant of the tail.) Our minds were eased stop feeding when the tempera- secondary system. some when they told us the rays ture falls, sometimes for weeks Not far away is the Florida we would be feeding had been at a time. So, while we would Oceanographic Coastal Center. “dehorned,” and could not sting have liked to have seen the ac- We had heard about the 750,000 us. tion, Mark and I catalogued the gallon game fish lagoon where Numerous tanks in the main information in our “why-we- they feed the resident snook, building hold a variety of sea didn’t-bring-the-big-one-home- tarpon and redfish every day creatures such as hermit crabs excuse” mental fishing files. from Mark’s son-in-law, who is a and sea horses. One whole wall is As I write this we are back in registered fishing guide in the covered with mounted sport fish McCarthy with two feet of snow Daytona Beach area. The Center that had been caught by WWII on the ground, looking forward also features a twice-daily pro- era singing star Frances Lang- to the Long Lake ice fishing der- gram talking about sting rays ford. Langford had once been by next month. Florida’s cold and then letting visitors actually married to Ralph Evinrude, pres- spell doesn’t seem nearly as cold feed them by hand. We enjoyed as it did when we were there! Personnel changes at WRST

Erica started her career as a area February 17th, flying in with he Wrangell-St. Elias seasonal at Lowell National His- Copper Valley Air Service, on National Park/Preserve torical Park in Massachusetts one of their weekly mail day T(WRST) has seen sever- after graduating from the Uni- flights. She spent a couple days al changes in personnel within versity of Massachusetts with a visiting her new district with the the last year. Last August park Bachelor of Arts in Earth and assistance of Stephens Harper. rangers Rich and Meghan Ri- Geographic Sciences. She also Erica will spend 6 months in chotte left WRST and moved to worked in Skagway at Klondike Kennecott and the other part of Lake Clark National Park where Gold Rush National Historical the year working out of the Cop- Rich is now employed. According Park. Before coming to WRST, per Center Visitor Center. Wel- to Superintendent Meg Jensen, she worked in Makawao, Hawaii, come, Erica! Meghan, who was an interpretive as a Supervisory Park Ranger in Another long-time ranger, ranger while at WRST, is now Interpretation at Haleakala Na- Tom Betts, who was with WRST enjoying her new role as stay-at- tional Park. for 11 years, left in May of 2009 home mom. The Richottes are In 2007 Erica graduated for a job at Bandelier National expecting their second child. from the Stephen F. Austin State Monument in Los Alamos, New Rich had been with WRST for University with a Masters of Sci- Mexico. approximately 13 years, says lo- ence in Resource Interpretation. Replacing Tom is Peter cal resident and Park Ranger Her studies and work has caused Christian who now serves as the Stephens Harper. Rich’s position her to see great potential for Chitina District Ranger/Pilot. has not yet been filled but substantial growth of curricu- He came to Alaska in 1992 from Meghan’s replacement is Erica lum-based educational programs the Washington D.C. area. He’s Edmonds who has just recently in parks. worked as a park ranger at Dena- come on board as the Kennecott Erica made her first trip to District Interpretive Ranger. li National Park then at the Kennecott and the McCarthy Gates of the Arctic National Park (continued on next page) PAGE 8 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 before coming to WRST in Au- ney has brought him to the WRST has also hired Carol gust of 2009. Earlier in February Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Hadley to serve as an Exhibit of this year, Peter accompanied Welcome, Peter! Specialist for further develop- Stephens to our local area. Both Former Program Manager for ment of exhibits for the General men first met while training to- Kennecott, Ken Hutchinson, is Store in Kennecott. This position gether years ago. now working as Facility Manager is temporary and expected to In an essay Peter wrote some at Glacier Bay National Park. He last 13 months. time ago, he stated:...”I appren- was accompanied by Michelle Stephens Harper is presently ticed myself to a career and a life Jesperson who served WSRT as taking job applications for an that I wanted more badly than I an archeologist. area ranger is assist him. This can possibly describe in so short will be a permanent 6-month an essay.” And, so, Peter’s jour- position. McCarthy-Kennicott Historical Museum newsletter

the 20s and 30s, which includes of McCarthy Creek. Other Board Dear Members, Neighbors, a knife found on Mt. Blackburn members are Neil Darish, Meg and Friends: from Dora Keen’s expedition. Hunt, Janet Hegland Weaver, It has been some time since Look forward to a new McCarthy and Dick Anderson. you heard from the Museum in walking tour, with a draft ready Many thanks for everything McCarthy; be reassured that we for your review Memorial Day to Dianne Milliard, outgoing are alive and well! As an all-vol- 2010 when open for the summer. Board member and past volun- unteer organization, we do get I am also hoping for volunteers teer extraordinaire; she has left behind sometimes. to help with a 2011 celebration us some interesting research on honoring the centennial of the The best news of this past Dora Keen, the woman who CR&NW RR arrival to McCarthy. season has been Patt Garrett. In made the first ascent of Mt. If you want to be involved in the her seven weeks as our Museum Blackburn, which sits at the walking tour or the anniversary Volunteer, Patt not only cleaned head of our valley. Here is what celebration, please email me at and dusted but also made a host Dianne wrote: [email protected]” of improvements to our displays; It’s no secret that our valley she reframed the Kate Kennedy At this year’s Annual Meeting is rich in history. For most peo- papers and refurbished a dilapi- we welcomed new Board mem- ple, that history means Kenne- dated display case, turning it bers John Rice and Colin War- cott – a story of powerful men, into a new women’s display in ren. John and his wife Barbara, big corporations and fabulous the McCarthy Room. Patt made who winter in St. Louis, have a riches. But there’s a lot more to a good start at updating the Mc- cottage on the west side of the our history than just the story of Carthy Walking Tour, chatted Kennicott River, lovingly built in rich and powerful men and the with every old-timer in town and the style of the Kennecott build- places they made famous. There an untold number of visitors. ings. Colin is spending more and are also the stories of lesser Fortunately, Patt plans to return more time in McCarthy and known men and women with ex- to McCarthy for another summer seems to be settling in; his com- traordinary spirit, a spirit that to be our Docent, which is in- puter skills will be most helpful lives on with us here today. deed cause for celebration. to us—look for a website soon! One of the best-loved and At the subsequent Board meet- Patt writes, “Thank you to most prominent landmarks in ing we elected a new President: the entire community of McCa- the valley is 16,390 ft. Mt. Black- Sunny Cook is a regular summer rthy for all the support this sum- burn. This mountain was resident with a wealth of experi- mer. I enjoyed being the climbed for the first time in ence in non-profit organizations. ‘volunteer’ and plan to return. I 1912. The expedition that She and husband Bob have a am hoping to continue the new climbed it came from our valley, summer cabin on the south side display on women of McCarthy in traveling up the Kennicott Gla- WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 PAGE 9 cier. No one has successfully offered to try again with her. Do- due to illness, but George and climbed it from this side since. ra said “I was going again be- Dora made it to the south sum- Even more extraordinary, the cause I had need of courage and mit on May 19, 1912. They spent leader of this expedition was a inspiration and because on the 33 days on the mountain alto- middle aged woman who had high mountains I find them as gether, with 22 nights spent in never even been camping a year no where else.” She started back snow caves. before the trip! This extraordi- to McCarthy in April of 1912. On Dora’s expeditions estab- nary woman was Dora Keen. her way, she recruited a German lished a lot of firsts in Alaskan Dora was a society girl from climber named George Handy in climbing, ways of overcoming Philadelphia, graduating from Cordova, since the McCarthy obstacles that became standards Bryn Mawr College in 1896. She men had no alpine climbing ex- for Alaskan climbers. She was became a world traveler and perience. the first to use sled dogs to magazine correspondent, who Spring came early that year, make the approach to a remote enjoyed climbing mountains as a making conditions for travel mountain, the first to travel at hobby. She climbed mountains quite difficult. They traveled up night to take advantage of a bet- on 3 continents, including the glacier by dogsled, carrying a ter surface, and the first to use 15,781 ft. Mt. Blanc in Europe ton of supplies and outfit. The snow caves. Although she at- and 20,561 ft. Mt. Chimborazo sloppy snow conditions made tempted to return to her in Ecuador. While on a brown night travel a necessity, starting “normal” life after her climb, she bear hunting expedition in the each day at 3:30 AM when the and George had fallen in love Kenai, she read about the soon- snow had a good crust. Major with both the country and each to-be-finished Copper River & storms and avalanches caused other. Dora returned to marry Northwestern Railway and the them to turn back on their first George Handy and live in McCa- massive Wrangell Mountains, attempt, although they tried to rthy in 1916. and began to dream of the possi- wait out the weather for 3 days We hope you will renew your bility of an expedition to climb in a tiny snow cave halfway up membership in the Museum or there once the railway was fin- the mountain. They returned to join us if you haven’t already. We ished. wet tents and sleeping bags due rely on the generosity of our In August of 1911, Dora to the carelessness of the man friends, people from all over who made her first attempt to climb left in charge of base camp. As feel a connection to this place Mt. Blackburn. She came to Mc- the snowstorms continued, most and its history. Please see the Carthy and hired a number of of the local men deserted the form in this newsletter. local men for her climbing party, expedition. Our best wishes to all! including John Barrett, the Eventually, the only climbers Meg Hunt, outgoing President founder of McCarthy, and R.J. left were Dora, George Handy To renew your membership McClellan, leader of the party of and a miner named Bill Lang. or become a member of the Mu- prospectors that originally dis- They waited out the series of seum, please choose the follow- covered the Kennecott claims. storms, spending another 10 ing options: Although they made a valiant days in a snow cave due to severe attempt, avalanches and lack of avalanches. When the weather Student, (non-voting) $10; supplies prevented them from finally cleared, it was a different Individual, $15 annually; Family, making much progress up the world, with 20 feet of new snow. $20 annually; Supporting, $100 mountain and they turned back This time progress was swift, as annually; Sustaining, $200 annu- in defeat. they traveled very light, only tak- ally; Life, $500. Over the winter, Dora could ing one sleeping bag between Please mail to: McCarthy- not forget the mountain or the them the final 2 days, depending Kennicott Historical Museum, majestic country she had trav- on snow caves. Bill Lang turned PO Box MXY, Glennallen, AK. eled. She contacted Barrett, who back just 500 feet from the top 99588. PAGE 10 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 Friends of Kennicott newsletter

