WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 1

Wrangell St. Elias News “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty” Volume Nineteen Issue Three May & June 2010 $2.50 Springtime at Mother Lode he Mother Lode mines, once oper- ated by the famous Kennecott TCopper Corporation in the early 1900s, contain a rich history for copper min- ing. In May of 1919 the 15-mile run was made by automobile. Today—93 years later—in April 2010, the new owners of the Mother Lode Lower Camp (also known as Marvelous Millsite), Ray and Lee Ann Kreig of Anchorage, access to their property was by snowmachine. The 50 plus men once em- ployed in the mines are long gone but their memory lives on, especially in the hearts of the Kreigs. With helping hands from neigh- bors and friends, Ray and Lee Ann visit their property up McCarthy Creek. See Lee Ann’s story on page 7.

Photo courtesy Lee Ann Kreig

he Long Lake Ice-Fish- ing Derby produced Tmore than one happy face. This particular smile’s own- er is McCarthy area resident, Curt Jensen, son-in-law of Jim Kreblin, originator and host of this year’s annual derby. March 20th was a beautiful day on the frozen lake. Twenty-two folks turned out to either fish or ice bowl or both. Dolly Varden, Rainbow Trout and Coho salmon were the catch of the day. Mark WSEN staff photo Vail’s homemade chili kept folks ed” the friendly fox warm and well fed. Read more in makes the rounds. He or Items of Interest, page 6. “Rshe began its journey in WSEN staff photo Kennicott this last summer then began its trek down to Jim and Jeannie’s home, checked out downtown McCarthy area and Curt and Lindsay’s place before crossing the Kennicott River to the west side. Red seems to enjoy giving the local dogs a run for their money and wins every time! PAGE 2 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 A note from the publisher and, most especially, with you, page 11. Dee and her husband oday is May 1st and the our readers. Because of the lack Terry operate Fireweed Mountain McCarthy area is experi- of space to mention each of them Arts and Crafts, a gift shop in Tencing one of the easi- by name, I chose a few that are downtown Kennicott during the est spring break-ups I can either new to WSEN or haven’t summer season. They live in the remember since moving here in written for us in awhile. McCarthy area year ‘round. Fred 1978. The ground is welcoming Lee Ann Kreig did an out- and his wife Irene live at Dan the moisture and the normal standing job on describing her Creek. His subject matter is on huge puddles are just not hanging and her husband, Ray’s, snowma- Bears—appropriate for those of around this year. My break-up chine trip up the mountain to us in the McCarthy area and, I boots did not get near the atten- their property at Mother Lode. believe, interesting to our outside tion they usually do in April. Their story is on page 7. readers. See page 13. Rick is presently “next door” Bruce James, Trapping 101, Thank you, Kaleb, for your (his desk is next to mine) and he kindly allowed us to reprint his excellent story, Carl Ben is now plugging in the latest com- article (page 8) which first ap- Eielson—Pioneer Alaskan Bush pleted articles for a run to the peared in Copper River Record. Pilot, found on page 16. This was printing machine. Hopefully ev- Thanks, Bruce! his 11th grade English assign- erything will fit and he can pro- We decided to dust off a cou- ment. He has now graduated from duce the up-to-date proof copy for ple of WSEN’s older stories— The high school this year! Congratula- inspection. A note is normally the Languid Lady by Dee Frady on tions, Kaleb! last to write and I decided to fix a Wildflowers of the Wrangells, Part Wrangell St. Elias News wel- cup of tea while dropping you all 1 and Outdoors in the Wrangells comes aboard the following sub- a few lines. I trust springtime is by Fred Denner. Dee’s article first scribers: Rose Hale, AK; Jonalyn going well for you, too, and that appeared in our May/June 1998 Albright and Michael Jordan, NC. you enjoy the changes that this issue. Please find the reprint on special season always brings. Rick started up our small Table of Contents greenhouse earlier than normal. A note from the publisher...... 2 A propane heater enables us to Items of Interest...... 3 push the date forward somewhat. Springtime at Mother Lode...... 7 The tomato plants desired more Trapping 101...... 8 room than our cabin window af- Local Ranger Wins National Award...... 9 forded and the temperatures were Access to Inholdings within Wrangell-St. Elias NP/P...... 9 such that the little heater could Seeking musicians for 3rd annual John Denver Tribute Concert in Ken- necott ...... 10 keep them plenty warm at night. the Languid Lady...... 11 All our transplants— cabbage, Outdoors in the Wrangells...... 13 broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, pan- The first law of nature...... 13 sies and petunias—seem to thrive Guns on the homestead...... 14 on joining the tomatoes and cu- Carl Ben Eielson—Pioneer Alaskan Bush Pilot...... 16 cumbers as they all grow togeth- THE McCARTHY WEEKLY NEWS...... 18 er. The transplants will go into Birds blazing an electronic trail north during spring migration...... 20 their garden plot around the first Salmon on the Menu for Denali Wolves...... 21 of June. Letter from WRST Superintendent Meg Jensen...... 22 I want to thank the contribu- McCarthy Road Signage...... 24 tors to this issue of WSEN. Each University Land Bill—dead in the water...... 25 one is special to us and we appre- Cooking with Peggy...... 33 ciate their willingness to share A LOOK AT THE WEATHER...... 34 their stories with this publication Items of Interest WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 3

