WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2006 PAGE 1 Wrangell St. Elias News “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty” Volume Fifteen Issue Three May & June 2006 Two Dollars A truly Alaskan Wedding! ands down, the wedding of Tischar- ia Buckingham and Joshua Hale Hwas the most beautiful and mean- ingful I have ever witnessed. It was held on March 11th, an outdoor wedding, on a glori- ous, brilliant Alaskan day, everything clean and white from a recent snowfall, surrounded by the Talkeetna and Chugach Mountains, and everyone bundled in their arctic gear against the 5 degree cold. Everyone but the Buckinghams and Hales. The wedding took place on the Bucking- ham's porch with Tischaria’s father Jim pre- siding. His wife Martha later quipped that they shouldn't have let him wear a sweater as he warmed to the subject of grace and had quite a lot to say about it. Meanwhile, the rest of the family was dressed in matching burgun- dy and black outfits and the effect would have been spoiled by additional outer wear. Photos courtesy Ray Kreig (continued on page 6) Bride and groom depart on white horse following festivities. Backrow: Maryanna*, Elishaba, Lolly*, Jerusalem, Christina*, Hosanna, Rose, Jim* with little Joshua*, Tischaria* & Joshua, Israel, James*, Moses (David's forehead behind Moses), Jonathan*, Joseph. Front row: Psalms, Bethlehem, Lydia*, Lamb, Jonathan, Daniel*, Abraham, Noah, Job. Missing: Martha* and David. * signifies Buckingham, otherwise Hale. PAGE 2 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2006 A note from the publisher I want to thank Keith and Lau- shortly before his death on April 3rd. couldn’t help but wonder rie Rowland for loaning me a copy He sounded optimistic about his how I started A note from of their “Spring Break” notes so physical condition and seemed very the publisher a year ago. that I could use their information to pleased to see those of us who were I Curiosity got the best of write an item on their family. Last able to meet with him in his home me. Opening up the hard-bound year you may recall that Laurie at Copper Center. I know I can book of WSEN’s for 2005 (a yearly wrote an adventure packed story on speak for the others as well as my- gift from subscriber and friend, Ted their spring break 2005. She had self, that we all felt the same way. Cebula) to the May/June issue, I hoped to have another such story Of all the subjects we touched on read: Spring break-up in McCarthy but her schedule just didn’t allow that day, one thing stands out in my was short and (fairly) sweet, mean- that to happen in time for this is- mind that I treasure now more than ing the slush, water holes, and mud sue. If you want to hear more de- ever. He stressed the fact that we did not last long. Rick even man- tails of their excursions, you will as residents within the park bound- aged to till our garden end of April have to “catch up” with the Row- aries were welcome and very much —a sure sign break-up has run its lands. I warn you; it may not be that needed. Needless to say, that came course. easy to do! as such a healing balm. I feel quite sure Jed would want me to pass that Today, April 25th, we still have Long-time subscriber and local nearly 15 inches of snow. As I look land owner, Trig Trigiano, submit- on to all of you who call this out my office window, Rick cannot ted a joke which we included on nation’s largest national park even see the dirt that makes up our page 23. Trig is always ready for a “home.” garden plot, let alone till it. The good laugh and loves to share the I was just informed that the slush and water holes are still here. wealth of his merriment. Thanks, postal service has made some fur- As for the mud... it hasn’t even real- Trig, for reminding us of the scrip- ther changes in the manner in ly begun to show. Amazing! Oh, ture, “A merry heart does good, like which we package and mail periodi- well, this is where hope comes in. medicine...” cals such as WSEN. With the tre- Springtime always arrives; it’s just a More thanks to Jay Bitely who mendous help of Postmaster Terry bit on the late side this year. most McCarthyites remember well Kaiser of Glennallen, I hope your Rick and I love to publish good for writing us such an interesting May/June WSEN will find its way to news. Our cover story, as seen letter of his travels to East Africa. your homes