Dear Friend of Kennicott: As a first step, Friends of Thank you from the Friends After a several year period of Kennicott is transferring non- of Kennicott Board of Directors relative quiet, while we focused NPS Recreation Hall manage- Highlights of Friends of mostly on the Recreation Hall, ment to the Wrangell Mountains Kennicott history, activities Friends of Kennicott is springing Center (WMC). With year- and accomplishments: back to life with a renewed pur- around staffing, the WMC can Before 1988: McCarthy land- pose and energy. We are now work more actively with the com- owners and businesses, miners, broadening our horizons to bet- munity and the NPS on day-to- historical preservation advo- ter serve our original Mission day Recreation Hall operations, cates, and conservationists Statement: including marketing and facili- brainstorm how to protect Friends of Kennicott is a lo- tating increased community use. Kennicott’s deteriorating build- cally-based organization estab- With this transition, Friends of ings. Kennicott will devote more ener- lished to assist the National Park 1988-1989: Friends of Kenni- gy to tracking overall stabiliza- Service’s efforts in preserving cott, Historic Preservation Fund, tion efforts and working with the and managing the historic re- formed to support emergency NPS, local community, and state- sources of the Kennecott Mines stabilization of historic buildings wide and national organizations National Historic Landmark in a in the Kennicott Mill site and interested in mining history to way that maintains the character eventual NPS acquisition. Alaska implement the light of Kennicott and McCarthy for Legislature passes resolution in touch/partnership vision that the visiting public and residents favor of NPS acquisition of the provided the consensus founda- alike. Kennicott Mill site. tion for NPS acquisition. Friends of Kennicott is revis- 1990: Friends of Kennicott Getting Involved iting its core purposes, including officially chartered with the fol- 1) enhancing connections be- The Friends of Kennicott lowing Mission: “to preserve, re- tween the McCarthy/Kennicott Board of Directors is composed store and render available to the community and the National of a combination of old and new public the historic mine building Landmark, 2) helping maintain members, including: Kelly Bay, located at Kennecott.” Kennicott Kennicott’s ghost town charac- Neil Darish, Sally Gibert, Mary named to the National Trust for ter in the context of a thriving Grisco, Ben Shaine, Jessica Historic Preservation’s “List of bush community, and 3) facili- Speed, and Doreen Sullivan. We America’s Most 11 Endangered tating other non-profit partner- are seeking to further expand Historic Places.” Joseph Sax ship opportunities with the the Board. If you wish to join report: Keeping Special Places National Park Service. this effort, please contact any Special: McCarthy, Kennicott and This reawakening is timely: existing board member or send Wrangell-St. Elias National Park The NPS recently put the finish- an email to [email protected]. – A Great Challenge, A Unique ing touches on several restored With this letter we are also Opportunity. structures, including the Gener- updating our membership base 1992: Both Congress and the al Manager’s Office and the Na- and mailing list. If you want to Alaska Legislature appropriate tional Creek Trestle; the know what Friends is doing funding for emergency stabiliza- Recreation Hall is in need of and/or have the opportunity to tion. NPS and Friends of Kenni- more active management to re- participate in future discussions, cott agree on pre-acquisition spond to increasing demand; and please return the reply stub with construction priorities under a other non-profits have expressed your membership donation and Friends contractor. NPS begins an interest in partnering with contact information. [Editor’s asbestos clean-up with funding the NPS on other projects at note: See information at the end from Kennecott Copper Corpora- Kennicott. of this article.] tion. WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 PAGE 11 1993: Friends of Kennicott 1998: NPS acquires Kenne- agement of Recreation Hall in receives two national awards: cott Mines National Historic partnership with NPS. “Take Pride in America,” and a Landmark with dedicated appro- If you want to be a Friend of Department of the Interior priation. Kennicott, please choose the “Volunteer Service Award.” 1999-2000: Reports and Contribution/Membership Levels 1994: Prepared “A Proposal Plans: Partnership Management and make your checks payable to for Ownership & Management of Strategy prepared for Friends, Friends of Kennicott and send the Kennicott Property: Protecting NPS and State Office of History & to: Friends, PO Box 241362, An- the Cultural and Natural Heritage Archeology, June 1999. NPS In- chorage, AK. 99524. Friends of of Alaska’s Wrangell-Saint Elias terim Management Plan (2000), Kennicott, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) National Park.” and Vision 2000 (Mike Loso). tax exempt organization. 1995-1997: Acquisition dis- Friends adopts new Mission Silk Stocking Row, $50; Bo- cussions ramp up with additional Statement. nanza Mine, $250; assistance from The Conserva- 2002 to present: Recreation McCarthy/Kennicott residents tion Fund. Friends of Kennicott Hall completed with matching and landowners, $15; Mill Build- receives a national Partnership funds from Rasmuson Founda- ing, $100; Jumbo Mine, $500. Leadership Award. tion and others. Launch co-man- A winter “Mail Day”—McCarthy style