days ahead. Congratulations, Adam family and friends in Oregon and Congratulations! I decided to and Stefanie. the state of Washington.” begin this issue’s “Items” with spe- Carol and Harold Michal: Besides wanting an item from cial congratulations to a couple While I am passing out congratula- the Haleys, I was curious to know if bundles of joy who made their en- tions, Carol is pleased to announce Chris or Howard had received a trance to this world since our last that she became a Great, Great visit from a somewhat friendly fox WSEN. Grandma on March 18th. Her great who I will call “Red.” Chris replied Maximilian Gunnar was born grandson, Randy, had a baby girl that, yes, the critter had paid them to Rebecca Bard in Anchorage on named Ellie. They live in Wyoming. a visit and even made itself at February 28th at 5:17 a.m. after A round of applause and Happy home in her yard for a short while. giving mom 3 days of exciting la- Birthday in advance to Harold who Chris’ dogs were inside the house bor. He weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz. and is turning 99 years old in October wishing they could go outside for a measured 21" long. Says mom, “He of this year. He and Carol hope to better look at this fascinating in- is a cutie for sure and he and I will get up to their cabin at Fireweed truder. Larry and Lindee Satterfield: be in McCarthy soon.” Rebecca can Subdivision around May 15th. “We hardly wait to get back home. Of are doing good for a couple of old That same morning (April 19th) course, Max doesn’t know what fogies,” said Carol. our phone rang and it was Larry. he’s missing —yet! Congratula- Happy Birthday to “Kennicott He announced: “This is a Fox News tions, Rebecca, and welcome to Kid” Irma Padgett Haaland who Alert!” For some folks outside the life, Max. turns 90 this June! Happy Birth- McCarthy area, that would mean Hayden Lucille Tschappat was day to subscriber Charlie Ricci for Larry was watching the Fox News born on March 30th at 5:49 p.m. reaching the 100 year old mark on Network and relaying a world re- sounding news flash, but for us Mc- Her parents are Adam and Ste- March 17th. Charlie’s wife, Inger Carthyites, that meant that “Red” fanie of Long Lake. Hayden was Jensen Ricci, is a Kennicott Kid, was pretty much on Larry’s door born in Girdwood, weighed 7 lb. 10 too. The Ricci’s just recently step. oz. and was 20" long. “She came moved into the Pioneer home in into the world screaming,” says Anchorage. Dog Kobuk was unsure of this strange- looking critter. It took Stefanie, who had the privilege of Howard and Chris Haley: him awhile to make a quality deci- catching Hayden as she made her Chris just returned from Valdez sion on just how to handle the situ- grand entrance. “The delivery went where she completed a CPR class, ation. I can just hear his doggy smoothly and I had a great mid- keeping her Nurses Assistant li- brain deciphering the situation: Is wife. Hayden has dark, black hair cense up-to-date. When I called she it time to play or to defend my ter- and lots of it. Pheobe is loving sis- was busy working on clearing brush ritory. He chose the latter. Need- terhood.” Pheobe is turning 2 in and planning which outbuilding to less to say, Red is one July and is expected to be a tre- tackle first for spring cleaning. As quick-moving fox. He made his mendous help to her parents in for Howard, says Chris, “He is busy, get-a-way with room to spare. keeping Hayden entertained in the too, but having fun while visiting

Wrangell St. Elias News (USPS 011301) VOL. Nineteen, Issue Three, May & June 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, Dee Frady, George Cebula. Mark Keogh, Danny Rosenkrans, Meg Jensen, Kaleb Rowland, Lee Ann Kreig, Ned Rozell, Bruce James and Fred Denner. 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 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. PAGE 4 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010