without a hitch. I am through the eyes of Lee Ann Ger- (Page 35) It is always interesting to fixin’ to learn something new once hart, is truly a beautiful story. Many see where folks travel when they again! Thank you, readers, for your of you have asked us to keep you in aren’t in McCarthy! patience. touch with the Hale ( Pilgrim) fami- On a sad note, you will learn WSEN welcomes aboard the fol- ly. This family has and is still under- (page 16) of the passing away of Jed lowing subscribers: James Barnes, going many changes in their lives. Davis, superintendent of Wrangell- AK; Roger Schnittjer, IA; Dona Most of those changes are good for St. Elias National Park, who many of Pfaff, AK; Ted Winters, MN; William all concerned. Lee Ann shares with us came to appreciate greatly. On Buck, AK; Lars and Susan Iversen, us one of those changes. March 22 Rick and I had the honor AE; Jerry Baxter, IN. of attending a meeting with Jed Wrangell St. Elias News (USPS 011301) VOL. Fifteen, Issue Three, May & June 2006. Published every two months at McCarthy, Alaska. McCarthy, PO Box MXY, Glennallen, AK 99588-8998. Phone (907) 554-4454. FAX (907) 554-4494 E-mail: [email protected] “Copyright © 2006 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, Susan Smith, George Cebula, Lee Ann Gerhart, Meg Hunt, Kelsey Smith, Kar- en Harvey, Don Welty and Ned Rozell. Subscription price is $11 for one year in the USA. Canada $12.50. Other countries $20. Advertising rates upon request. Deadline for publication in next issue is June 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. WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2006 PAGE 3 Items of Interest Sarah and René may have Harbor arrived on schedule. The Dave Hollis: Dave must be a wanted to tag along but I had the ladies in town enjoy seeing great first name because our feeling they weren’t invited. Actu- Roger’s wife, Tammy, show up town has more than a few Daves. ally, to be fair to all concerned, because she always brings a fun Perhaps that is why Dave H. Sarah, 21, will be finishing her supply of Mary Kay products with picked up the nickname “Hollis.” studies and acquiring her associ- her. Let’s see... the local Row- He just recently returned from ate degree at Fairbanks around lands add up to 7, the Dutch Har- his Winter 2005-2006 adventures May 9th. She will soon be winging bor Rowlands increase that total and is getting settled back into her way south to Colorado where to 14. Then there is Keith’s his summer quarters just down she will work at Camp Red Cloud sister’s son, Keithy from Oregon, the road from Rick and me. I’ll as a wrangler. who joins his Alaskan cousins for let Hollis tell you what he’s been René, who just recently what Laurie describes as “Mega- up to in his own words: turned 18, is eagerly (I think!) Holiday.” “I spent three months on the working on graduating from high With all their grandkids in big island of Hawaii. I was having school. Lynn says the tentative town, the elder Rowlands, Ken fun and harvesting Kona coffee. date for her graduation ceremony and Nancy of Palmer, were right Then I spent about 2 months in is June 10. Lynn’s folks, John and on time for the March festivities, Anchorage hanging out with Nancy Burtch of Xenia, Ohio, are too. friends. I returned home to Mc- hoping to make the trip up for The Rowland clan swelled Carthy in early March. I’m living this grand occasion. when Laurie’s brother, Dave Per- on my land, doing chores, and While her folks were gone, son, and his family arrived from getting ready for work to start up René participated in a Chugach Fairbanks. Close friends of the in Kennecott mid-May. I’m look- School District spring celebra- Persons and Rowlands, Jay and ing forward to “summer camp tion held in Whittier. She, along Kim Williams and two children, 2006” —my eleventh here. I’ll be with two other students, were followed suit and arrived with busy biking and hiking this won- part of a leadership group in snowmachines in tow. Another derful wilderness area...Happy charge of providing fun activities family of four, the Randby’s, Trails!” for the 89 kids in attendance. joined the entourage. Keith puts Don, Lynn, René and Sarah According to Lynn, it was a great it this way, “With nearly a dozen Welty: Hawaii must be THE state time for students in the Prince Tundra snowmachines and their this year for winter travel.