(continued from the cover) Others prefer skiis while a few Heater gives a slight source of and by mail day, Feb. 26, those prefer a nice, warm truck. heat for those cold fingers that of us who showed up for mail Summer population swells need a warm-up after handling discovered a fully-constructed and instead of half a dozen peo- letters, magazines and cata- building ready for its first bag ple (or sometimes less) attend- logs. Larger incoming boxes of U. S. mail! ing a winter mail day, a are stacked underneath the The mail plane often brings summer mail day may see 20- sorting table and the smaller us passengers. On Feb. 17th of 30 folks turn out. ones on top. Most of the par- this year, Erica Edmonds, a new Extremely cold tempera- cels are gone by the next mail park ranger for the Wrangell-St. tures in the morning at the day with respective owners Elias National Park arrived to time of the mail plane’s arrival picking them up during the take a winter look at Kennecott. (11:00 a.m.) can discourage warmer part of the day. This was her first trip to our otherwise interested mail day The present mail shack was town and she came with plenty participants in traveling to the built after high winds leveled of warm gear, including a pair of “mail shack,” as it is called. our former building. Winds es- skis. She was met by local resi- dent and, park ranger, Stephens Our small one-room build- timated near 100 miles an hour on Dec. 22, 1996, left mail Harper. Arriving on a Wednesday ing which houses our nearly 90 enabled her to spend a couple small or large wooden boxes, scattered for some distance and the need for a new build- days in the area and then return affixed on two walls, can easily on the Friday mail plane back to ing. The Department of Trans- fill up with incoming boxes of Glennallen. mail order items, groceries portation was kind enough to supply enough building materi- I hope you enjoyed taking a from Glennallen, and the 3 or 4 peek into a special part of als for a new mail shack. About mail sorters who are usually McCarthy’s routine—our winter the only thing reusable from bundled up in their bulky win- mail days. If you are privileged to the original building was the ter garb. A sorting bench lines get mail delivered to your door- one of the longer walls. A 20 lb. floor. All four walls and the roof step, you may want to stop and propane tank topped with a Mr. were extensively damaged. Lo- count your blessings. cal volunteers were rounded up PAGE 12 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 Nabesna Mine Site community fact sheet

environmental contamination and tailings was completed through n August 2009, the Na- transport mechanisms. These data visual observations and field tional Park Service (NPS) were collected through the instal- screening of metals in surface Iundertook environmental lation and sampling of eight moni- soils at approximately 230 loca- sampling of the Nabesna Mine toring wells. In the process of tions. Site (Site), located at the end of drilling the monitoring wells, soil This information will be used the Nabesna Road in Wrangell- borings were taken. These bore- in the assessment of site condi- St. Elias National Park and Pre- holes provided information regard- tions, risk to human health and ing the relationship between serve (WRST). This Supplemen- ecological receptors, regulatory subsurface geology and permafrost tal Site Investigation (SSI) was compliance, and cleanup alterna- on groundwater and surface water. conducted to address data gaps tives. The results will be incorpo- The SSI included sampling of sur- rated into an EE/CA Report that and update existing Site infor- face water and sediment at 23 lo- will be made available to the pub- mation for characterization of cations. The Site is located in an lic upon completion (anticipated the Site, to facilitate the evalua- area with naturally occurring met- to be fall 2010 or later). tion of human and ecological al-rich soils. Hence it required a FOR MORE INFORMATION risks at the Site, and to support thorough examination of the back- If you have questions concern- the development and evaluation ground characteristics of soil, sed- ing the field work or any aspect of of Site cleanup alternatives. iment, and surface water in order the Nabesna Mine Site EE/CA, to establish Site-specific back- The following activities were please contact Greg Nottingham ground concentrations for consid- conducted as components of the at (303) 415-1483 or Danny eration in the selection of Site 2009 SSI. Additional groundwater Rosenkrans at Park Headquarters cleanup goals. A delineation of the data were acquired to fully assess in Copper Center (907) 822-7240. Be snow smart

other states have drastically re- snow, trail, and activity report he North America Out- duced (by 50%) the number of through the Valley’s KBYR (99.7) door Institute (NAOI) is deaths from avalanches per year. radio station. This report includes Ta non-profit outdoor ed- NAOI also believes firmly that by winter trail conditions and ava- ucational organization located in bringing these courses to school lanche activity from Eureka to De- Wasilla, Alaska. Founded in 2004 age youth, we will mold a safer, nali State Park. You can tune into by concerned outdoor recreation- more educated generation of out- this report every Wednesday ists, NAOI provides outdoor safety door enthusiasts. NAOI also pres- through Friday for updated trail courses to the general public in an ents a Be Summer Smart series information. effort to decrease the number of focused on decreasing the number To learn more about NAOI, backcountry accidents and deaths of accidents and injuries related visit their website at in the state of Alaska. NAOI’s pri- around outdoor activities like besnowsmart.com mary foundation are avalanche backpacking, climbing, and water Dorothy, a McCarthy resident, courses ranging from 90 minute sports. will be teaching a 9-day Wilderness school-based programs through For the past several years, First Responder Course in mid- multi-day avalanche certification. NAOI has brought their courses May and offering a WFR recertifi- Our goal is to provide skiers, on the road, providing educational cation at the end of May. This is snowboarders, snowmachiners, opportunities all over the state. the second year in a row Dorothy and outdoor lovers with the tools Experiential based classes include has made these courses available and knowledge to travel safely and hands-on scenarios, practice with in McCarthy. If you are interested wisely in the backcountry; in an avalanche safety gear, wilderness in either course, you may contact effort to prevent deaths from ava- medical courses, and basic back- her at: lanches and other backcountry country travel awareness clinics. [email protected] fatalities. Programs like this in Locally, NAOI broadcasts a weekly WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 PAGE 13 Good News from the Wrangells