The third week of March Larry and working in Arizona has its Returning a second year is and Kobuk arrived at their cabin. pluses, but there is no place like Joshua Slaughter who will serve as While Lindee finishes up a job in McCarthy, as far as Art and Linda Executive Chef for the McCarthy Anchorage, the “guys” decided to are concerned! Lodge Restaurant. Joshua comes open up the cabin early and have They are working hard at get- to McCarthy with extensive culi- things all in shape for her arrival. ting settled back in. They plan on nary experience. Previous to his They are looking forward to a great gardening this summer, Linda says, stint at wd~50 (a highly-rated res- fun-filled summer/fall season. and came prepared, loaded down taurant in Manhattan), Joshua Sonny Asbury: Sonny and dog with seeds for planting as soon as worked with Thomas Keller at Bou- Mac joined Larry and Kobuk on the the snow melts and the garden plot chon in Yountville, CA. Creating drive in. Mac and Kobuk are be- dries out. She is eager to make memorable experiences for guests coming fast friends and both thor- good use of her greenhouse this is a motivation that Joshua brings oughly enjoy being passengers on summer, too, and is already start- to McCarthy from his experience their masters’ 4 wheelers. ing a few transplants. Blueberry with Thomas Keller. Sonny is getting settled in at and raspberry plants are on order, Welcome home, Neil, and his cabin across McCarthy Creek. as she hopes to begin her own ber- thanks for the heads-up on what He spent much of the winter in ry patch. Knowing how much Linda locals and visitors alike can expect Texas with daughter Kim and his enjoys cooking and baking, I wish for the 2010 summer season— grandchildren, Perry and Erynn. her the best in her endeavors. right in downtown McCarthy, Alas- Since his return he is enjoying Linda has her Alaska Real Es- ka! the spring-like weather, visiting tate license now; she hopes to help 2010 Burn Permit Update: neighbors and friends and planning folks sell or purchase property in Mike Trimmer, Suppression Fore- an addition to his cabin. Welcome our area. If you need some help, man, for the Valdez/Copper River back, Sonny! look for her ad in this issue. Con- Area Division of Forestry, reports a George Cebula: Red is making gratulations, Linda, and welcome few important changes in the for- the rounds in the west side neigh- home to you and Art! mer Burn Permit regulations and a borhood, it seems. Just prior to Neil Darish and McCarthy reminder that Burn Permits are Larry’s phone call, George in- Ventures: Neil is home after spend- required April 1-August 31. The formed us that the critter was en- ing the winter working in Manhat- new general permit is now good for tertaining dog Sophie. Several tan, New York, for The Whole 3 years. Once you have a permit, days prior to this Red came up to Foods Market. He says he had a check for burn suspensions/clos- our cabin’s front steps and posed great time and hopes to do it again ures prior to ignition: Call 822- for Rick while he managed to get next winter. Neil’s position was one TOOL (822-8665) or look online. several good pictures (hopefully of 4 shift leaders. He loved his Approved burn barrels do not re- one will appear in this issue). work! quire permits. For further informa- tion, you may call Division of George and Sophie are back McCarthy Ventures’ latest ven- Forestry at 822-5534 or go online: home from their winter trip to Ari- ture is called the McCarthy Center http://forestry.alaska.gov/fire/bur zona. Making contact with old Grocery Store (including hardware npermits.htm friends in the lower 48 and spend- and gift store). According to Neil ing holidays with family members we can expect lots of surprises this Chakina Fire 2009 remem- are highlights for George and So- summer (opening May 28th). He is bered: Gov. Sean Parnell, in a phie. Now that they are home, and encouraging folks to let him know press release dated April 30th, pro- everything is up and running well, what special foods you would like claimed the week of May3-9 as he was ready to give Art and Linda to see in the store. The manager Wildland Fire Prevention and Pre- a welcoming hand on their arrival this year is from New York but paredness Week. Within the text to the neighborhood. Welcome known by lots of McCarthyites— was the mention of 2009 Chakina home, George and Sophie! Mary Convey. Fire. “The 2009 Chakina Fire, Art Phillips and Linda War- Speaking of managers, Linda burning south of McCarthy on Na- ren: Art and Linda are “really hap- Warren from the above “item” is tional Park Service land, resulted py” to be back at their McCarthy managing Ma Johnson’s Hotel in a large effort to create defensi- ble space around structures and area home. Driving north from (opening May 15th). Linda’s hubby, values that may be at risk from Phoenix was no small task but they Art, is working in the maintenance wildland fire. Firefighters from the finally arrived on April 11. Living department. volunteer fire departments, the WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 5