ately display this evidence, along The museum is also the only ach January since 2008 with sustained excavations and oth- site on earth where all Old Testa- Bonnie and I have trav- er areas of scientific research for ment books in scroll form are at one Eeled to the Ft. Worth, creation. location. These scrolls, of course, Texas area to attend the annual Pas- One of the featured exhibits is are not the originals as written by tors Conference at Eagle Mountain, known as the Alvis Delk Cretaceous the prophets. However, the Jewish ministry headquarters for Kenneth Footprint. This fossil of dense Glen scribes consider each hand-written Copeland Ministries. This year we Rose limestone consists of a Dino- scroll to be an “original” correct were joined by Steve and Tonia Alex- saur footprint (Acrocanthosaurus) copy of the Scriptures. Some of the ander, who have a cabin on the Laki- and an eleven-inch human footprint scrolls on display are over 700 years na River near Long Lake and who intruded by the dinosaur print. old. Seeing an actual scroll of the pastor Word of Faith Assembly in In early July, 2000, Alvis Delk, book of Isaiah helped me to better Wasilla, as well as Keith and Nola assisted by James Bishop (both of visualize the passage found in the Kurber, who pastor Abundant Life Stephenville, Texas), was working in Bible in Luke chapter 4: Church, also in Wasilla. We all the Cretaceous limestone on the He came to Nazareth where he stayed at a B&B in a rural area not McFall property at the Paluxy River had been reared. As he always did far from Eagle Mountain, and had a near Glen Rose, Texas, and discov- on the Sabbath, he went to the wonderful time together. ered a pristine human footprint in- meeting place. When he stood up to One of the things Bonnie and I truded by a dinosaur footprint. The read, he was handed the scroll of have wanted to do but have been eleven-inch human footprint match- the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the unable in prior years is to visit the es seven other such footprints of the scroll, he found the place where it Creation Evidence Museum, which same dimensions in the “Sir George was written, God's Spirit is on me; is only a few hour trip by automobile Series,” named in honor of His Ex- he's chosen me to preach the Mes- from Ft. Worth. This year we were cellency Governor General Ratu Sir sage of good news to the poor, Sent able to make the trip to Glen Rose, George Cacobau of Fiji. me to announce pardon to prisoners Texas, located in what is called The fossil was transported to a and recovery of sight to the blind, “dinosaur valley,” home of the Mu- professional laboratory where 800 To set the burdened and battered seum. X-rays were performed in a CT Scan free, to announce, “This is God's The rural road winding its way procedure. Laboratory technicians year to act!” He rolled up the scroll, to the museum, past yard signs verified compression and distribu- handed it back to the assistant, and reading “fossils for sale” was the tion features clearly seen in both sat down. Every eye in the place was first hint that this may not be one of prints, human and dinosaur. This on him, intent. Then he started in, those multi-million dollar chrome- removes any possibility that the “You’ve just heard Scripture make and-glass affairs we had heard prints were carved or altered. history. It came true just now in this place.” (Luke 4:16-21 Message) about. When we arrived, we learned Although Bonnie and I saw this the museum is indeed funded solely and other exhibits, it wasn’t until The riverbed where many of the by donations and a modest $2 per we returned home that we appreci- displays at the museum originated person entry fee. The building is ated the importance of what we had is now home to the Dinosaur Valley actually quite large and a second seen. State Park, a scenic park set astride the Paluxy River and located just story balcony appears to be ready Talking with a good friend who northwest of Glen Rose. Dinosaur for future expansion. is a geologist, he told me that proof Valley State Park is said to contain The museum’s Founder and of dinosaurs and humans existing at some of the best preserved dinosaur Director, Dr. Carl Baugh, originally the same time throws a huge obsta- tracks in the world. There are two came to Glen Rose, Texas, to criti- cle in the path of the Darwinian the- fiberglass models; a 70-foot Apato- cally examine claims of human and ory of evolution. saurus and a 45-foot Tyrannosaurus dinosaur co-habitation. He conduct- I suppose every school kid ed extensive excavations along the Rex. They were built, under commis- knows this now, but apparently evo- sion of the Sinclair Oil Company, Paluxy River. These original excava- lution teaches that dinosaurs were tions yielded human footprints New York World's Fair Dinosaur Ex- long gone millions of years before hibit of 1964-1965. among dinosaur footprints. He then men “evolved.” realized that a museum needed to be established in order to appropri- PAGE 14 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 THE McCARTHY WEEKLY NEWS 1919 March & April editions

RED CROSS W.M. Goodwin who has been stay- The Washington Birthday Dinner In the Commissioner's Court this ing with the O'Neills since the fire, has given by the Entertainment Commit- week Otto Gustafson was fined $25 now rented the cabin recently occu- tee for the Red Cross was even a great- and costs and Sport McAllister was pied by the Norman Ericksons and will er success than had been hoped for. sentenced to 30 days imprisonment for try his hand at batching for awhile. -o- Large numbers of people attended and violation of the bone dry law, upon Laurie Bros. store is closed for an enjoyable time was had by all. complaint of the Deputy U.S. Marshall. -o- business until such time as the Insur- After dinner, excellently cooked Mrs. Elizabeth Lubbe has been ance adjuster arrives. Their stock is in and served by the many aides, the com- appointed executrix in the Estate of a distressing condition and will take pany adjourned to the large pool hall Otto Lubbe, deceased, the transfer and some time to put in order. It is Sam of the hotel and speeches by J.H. Mur- lumber business will be conducted as Laurie's intention to take a trip East as ray, recitations by W.F. McKay and usual with Charles in charge. soon as he can arrange his affairs, and songs by Mrs. O'Neill, were enjoyed. SHUSHANNA NEWS purchase an entire new high class Dancing was indulged in till a late hour stock and up to date fixtures. with J.W. Nickell as floor manager, N.P.Nelson arrived from Shushan- -o- Frank Iverson being on the sick list. na with his dog team making the trip With all these new improvements Music was supplied by Mesdames in three days. He returns tomorrow demonstrating the fact that although O'Neill and Cole. with his outfit. our neighbours have suffered misfor- Among the Kennecott visitors The McCarthy Mercantile Co. has tune, they still feel justified in re-estab- were: Mr. and Mrs. Connor, Hersinger, been working overtime the past two lishing themselves in McCarthy. It is Huntington, Gruber, Walker, Messrs weeks putting up outfits for Shushan- up to the rest of us who have been so Prout, Erickson, Ben Jackson, Carl na. Seven tons this week and 8 tons fortunate as to be unharmed to rally Stattel, Dennis Brothers, Elkins, Fred last. together and boost. Erickson, Fagerberg, Rudelbach, Iver- Zeke Mullet is in with a fine lot of OBITUARY son. From Dan Creek, Max Klopfer, furs. Mrs. Anna Katherina Ketterer nee Cayouette. March 8 Gunther was born March 28, 1863 at In addition to the previous list of LATE NEWS OF FIRE Lehrbach, K. Alsfeld. Germany, came helpers, Mesdames Pete Johnson and SUFFERERS via Panama with her mother to Califor- Roberts, C. Kello and Sport McAllister nia at the age of 13 years, was married (Fire on Front St. March 7, 1919) assisted. We understand that the prof- in Oakland California Nov. 13, 1879. The Alaskan Billiard Hall propri- its will be over $350. Was business partner at Hansi -o- etors sustained quite a loss during the House, Oakland Point Grocery 28 and Quite a fire scare on Wednesday fire. In removing the handsome mar- Linden, Oakland and 16 years at North morning when the house over the well ble soda fountain to a place of safety, Beach Hotel. She came to Nome 1900 at Millsaps caught fire. it was cracked in half, a damage of till 1913 & to McCarthy April 1914 Immediate action with the chemi- $400. where she lived till her death. cal engines soon overcame the flames It is Mr. Chong's intention to re- She was blessed with 5 children of and all the house will need is a new build immediately, and plans are being whom 2 died as infants and 3 sons lining. drawn for a restaurant 24 by 30 a survive, Herman Ketterer, Kennecott, March 1 single story building for the present. Andrew Ketterer Jr., Mendocino, Calif. He has sent outside for restaurant LATE NEWS and A. J. Ketterer, Los Angeles. Two equipment and expects the building to The latest reports from the Hospi- brothers and a sister reside in Califor- be ready for its arrival. tal state that Mrs. Ketterer is in a very nia, Jno Gunther, San Francisco. Har- critical condition. The injuries she Charley is one of our oldest resi- ry Wolf, Ukiah, Co. and Widow Helena received were terrible. dents and has done so many good turns Kerchner, Alameda. for so many of the boys that they would She was a good mother and a faith- like him to have a building bee when ful wife whose only wish was to see her Johnny Nickell fell from the roof of his building could be erected in record boys grown to manhood. She did her one of the burning buildings yesterday time. They are all anxious to taste duty faithfully and all her reward was and is pretty much on the sick list. Charley's cooking again. -o- WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 PAGE 15 hard work from childhood until her Jimmy Dennis tram expert, from March 29 terrible end. Kennecott, adjusted the Mother Lode McCarthy tram this week. March 15 The Buckle of the Copper Belt, JACK LAURIE RETURNS ANNOUNCEMENT one of the coming cities of Alaska, We are indeed glad to welcome Yesterday's mail brought an- situated on the Copper River and back our townsman Jack E. Laurie, nouncements of the marriage of Ralph Northwestern Railroad, 191 miles in- who arrived from Fort Liscum yester- P Rothe to Miss Lillian B. Brandt at the land from Cordova, between Kennecott day in full uniform with badge of hon- home of her parents Mr. and Mrs. Wm. and McCarthy Creeks. The junction of orable discharge. J. Brandt, 4727, 40th Ave. S. W. Seat- Chisana, Nizina, Dan, Chititu and Since his departure last October tle on March 1st, 1919. Young Creeks, Head of Chitina and 1st, he has had much experience of This intrepid young bride-groom Chittistone. Original townsite located army life, but is glad to be back. His whose last voyage from the interior was by John E. Barrett, whose homestead family has had a run of bad luck all made by boat from Long Lake to Cor- adjoins. winter with sickness and fire. but now dova has made many hazardous jour- The Kennecott Copper Corpora- everything will surely take a turn for neys over these mountains, and now he tion operates the largest copper mine the better. Meanwhile there is great has embarked upon the matrimonial in the world five miles away. A fifteen rejoicing in the house of Laurie, in sea. We send along our heartiest con- mile run by automobile brings you to which all their friends join. gratulations and good wishes to the the Mother Lode mines, an extensive John E. Barrett left this week on a happy pair. property now employing upwards of 50 business trip to Seattle and their cities March 22 men, and with untold wealth of ore in on the Pacific coast. He will be absent RELIEF CABINS APPRECIATED sight. The power plant and warehouse about two months, purchasing sup- of the Mother Lode are located in Mc- C.A. Simons, who has been in the Carthy. plies and machinery for his mining mercantile business in Chisana for four The Green Group, which is 5 miles property. years without a vacation is spending a nearer town, is steadily forging ahead Frank Barrett is down from the week or so in our city. This is the first as a big producer. Green Group and will spend a vacation time he has seen the railroad for four in town. years and made it his business to meet A resident United States Commis- -o- the train and renew his acquaintance sioner is stationed here also Deputy On account of delays in settlement with it this week. He has enjoyed his Marshall. Fine school buildings and of loss, Charley Chong will not rebuild first movie show for ten years, and has twenty scholars. Fourth class post of- at present, but will lease the Golden already become an enthusiastic movie fice and money order office. Up to date Cafe for a year. fan. His trip out from the diggings was stores which carry stocks comparing TRAIL NEWS an interesting one. In company with favorably with any in Alaska. Restau- C.A. Simons, the Shushanna mer- Jim Dolan who was driving dogs, Si- rants which serve a better meal for 75 chant arrived in town yesterday with mons set out with his sled and pony, cents than you can get on the coast for Murie. He had a perilous journey over Blue, March 8th. A good trail to the $1.00. A Movie Show every Sunday Russell Glacier, his face and hands White River made easy going but from evening with all the film favorites. An were frostbitten in a storm. there to the Russell Glacier was all active organization of the Arctic -o- rocks. A storm overtook them on the Brotherhood, whose fine hall 36 x 75 is The Mother Lode Mine has been Russell and had it not been for the in constant demand for social gather- shut down during the past week on relief cabins erected this fall, he might ings. The McCarthy Commercial Club account of lack of oil. The boys took a have suffered considerable, as it was has full membership and a live execu- trip to town on the strength of it and the horse could not make it and had to tive committee. The local Red Cross had an enjoyable vacation. They re- be killed and Mr Simons suffered frost- Chapter has a membership list of 100 turned to the hill this morning making bite on his hands. Resuming their jour- per cent of the population, and an the trip with Charley Lubbe driving ney in a few days when clear weather excellent record. tours on the big bob sleigh. Bill God- came, they met Murie at the foot of the There is plenty of room for hun- frey on the box seat accompanied by Nizina Glacier and come into town dreds of new residents for whom there their new mascot "Mike" an Airedale with him. are many business chances & open- just purchased from the Hubrick ken- McCarthy looks like a real live ings. There is a grand opportunity for nels to replace "Rawhide" who has tak- town to the Chisana mercantile and he a first class dentist. Buy a ticket for en a trip to Shushanna. About twenty says he is sure enjoying his visit. He McCarthy and give it the "once over". of the boys were passengers for the looks forward to a successful season in April 12 drive in the sunshine. the diggings this year as there has already been a great deal of travel and there will be much more when spring comes. PAGE 16 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 Bitter weather may have wiped out reindeer