Alaska Division of Forestry, and the Mark Vail: Let’s just call this successful planting, Mark, and see National Park Service, combined item “Spring Happenings at Fire- you down the road in the not very with the organization that was in weed Subdivision.” Mark is doing distant future. place to manage the fire, worked his best to encourage the 2010 Dani Evans: This winter Dani with individuals and the communi- spring season to spring forward a was more than pleased to find ex- ty to evaluate risk and implement bit faster. The present snow cover tra time to spend here in her Mc- FireWise principles. A community is balking, for some reason, in his Carthy area home. She is hoping to notification network to communi- neck-of-the-woods. It is April 23rd do this more often, she says. Need- cate critical information was creat- and he is reporting at least a foot ing a few empty propane tanks ed by the volunteer fire and a half on the ground—soft, filled, she stopped by in mid-March departments in conjunction with mushy and the kind of conditions and we had a very pleasant “catch- residents.” that require “post-holing” to get up” visit while enjoying the warm Neil O’Donnell, Margaret from point A to point B. He’s feel- sunny day in the outdoors. Stock, daughter Cat and friends: ing somewhat trapped, he says, in a Dani plans to work at McCa- Neil, Margaret and company ar- “sea of snow.” rthy Lodge again this summer but rived March 7th for a week of spring Interestingly enough, a bear we may not find her in the dining break at their McCarthy area cab- (s) came through his neighbor- room as often. She hopes to get in. Accompanying them this trip hood about a week ago, punching her hands in the dirt instead, was Natalie Curtis, Cat’s friend, through Mark’s trails, not making meaning the lodge’s greenhouse who is also in the 7th grade this Mark’s local transportation any and landscaping projects. year. Malika Hojaniyazova, an ex- easier! On a lighter note...the Stop by anytime, Dani; you are change student from Turkmenistan spring birds are arriving in style: a most welcome visitor! in Central Asia, and living with Neil varied thrushes, a Ruby Crowned Gary Boslough and family: At and Margaret in Anchorage, was Kinglet, juncos, robins and a gold- the same time Dani was visiting, delighted to return to McCarthy en eagle. The swans have returned Gary and three of his kids snowma- for her second round of adventure to a nearby pond. Now that’s a chined to the propane pumps, too. in the Wrangells. Malika is a senior good sign and a note of encourage- The Boslough family have property in High School. She arrived in Alas- ment, Mark. across the Nizina/Chitina rivers at ka on April 8, 2009, and plans on Despite the lingering of winter a spot called Rex Creek. They often being in our great state until June conditions, Mark’s cabin is filled to fly out from Anchorage and visit 23 of this year. capacity with 40 trays of vegetable their home away from home, loving For a young lady of only 17, she starts for himself and neighbors. every minute of it, too. can speak a variety of languages He is planning to do some This particular trip took place already: Uzbek (her native lan- “experimental gardening” this over the kids’ 10-day spring break. year, he says, by planting his seeds guage); Russian, her 1st language; Trix, Gary’s wife, and their oldest Turkmen, the official language of in the ground early. Rick and I nor- daughter, Anna, 17, had returned the country; English, French and mally do our sowing on or around to Anchorage a few days prior, but Turkish and she started on Japa- May 15th but we are eager to see two other daughters, Stirly, 14, nese while in Anchorage. I was how Mark’s experiment works. and Flurina, 12, and son Jack, 6, thankful Malika wrote the list her- From the first day of spring, had joined “Dad” on their yearly self. I might have missed one of Mark made good use of his spent snowmachine excursion to our side these fine languages! coffee grounds to sprinkle on his of the river for a propane fill-up. The “ladies” and Neil, who was garden plots. It is paying off with As it turned out, Dani was sadly outnumbered, thoroughly 90% of his garden bare of snow. pleased to meet up with the enjoyed their stay. While Neil pre- The other day as he inspected the Bosloughs again. Last year she had ferred cutting firewood, shoveling garden area, he made a grand dis- purchased a 4 wheeler from them snow, or taking snowmachine ex- covery. Mulched under 6" of straw, and hadn’t seen them since. cursions, the rest of the party was his leeks were thriving. Last spring It was a beautiful, warm sunny he planted garlic and it wintered more-than-satisfied curling up in day, March 13th—perfect for visit- over just fine, as well. Three orega- front of the crackling wood stove ing far away neighbors and one no plants survived the winter. Mark with good books and plenty of jig- nearby. saw puzzles. said his oregano is now going on its third year. Amazing! Happy, Kyle Myers: Kyle stopped by the other day for a fill-up on his PAGE 6 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 propane tanks. He lives on the far Jensen requesting an advisory is due to be released May 2010 for side of McCarthy Creek and down board selected by MAC to partici- a 60-day public comment period, the Nizina Road. He is certainly in pate in the future development of says Bruce Rogers of the Wrangell- the mood for spring and summer management plans for the Park. St. Elias National Park/Preserve. If and is doing something about it. “We are aware that the planning you want a copy of the Draft, just Kyle loves to garden and his trans- process is already underway and we give Bruce a call at 822-7276 to plants are receiving plenty of atten- are eager to establish this board, get on the mailing list. tion. He said he is transporting formalize a memorandum of under- Long Lake Fishing Derby them from his cabin to the green- standing, and occupy seats at the 2010: This year’s Ice-Fishing Derby house daily so they can bask in the table. We invite you and your plan- produced several happy fisherfolk warmth and extra sunshine. They ning staff to the first McCarthy and plenty of expert ice bowlers. are thriving and before long he will Area Council meeting that you can Approximately 22 participants fill the greenhouse with lots of attend to finalize this procedure.” showed up on the lake to try their good-tasting veggies. You are doing A MAC meeting was scheduled hand at something: fishing or bowl- great, Kyle! for Friday, April 30th, at 11:30 a.m. ing. Everyone came prepared to Jim and Jeannie Miller: When at the Tony Zak building in McCa- sample Mark Vail’s special home- I called Jeannie the other day, she rthy. Jeremy Keller, president, made chili and roasted hot dogs was thrilled to announce the arriv- made a presentation on the topic over a roaring bon fire on the ice. al of the spring birds to the Kenni- of incorporation as a second class J. T. Thomas, a well-known and cott area. The outdoors was taking city. frequent visitor to McCarthy, came on a completely different look— ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUB- prepared, not with a fishing pole, the hillside is bare of snow and the LIC MEETING WITH NPS: Meg but his camera. Jim Drewry, Mile snow cover by the house was Jensen, Superintendent of the 26 of the McCarthy Road, traveled shrinking daily—and sounds— Wrangell-St. Elias National 19 miles to join the festivities. The robins, juncos, red polls, chicka- Park/Preserve and Danny Rosenk- Keith Rowland family and brother dees, Pine Grosbeaks, swans flying rans, park Land Manager, and pos- Roger and his family (Dutch Har- overhead and a pair of Goshawks sibly others are “coming to town.” bor) kept the ice bowling lanes nesting nearby. A public meeting is planned for packed down. Jim Kreblin, Long Jeannie has peppers, herbs, th Wednesday, May 5th, at 11:30 a.m. Lake, the host of the 7 annual tomatoes and flowers growing in at the Tony Zak building in McCa- Derby brought his tremendous her cabin windows these days with rthy. Access to inholdings and the humor—and great prizes—to this vegetable plants on order from Interim Guide are the major sub- year’s sporting event. Jim’s daugh- Mark Vail. jects for discussion and update: ter Lindsay, husband, Kurt, and A busy summer is ahead for Where are we; what’s been accom- their son Luke, of McCarthy, kept both Jim and Jeannie: Jeannie plished and where are we going? things livened up— Kurt, catching cooking once again for Kennicott fish (!), and Lindsay keeping (or John Denver Tribute III: The Glacier Lodge and Jim working trying, I should say) baby Luke dry third annual event—Far Out! in with maintenance for the park ser- from the overflow puddles. Rick the Wrangells—a tribute to John vice. Now is the time to enjoy the and I had the privilege of catching Denver, is scheduled for June 18, 6 slower pace, Jim and Jeannie, and some fish, too, which is always a p.m. in Kennicott. Along with a live don’t forget to take time to smell plus in our books and makes for concert featuring John’s music, is those flowers you are growing! great eating, too. Mark Vail, once a potluck dinner and social, and he was done with his cooking as- McCarthy Area Council movie clips from “Alaska— signment, relieved me of the fish- (MAC): MAC is once again starting America’s Child.” For further infor- ing hole I was using. In short up their monthly meetings for the mation, Email: [email protected] order, he pulled in a few good-sized 2010 season. A dozen folks turned or call 554-4464. out for the first meeting on March dollies to take home for dinner. Nabesna Motorized Trail EIS th New ice-fishing outfits, tackle box- 26 . The group discussed and ad- Planning Process: The Nabesna opted a letter from the council to es and a filet knife were the prizes. Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) draft Envi- What a catch! Thanks, Jim! park service Superintendent Meg ronmental Impact Statement (EIS) WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 7 Springtime at Mother Lode