assistant Jim Whisenhant in Nebraska, and Walsh, chief sci- ix thousand reindeer 1957. They noted that the herd entist at UAF’s International once lived on a remote of 29 reindeer had increased to Arctic Research Center, dug up Sisland in the Bering more than 1,300 animals. weather records from the near- Sea that was briefly their para- Klein returned to the hard- est official weather station to St. dise. In what has become a clas- to-reach island six years later. He Matthew. That station is located sic story of wildlife boom and could hardly believe how many 200 miles south on St. Paul Is- bust, no reindeer live on St. Mat- reindeer were there. land. The scientists pored over a thew Island now. Three scientists “We counted 6,000 of them,” reanalysis of area weather vari- just looked back at the St. Klein said in a 2003 interview. ables provided by the National Matthew’s reindeer herd and “They were really hammering the Centers for Environmental Pre- found that an extreme winter lichens.” diction. probably pushed the stressed The scene, with its 47 rein- They found—and described animals to their deaths. deer per square mile, foreshad- in an article in the November/ The story began in August owed a crash ahead. That’s what December 2009 issue of the 1944, when the U.S. Coast Klein found on a return to the magazine Weatherwise—that the Guard corralled 29 Nunivak Is- island in the summer of 1966. In winter of 1963-1964 was one of land reindeer on a barge and the three years since his last vis- the most extreme on record in floated the animals north to St. it, the herd of 6,000 had shrunk the northern Bering Sea. Matthew Island, more than 200 to 42, a number that included During February and March miles away and one of the most only one male that had abnormal 1964, the reindeer experienced remote places in Alaska. Coast antlers and probably was unable almost constant windstorms, the Guard officials had earlier in the to reproduce. Reindeer skeletons nastiest of which featured an year placed a radio navigational littered the tundra. atmospheric pressure typical of a system on the island, along with The herd had busted. During Category 3 hurricane. Blasting 19 men. The reindeer were in- the next decade or so, all the northerly winds combined with tended as a roaming food source reindeer of St. Matthew Island below-zero air temperatures to should the men be cut off from died off; the largest mammal create wind chills below minus supply shipments. there now is the arctic fox. 40 degrees Fahrenheit for a week straight in early February, and a The men never shot a single Klein found the story so in- low wind chill reading of minus reindeer; the Allies were winning triguing that he mentioned it 71.5 degrees Fahrenheit on the war, and the Coast Guard often over the years in conversa- March 13, 1964, when the air pulled its men from the island. tions about the Bering Sea. Re- temperature was minus 34 de- They left the reindeer. cently, he shared his thoughts grees and the wind blew 30 mph. This was a fine situation for with two climatologists; he sus- the animals at first—their only pected that an extreme winter Perhaps even more damaging predators had disappeared, leav- might have forced the stressed to the reindeer were record ing them on a 32-mile long, four- population of reindeer to the amounts of snow. St. Paul, Alas- mile wide island rich with their brink. Soon, Martha Shulski and ka received 140 inches of snow favorite food, lichen. John Walsh were helping Klein during the 1963-1964 season. Biologist Dave Klein first reconstruct the events of the “The higher snow depths and stepped on the island in 1957, extraordinarily harsh winter of hard crusts on the snowpack . . . 13 years after the Coast Guard 1963 to 1964. meant the reindeer were virtual- had abandoned it. Klein, 82, now Shulski, a former Alaska cli- ly prevented from obtaining any a professor emeritus for the Uni- matologist who is now director of their already depleted food versity of Alaska Fairbanks’ Insti- of the High Plains Regional Cli- resources,” the scientists wrote tute of Arctic Biology, hiked the mate Center at the University of in Weatherwise. They concluded length of the island with field that only 42 reindeer survived WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 PAGE 17 the storm. When Klein examined Klein some closure on a mystery St. Matthew reindeer he gave at the skeletal remains during his he had pondered since he visited the 2009 Fall Meeting of the 1966 visit, he saw that the bones the island in the late 1960s, and American Geophysical Union in of fetal reindeer nestled within all three scientists now appreci- San Francisco. the bones of their mothers re- ate the vulnerability of some This column is provided as a vealed that “most of the preg- groups of animals. public service by the Geophysical nant females had died about the “In isolated or fractured envi- Institute, University of Alaska time of the storms or shortly ronments, wildlife populations Fairbanks, in cooperation with thereafter.” can be extinguished by severe the UAF research community. The reconstruction of ex- weather events,” John Walsh Ned Rozell is a science writer at treme weather events has given said in a presentation about the the institute. Book review—Little People Little Patriots Saving America One Child at a Time

and the great end of society, free people ought... to be ittle People Little would absolutely vacate such armed...” Patriots—Saving renunciation; the right to free- Interested in what our found- LAmerica One Child at a dom being the gift of God Al- ers thought about the size of Time by Steve Brezenski is a mighty, it is not in the power of government? Chapter 44 is book based on a principle that Man to alienate this gift, and called Small Government. “I am has become foreign to many voluntarily become a slave.” for a government rigorously fru- Americans; the idea that a Chapter two, called Govern- gal and simple.”—Thomas Jeffer- child’s future is the responsibili- ment gets its power from the peo- son. ty of the parents rather than the ple opens with this statement Chapter titles are quite de- state. from the Declaration of Indepen- scriptive. Chapter 10, for in- “...we as parents are our dence, “That to secure these stance, is called, “American children’s first and most effec- rights, governments are institut- citizens must mingle and discuss tive teachers,” writes Brezenski. ed among men, deriving the just these issues.” “What better place for a child to power from the consent of the I enjoyed the chapters that learn to love her country than on governed.” talk about the history of patriot- her daddy’s knee?” Much of the tone of the book ic songs. America the Beautiful The book has 52 chapters— can be understood from the title is included as well as the Nation- each a discussion concerning the of Brezenski’s sixth chapter, Our al Anthem. founding principles and philoso- founders believed their work was The book is available online phies of our nation. Much of the inspired of God. from Authorhouse® at material is quoted from those While the book is not diffi- http://www.authorhouse.com/B who founded our nation. cult reading, it is laid out in a ookStore/ItemDetail.aspx?booki In chapter one, called We fashion that makes it particular- d=65518 . hold these truths to be self evi- ly useful for browsing. You can choose from an elec- dent, I found this encouraging Want to know more about tronic book (PDF format, quote of John Adams. “If men early thinking on the subject of $3.95), Paperback ($9.95) or through fear, fraud or mistake, firearms? Turn to chapter 39 Dust Jacket Hardcover ($15.99). should in terms renounce and where you find such gems as this I also found the book at give up any essential natural one by George Washington, “A www.amazon.com for $12.99 and right, the eternal law of reason eligible for free shipping. PAGE 18 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010

The McCarthy Mercantile will no longer be open for business effective immediately.

We would like to thank our patrons for their support over the last 4 years.

Kurt, Peggy and Kelsey Smith

Affordable advertising in the area’s premier Visitor Guide. Covers the entire Copper River Valley. Contact Kenyon Services (907)554-4454 [email protected] Call now for the “early bird” discount! WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 PAGE 19

"Be not intimidated...nor suffer yourselves COPPER RIVER to be wheedled out of your liberties by any pretense of politeness, delicacy, or decency. RECORD These, as they are often used, are but three different names for Community Newspaper hypocrisy, chicanery and cowardice." for the Copper Valley ~ John Adams (1765) Subscribe * Advertise * Contribute! A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law P.O. Box 277 Glennallen, AK 99588

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Valdez Realty stress-free “The Dirt Merchant” holiday Cor. EGAN & HAZLET Shopping WALTER M. WOOD - BROKER P.O. BOX 868 This season, get fabulous gifts for everyone on (907)835-2408 VALDEZ, AK 99686 your list...all from the comfort of your home. Just call me [email protected] or visit my Web site. You’ll find pampering products, fragrances and more at your convenience! Invest in your own recreation lot at Mi. 27 McCarthy Tammy Rowland Hwy. 23 lots available in accessible small & large Independent Beauty Consultant parcels at Chokosna River Tracts. www.marykay.com/trowland1 Broker is Owner. (907) 581-5881 www.PropertyRightsResearch.org Sourdough Drilling Water Wells Julie Smithson, Researcher 213 Thorn Locust Lane Paul Barr Sourdough Drilling London, Ohio 43140-8844 PO Box 721 [email protected] Soldotna, AK 99669 740-857-1239 (voice/no fax) 907-262-5494 or cell 907-398-7898 PAGE 20 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010

The New Caribou Hotel Getting tired? Stop at the Caribou Hotel! The coffee pot’s always on!

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Call Us: 822-3375 Mile 188.5 Glenn Highway Box 276 Glennallen, AK 99588 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 PAGE 21 Scheduled Air Service from Anchorage to McCarthy with stopover in Gulkana!

Now you can leave Anchorage at 8:30 on Wednesday or Friday morning and arrive in Gulkana at 9:45, McCarthy at 11:00. Or, you can leave McCarthy at 11:15 and be back in Anchorage by 2:00pm the same day! (Leaves Gulkana at 12:45) This service is year around.

www.coppervalleyair.com Ellis Air Taxi, Inc. DBA Copper Valley Air Service, LLC Phone 822-4200 RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEPARTURES, ARRIVALS, CONNECTIONS. Ellis Air will not be responsible for damages resulting from the failure of flights to depart or arrive at times stated in this timetable, nor for errors herein, nor for failure to make connections Or toll-free 866-570-4200 to other airlines or of this company. Schedules are subject to change without notice. Schedules shown are based on expected flying times. Because weather and other factors may affect operat- Gulkana Airfield Box 234, Glennallen, AK 99588 ing conditions, departures and arrivals cannot be guaranteed.