This was followed by y husband Ray and I Hannah Rowland’s excep- traveled by snow ma- tional Chocolate Lemon Mchine up to the Moth- Angel Food cake and er Lode Lower Camp (Marvelous showings of fascinating Millsite) in early April to do main- family snow machining tenance and scope future work home videos. plans on our new property up Mc- Four years ago, Rick Carthy Creek. Advised by Keith and Bonnie Kenyon mar- Rowland and ably assisted in the ried us at the McCarthy field by David Rowland of Rowcon Church. It was great to Services and our Anchorage spend a night in our hon- friend, experienced homesteader, eymoon cabin at Aspen Photo courtesy Lee Ann Kreig Uwe Kalenka, we had a very enjoy- Meadows Bed and Break- Lee Ann Kreig and Rose Hale pause on the able and productive visit. We fast. Bonnie made a deli- Kuskulana Bridge to enjoy the view. found everything pretty much in cious Broccoli Shrimp order and are looking forward to Alfredo and shared some of her cooked chicken from the water. To getting some projects underway Amish Sugar Cookies which she the water, add tomato sauce (about this summer. had baked especially for the kids 16 oz), a chopped tomato, 1 t. curry Rose Hale also made the excit- who were taking their school ex- powder, and a dash of nutmeg. Sim- ing journey up and back and en- ams. mer a few hours, until sauce is joyed returning to the homestead. Another highlight was over- thickened, then put the cooked chicken pieces back in the sauce She particularly loves the serene nighting at Uncle Nicolai’s Inn in just until heated. Serve the chicken quiet of the valley and its spectac- Copper Center on both our way to & sauce over hot, steamy rice and ular setting. and from McCarthy. We had a "stack it up" with any or all of the It was also great to be back in great visit with proprietor Ron following toppings: coconut, sliced McCarthy visiting our friends, the Simpson, the author of Legacy of bananas, pineapple chunks, Rowlands and the Kenyons. Lau- the Chief, rich in the history of Mc- chopped nuts, chopped apples, rai- rie Rowland treated us to her deli- Carthy. He shared his extensive sins, dried cranberries, dates, sun- cious, exotic dish “Chinyere's knowledge of the Mother Lode flower seeds... Use your Chicken Curry Stackup,” and it Mine and his vast collection of his- imagination! comes from her Nigerian friend, toric maps, photos and docu- Amish Sugar Cookies ments relating to it. Ron treated Chinyere Nwankpa, who she met 1 cup sugar us to a delicious Copper River while a student at Biola University 1 cup powdered sugar salmon dinner. in La Mirada, CA. 1 cup butter Obviously we lost no 1 cup cooking oil weight on our trip to the 2 eggs Mother Lode despite all of 4-1/2 cups flour our activity! Our gracious 1 teaspoon soda hosts agreed to share a 1 teaspoon cream of tarter few recipes from our trip. 1 teaspoon vanilla Enjoy! Combine first four ingredients Chinyere's Chicken and beat well. Add eggs and beat Curry Stackup again. Add remaining ingredients Parboil a chicken (or and mix well. Drop small balls on chicken pieces) in water cookie sheet and flatten slightly with chopped onions, with fork dipped in sugar. Sprinkle Photo courtesy Lee Ann Kreig crushed red pepper, and sugar on if desired. Bake at 375 de- Uwe Kalenka on his big “Bearcat” in the Mc- salt to taste. Remove grees for 10-12 minutes. Carthy Creek Valley. PAGE 8 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 Trapping 101

I had trapped some while in o you enjoy working high school in the Midwest but outdoors during the that was many years ago, so we Dwinter, braving the had much to learn. Once again, worst the weatherman can throw the locals were willing to help. at you? How about performing Before the season opened, we at- your duties for long hours during tended a class at Dean Wilson’s in the shortest days for little pay? Kenny Lake. Both Dean Sr. and Does frostbite or fatigue concern Jr. hosted a full day event to in- you? How about feisty fleas and struct new trappers on the basics. pinched fingers? If these things They also had some of the supplies don’t bother you, then trapping we needed and provided insight on might be just the winter activity handling the furs. More helpful for you. hints came from other local trap- My wife Kayane and I moved to pers such as Bob Lohse and Mark the area a few years ago. Being Hem. Photo courtesy Bruce James Jack Smith, though, is the per- outdoors and enjoying wintertime This was a banner day – two coyotes! activities was one of the reasons son that really helped us get start- we chose to live in the Copper Riv- ed. He took me on his line a few er Valley. Once we settled in, we times to see how he made sets, sold find nothing, there have been many started making inquiries about me some traps he wasn’t using, let rewards! the opportunity to do some trap- me borrow stretcher boards for the We love the solitude of the wil- furs, personally inspected my skin- ping near our home. We met with derness, the friendly chirping of an ning jobs to ensure respect for the trappers who had lines near our inquisitive chickadee and having animals and so much more. home and they were willing to ac- lunch high on the mountainside far commodate us "newcomers" and Even better, he stops by our above our home. We must also en- house about once a week during the joy returning home with nothing to to teach us how to do it right. One season for a cup of tea and to listen show for our exercise except wet of them, Jack Smith, has become to our stories. We share our suc- and frozen clothes, tired legs and a an especially dear friend and men- cessful days with him and he gives hearty appetite. Occasionally we tor. us advice about our failures. manage to get one of the animals For example, Jack taught us we are after and it is always a bitter- how to modify a trail snare set to sweet moment. We respect the ani- greatly reduce the chance a moose mals and never forget they are an may get tangled in it. Since then important part of our wilderness. we’ve had numerous moose walk up With proper management, we hope to them and step around the dan- there will always be an interesting ger, just as he said they would. track in the snow for us to follow. Valuable information like this can So if you have dreamed of being only be learned the hard way or by the next Jeremiah Johnson, follow listening to someone with lots of in his footsteps. While he faced experience! many challenges, there were also Kayane and I now have two sea- people willing to help him. Trap- sons under our belts and have ping can be a difficult way of life learned many valuable lessons. We with lots of hardships and disap- enjoy snowshoeing along through pointments and when the season is the boreal forest, checking out any over you probably won’t have too new tracks in the snow and antici- much to show for the long hours. pating what we might find at our If, however, you’re after something Photo courtesy Bruce James next set. While we almost always other than monetary rewards, trap- Jack Smith with one of the wolverines ping may be for you! he caught this winter. WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 9 Local Ranger Wins National Award

Wrangell-St. Elias experienced tephens Harper, Kenne- a significant reduction in cott District law En- bear/human conflict in 2009. Sforcement Ranger with Ranger Harper's experience in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Alaska parks includes Wood and Preserve, was recently Tikchik State Park in Bristol awarded the 2009 Andrew Clark Bay, Togiak National Wildlife Hecht Memorial Public Safety Refuge, and Katmai National Achievement Award. It is the Park and Preserve. Ranger highest award bestowed by the Harper makes his home in Mc- NPS for outstanding public safe- Carthy, Alaska. The award is in ty achievement. For several years memory of Andrew Clark Ranger Harper has lead an effort Hecht, the nine year old son of to increase visitor safety by work- Dr. James and Amy Hecht, who ing on ways to reduce died in 1970 as a result of an bear/human conflict in the park. accident in Yellowstone Nation- Through Ranger Harpers leader- al Park's Crested Pool. ship, the Kennecott District of Access to Inholdings within Wrangell-St. Elias NP/P

RWCA(s) are based upon a how to proceed is needed. Park he Regional Director mutual understanding of the staff plan to be in McCarthy on has granted 16 Rights right to access and protect park May 5th to meet at 11:30 am Tof Way Certificates of resources. The NPS is currently after the mail plane at Tony Access (RWCA) to inholdings working with other landowners Zaks' to discuss what we have utilizing the Interim Access to develop additional RWCA(s) achieved to date, listen to land- Guide for 16 landowners within which address similar access fa- owners concerns on how we are Wrangell-St Elias National Park cility types as well as overland implementing the Interim Ac- and Preserve. All of these were winter access and airstrips. Al- cess Guide and solicit questions for established and maintainable though park managers plan to and recommendations regarding access and include driveways, eventually prepare a RWCA for granting additional RWCAs in 4-wheel drive roads, ATV trails all landowner access needs, the future. Details on the RW- and waterlines. Some are shared many access facilities have not CAs granted to date is available while others are unique to an been addressed. Dialog with on the park website. For addi- individual. These grants also pro- landowners on the NPS's imple- tional information contact Land vide for the landowner to main- mentation of the Interim Access Manager, Danny Rosenkrans at tain the facility. Guide over the past 3 years and 907-822-7240. exploration and clarification on PAGE 10 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 Seeking musicians for 3rd annual John Denver Tribute Concert in Kennecott

he communities of Mc- Following a potluck dinner in Carthy and Kennecott, Kennecott's restored Recreation TAlaska will host their Hall, scenes from the film featur- third annual John Denver Trib- ing Denver in the Wrangell ute starting 6 p.m. on Friday, Mountains and Kennecott will be June 18, 2010. The event is part screened and local residents will of the Summer Arts and Lecture share remembrances. Then local Series sponsored by the Wrangell musicians and vocalists will pres- Mountains Center and National ent about two hours of Denver's Park Service. music. Denver visited the remote, Performers of Denver's music wildly spectacular area in 1975 interested in donating their tal- for his filming of the feature- ents are invited to audition for length documentary Alaska- the tribute. They should contact America's Child. For several days the Wrangell Mountains Center he