HOMESTEAD SUPPLY

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Mile 115.5 Richardson Highway (Box 49) Glennallen PAGE 22 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010

ROWCON SERVICES Keith Rowland, Owner GENERAL CONTRACTOR Lifetime Alaskan McCarthy, Alaska 554-4498 Excavation & Gravel Products DEC-approved septics

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McCarthy WRANGELL MOUNTAIN TECHNICAL SERVICES Bed & Breakfast Providing Civil Engineering and Land Survey Services Cozy, quiet cabins, all with private bathrooms & showers. Pull into our Serving the Copper Basin and throughout Alaska conveniently located homestead on the McCarthy Road, ½ mile from the Kennicott On-Site Water and Wastewater Designs River footbridge. Engineering Consultation Residential Home Inspections Construction Inspection and Management As-built Surveys, Boundary Surveys, Sub- divisions, Construction Surveys

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We’ve Been A Part Of The Local Scenery Wells Fargo was one of the Since 1852® first companies to do business around here. So, you might say we’ve grown up together. Thanks for all your support over the years. Glennallen Team Mile 187.5 Glenn Highway

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CALLING ALL FISHERFOLK! The 7th annual Long Lake Ice-Fishing Derby is once again in the plotting and planning stages, says Grand Marshall Jim Kreblin who pioneered this fine sporting event. Jim says it’s time to locate our special ice-fishing rods after a year of inactivity, sharpen our hooks and make certain our reels are properly oiled, and, then, of course, find the ice augers —all by Saturday, March 20th. This year’s derby begins at 9 a.m. and runs to 3 p.m. According to Jim, there will be two parts to the derby — “winter” and “spring” portions. As you probably know (I had to be reminded), March 20th is the first day of spring. which officially begins 9:32 a.m. So, Jim says that the first 32 minutes of the derby are designated winter’s time slot. Beginning at 9:32 a.m., we fisherfolk will find ourselves fishing the “spring” portion of the derby. Prizes will be given in each portion. Mark Vail’s delicious homemade chili and roasted hot dogs over a bon fire will, once again, be served on the ice. Homemade cookies are also a welcome addition to lunch, Jim says. (I take that to be a hint, ladies!) Even if you aren’t an avid fisherman, you are welcome to try your hand at “drilling in the nation’s largest national park” —drilling holes in the ice for those of us who are, that is, and there will be ice bowling. Make sure you include lures or bait that will attract the Dolly Varden, Rainbow Trout or, just maybe, those illusive Lake Trout. Please direct all questions concerning the upcoming derby and ice conditions to Jim at 554-4434. See ya on the ice!

of McCarthy

formerly

w Private cabins for 2 to 4. w Convenient access by automobile. w Historic homestead setting. Enjoy Alaskan bush living. w Quiet, Peaceful location away from the crowds! Phone (907)554-4454 or Email [email protected] See us on the WEB at http://mccarthy-kennicott.com/WSENBB.htm WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 PAGE 25 Cooking with Peggy at their wonderful recipes, and Now, readers, if you’ll remem- appy New Year every- perhaps taste their products for ber, I introduced you to Kyan Kirby one! And because I’m yourself. I’m the lucky one in that a couple of issues ago with her rec- Hwriting this before the I can pick up what I need in both ipe for Banana Pudding. She‘s a Super Bowl I can wish Valdez and Homer when I’m in retired teacher from Texas and you all luck with the team you Alaska as well as in Corvallis, Ore- was visiting friends in McCarthy want to win. Since the holidays are gon, when I go to visit my nephew. this summer. She emailed me a just over you’ve probably had all Here in Tucson, I just go online month or so ago with her recipe for the food you can eat and don’t and order. SUMMER SAUSAGE. Bonnie and even want to think about it Since this page is supposed to Rick have tried it already using but…..I want to bring a few reci- be filled with recipes let me be pre- moose meat and plan to make it pes to your attention that you sumptuous and include one of again when they get home from might want to put on your “to do” theirs so you can see how good it Florida. Here it is for all you sau- list. looks: sage eaters: First I want to tell you about a Darcey’s Cheesy TRIBAL KYAN’S SUMMER SAUSAGE company that I just found out MOOSE Meat Loaf 2 lbs. lean ground beef, venison or about recently. Christy from TRIB- 3 lbs. hamburger whatever AL MOOSE contacted me to let 1 tablespoon salt 2 tablespoons Morton’s Tender me know about their company and ¼ cup soy sauce Quick (see Note below) their products. She was nice ½ cup TRIBAL MOOSE all natural ¼ teaspoon granulated or pow- enough to send me a bottle of cranberry steak sauce dered garlic (Kyan uses granu- their Cranberry Barbeque sauce so lated and a little more) I could try it. I used their recipe ½ cup chopped onions 3 eggs ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper for chicken wings and put it out 1 tablespoon liquid smoke for one of the family gatherings at 3 slices of bread broken into small pieces 1 tablespoon mustard seed Christmas time. I had many re- ¾ cup water quests for “that wonderful sauce 4 slices of bacon chopped into Mix all well. Kyan uses her on the chicken.” The company was small pieces hands and kneads the mixture. originally started in Seward, Alas- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese Shape into rolls; roll in coarse ka, and is now currently located in In a large mixing bowl mix black pepper, wrap in foil or plas- Stayton, Oregon. The products are hamburger and all ingredients ex- tic. Refrigerate 24 hours. Remove carried in at least 30 Safeways all cept bacon and cheddar cheese. wrapper, place on wire rack or over Alaska and in various markets Divide hamburger mixture in- broiler pan in 300 degree oven for in Oregon. Their products include to two equal rolls and flatten so 1 hour and 15 min. Cool, rewrap, several variations of their original that they are about 1 inch thick. refrigerate or freeze. Kyan has cranberry-based sauce, including a Sprinkle cheese and bacon used venison, turkey and beef. spicy barbecue sauce, a cranberry chunks onto the surface of each NOTE: Morton’s Tender steak sauce, and even a cranberry portion. Roll and shape each por- Quick is a fast cure product that ketchup, of which 100 percent of tion and place them into two has been developed as a cure for the proceeds go to the Salvation bread pans. meat, poultry, game, salmon, Army. The company is built Cover the tops of each meat around a philanthropic backbone: shad, and sablefish. It is NOT a loaf roll with a thin layer of TRIB- meat tenderizer. “committed to changing the world AL MOOSE all natural cranberry Kyan also uses the sausage as one bottle of sauce at a time.” I’m steak sauce. introducing you to TRIBAL a gift. She wraps it in plastic wrap Bake at 350 degrees for 1 MOOSE so you can visit them on- and then in foil and freezes. She hour. Let stand for 20 minutes line at http://www.tribalmoose.net/ and usually does them in 6” logs about before serving. read about the company yourself, the diameter of a Ritz cracker so see the products they offer, look that when sliced, it fits just a tiny PAGE 26 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 bit smaller. It does shrink a little I’m so glad I had them for the ½ cup light cream bit when cooked. When she needs holidays because everyone loved 2 teaspoons lemon juice something special, she takes it them. Patty shells, crepes, thin tortillas. out, puts a curly ribbon on it and Now how about just one more Serves 4 gives it away. this time but a real winner. Jim and If you serve it hot, heat the Now, another recipe that I tried I were invited to dinner the other soup, mayonnaise and half the lem- and served over the holidays. They evening and of course, I am always on juice in a saucepan. Put the oth- were DEVOURED! The recipe was rude enough to run in and ask if they er ingredients in the patty shells or sent to Bonnie by Julie Smithson would make me a copy of the recipe! whatever and heat in a 375 degree who has a lands-right website, This was the first time we had ever oven for around 10 minutes and http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org. eaten in their home and indeed the then add the sauce. Mitch has Bonnie forwarded the recipe just in first time we had met my friend’s served it cold in patty shells or taco time for me to use it for Christmas. husband. It was a joy to find that he shells and has used it as a dip. If he Try it and enjoy. does all the cooking. She tells him is using it as a dip, he adds about ½ ORANGE PECAN COOKIES what meal to have and he does the can of Half & Half to each can of cooking AND the cleaning up! This soup to thin it down. Take the Tollhouse cookie reci- was so….good. He served it to us hot in Pep- pe on the chocolate chip pkg., use SHRIMP & CRABMEAT HOT peridge Farm patty shells which he all light brown sugar and substitute OR COLD MAIN DISH, orange juice & orange extract (& baked and then added the shrimp orange peel for the moisture & fla- APPETIZER OR DIP etc., baked, then put them on our plates, added the sauce and served. voring), then add chopped pecans. I 1 - 10 ½ oz. Campbell’s Cream of (Julie) cut back a little on the They were served with fresh aspara- Shrimp Soup gus. It was the kind of meal when I amount of chocolate chips. Bake 8 oz. of artificial crabmeat cookies on parchment paper; you’ll wanted to lick the plate but didn’t ½ pound precooked shrimp of course since they really don’t have ‘em drooling for your cookies. 2/3 cup mayonnaise Use real butter though the cookies know me that well! Mitch’s last 2/3 cup chopped celery will be a little flatter. comment on the recipe was, “Don’t 2 tablespoons pimento be afraid to experiment! 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green Until next time, have fun and onion eat well. FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION Guns in the parks

onday, February 22, the to ensure that we clearly understand ka National Historical Parks. The nation celebrated the provisions of the laws that will possession of firearms had been ille- MGeorge Washington’s now apply to visitors when they are gal in some or all areas of those birthday. Much of the nation also in national parks in Alaska,” said parks. celebrated, though a few lamented, NPS Alaska Regional Director Sue The new federal law has no ef- the end of the 94-year-old ban on Masica. “We encourage every visitor fect on existing laws and regulations carrying loaded firearms in national who may wish to bring firearms to regarding the use of firearms in na- parks and wildlife refuges. We think the parks to do their research ahead tional parks. Sport and subsistence that Washington, the man who led of time and ensure that they are hunting provisions remain un- an army of citizen soldiers in the aware of and abide by the laws that changed in national park units in fight for our independence, would apply. Our goal is to provide safe, Alaska. approve. enjoyable park visits for everyone, Federal law also continues to The new law allows people who and to preserve these special places prohibit firearms in certain facili- can legally possess firearms under for people today and future genera- ties, such as park visitor centers; federal, state and local laws to pos- tions.” these facilities will be posted with sess those firearms in National Park In Alaska, the effects of the law appropriate notices at public en- units in Alaska. will be seen primarily at Denali, Kat- trances. “We have consulted with the mai, and Glacier Bay National Parks State of Alaska and federal officials and in Klondike Gold Rush and Sit- WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 PAGE 27

National Park Service Director “Visitors are going to go to na- trained in law enforcement—are Jon Jarvis said, “We will administer tional parks with an increased facing crime and violence.” this law as we do all others –– fairly. amount of suspicions and weariness The article went on to quote the For nearly 100 years, the mission of and concern,” Wade said. Worse, he group Public Employees for Environ- the National Park Service has been said, the new law will erase the park mental Responsibility who claimed to protect and preserve the parks system's reputation as a place of that “National Park Service officers and to help all visitors enjoy them. solitude and safety. are 12 times more likely to be killed The parks belong to all Americans, “People go to national parks to or injured as a result of an assault and our commitment to the Ameri- get away from things that they face than FBI agents.” can people is to ensure the safety of in their everyday living, where they According to statistics, violent our visitors and the special places live and work. Now I think that so- crime is down across the system's that have been entrusted to our cial dynamic is really going to parks, as it is in much of the nation. care.” change,” Wade said. National parks hosted about 275 Predictably, major media such Interestingly, just a few years million visitors in 2008. There were as the Washington Post lead off ago Wade and his friends didn’t 3,760 reported major crimes, in- their stories on the subject with dire think the park’s reputation as a cluding five homicides and 37 rapes. warnings that the new rules could place of solitude and safety was do- Not much will change here in ruin the parks. ing so well. The Christian Science Wrangell-St. Elias, as the park was “The move concerns current Monitor ran a story in 2005 titled created under ANILCA and was ex- and former employees of the Nation- Crime rates tick up across national empt from the gun ban of other al Park Service who are convinced parks. parks. that the move will damage the spirit “National parks are meant to be “It isn’t a big deal for us, since of the nation's park system,” said laid-back places where the stress we have allowed guns to be trans- Post staff writer Ed O’Keefe in his and strain of work and home are left ported in the park from day one,” lead paragraph. behind for a more mellow experi- said Superintendent Meg Jenson. Bill Wade, president of the Co- ence,” said the article. “The only change the public will see alition of National Park Service Re- “But increasingly, those rangers is that we will be posting our visitor tirees, is not happy with the new in their Smokey Bear hats who give center in Kennecott and other law. talks on nature and lead campfire buildings which have staff working singalongs—especially the ones or living in them.” LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Hi Rick & Bonnie, Enjoyed the reprint of the Aero They are probably in the Museum by As subscribers to the hard copy Service Corporation's article in the now. can we access the full on-line ver- last issue. It has been a long time I didn't intend for this to be a sion as well? since 1950; hard to believe that I letter; I just wanted to access the Hope you both are well and sur- was that adventurous right out of on-line version of WSEN. viving the winter cold. The weather college. The memories are still Charles R. "Bob" Leitzell, P.E. fresh and my photos always bring here in Mokelumne Hill has been Mokelumne Hill, CA mild for the last few days—up to 60 back old memories of Chitina and degrees in the middle of the day. the Copper River as well as of McCa- rthy and Kennecott. O.A. used to Dear Rick & Bonnie, Paula and I took a trip to Ger- write little notes on the envelopes of Enclosed find my check for 2 many and Switzerland this past fall. my letters to and from my then girl- more years of your terrific It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip for friend in San Diego. How many newsletter/newspaper/magazine. Paula to visit the towns of her an- postmasters write comments on en- cestors. She was able to do some I was glad to see George [our velopes? genealogical research at archives weather columnist] and Sophie while we were there. We aren't get- I happened to have 4 tokens when he came down to visit ting any younger and so many from the Golden Hotel that I sent [brother] Ted in December. I’ll things can happen that prevent you on to Howard and Chris for the mu- keep tabs on McCarthy through from traveling long distances as you seum. I figured the folks visiting him, age. McCarthy would enjoy seeing them. Love and best regards, Bob & Doris Habermehl PAGE 28 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MARCH & APRIL 2010 50

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