stayed, worked and played before June 1 at with McCarthy residents. Denver [email protected] to sign up. also filmed a comic chase scene The evening will conclude Artwork for the 2010 Kennecott John in the historic Kennecott copper with an audience sing-a-long Denver Tribute reflects the event's milling town where the Solstice medley, including the “Wrangell homespun origins. Terry Blosser and Eve tribute will be staged. Mountain Song,” inspired by the Dave Hollis, two backpacking buddies grandeur of the and long-time fans of the famed musi- Wrangell Moun- cian, planned the first event while tains and John's backpacking in the Wrangells during the summer of 2007. experiences with the “strong and gentle people” of [email protected] or call (907) McCarthy living 244-7717. “beside the gla- The Wrangell Mountains cier.” Center is a nonprofit organiza- A $5 donation tion which fosters understand- per person is sug- ing, appreciation, and gested and addi- stewardship of wildlands and Photo courtesy McCarthy Lodge. mountain culture in Alaska John Denver at McCarthy Saloon: John Denver per- tional support is through artistic and scientific forms for locals in the McCarthy Saloon during his welcome. For 1975 movie filming in the area. Anchorage resident more information inquiry in Wrangell-St. Elias Na- Tony Oney, Denver's pilot during the filming, sits to Den- contact Jeremy tional Park and Preserve. Learn ver's right. at more at www.wrangells.org. WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 11

the Languid Lady

with P. frigidus and like wet plac- In late April, I always find ne of my earliest es. Historically, Coltsfoot has many Coltsfoot shoots pushing childhood memories been used for medicinal purpos- up through the bare ground Ooccurs in a stroller, es in a variety of ways such as a around our chicken coop and being pushed by my mother, as under the large spruce nearby. she points out and names all the Actually, the chicken coop is wildflowers. In later years, there really a storage shed as a grizzly were countless trips and hikes to ate all our chickens long ago! identify and transplant flowers to WILD CROCUS/PASQUE our rock garden. Also, my father FLOWER (Pulsatilla patens) enjoyed taking us to visit various Crowfoot/Buttercup Family botanical gardens. From that This is one of the first flow- start I’ve had a lifelong love af- ers to appear in spring and re- fair with plants. sembles the domestic garden This article is designed pri- crocus. Related to the anemo- marily to cover plants native to nes, the large, cup-shaped, light the McCarthy area and possibly to dark violet flower has 5 to 8 other related topics. I use the pointed sepals on top of a stout, word cover loosely as I cannot hairy stem, about 8" tall. They begin to mention the hundreds like steep slopes or south-facing of varieties that occur! I can pro- bluffs. Can be transplanted, file and share observations of a seeds less easily. few. In late April or early May we Every late April and May I always spot Wild Crocus on our look for certain harbingers of first spring pilgrimage to An- the summer. Here are some of chorage. They grow on the rock the earliest to bloom and my face of the infamous McCarthy favorites to spot. Road, “Hug-A-Boulder-Bend” ARROWLEAF COLTSFOOT (thankfully, now posted with (Petasites sagittatus) signs). Nearby, along the south- Aster/Composite Family ARROWLEAF COLTSFOOT facing slopes of the Chitina Riv- This interesting plant blooms (Blooms before leaves develop) er they grow in profusion. before the leaves fully develop WINDFLOWER (Anemone (Son Before Father). The thick, cough remedy (Coughwort) or parviflora) Crowfoot Family hairy stalk, 12-16" tall, has a astringent. Other uses have been (Named for birdfoot pattern of cluster of white, daisy-like (disk) as a popular smoking herb leaves.) flowers on top. These often have (British Tobacco), yellow-green A lovely plant that blossoms a yellow or purplish tinge which dye for wool and processing the as soon as the snow melts. A sin- later develop into white dandeli- leaves for a salt substitute. Colts- gle, white flower with a yellow on-like puffs as they go to seed. foot was the symbol of French center rises above the leaves 6-8" The leaves are large and triangu- pharmacies. and sways in each breeze, hence lar shaped. They often hybridize PAGE 12 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 the common name. The five BEAUTIFUL JACOB’S LAD- locoweeds. Lupine like an open rounded, white sepals (outer, DER (Polemonium pulcherri- habitat of fields, roadsides or floral “leaves”) may have a bluish mum) Polemonium/Phlox alpine meadows in dry, well- tinge on the underside. Leaves Family drained soil. Older plants are are whorled in 3's on upper stem A very showy, “early bloom- more difficult to transplant but and have dark veins, unlike the er” which is also an outstanding seedlings can be easily moved. yellow anemone. Likes meadows, wildflower for cultivation. Flow- Can also start from seed. One stony slopes, snow flushes. Can ers are sky blue or rarely, white attribute includes the ability to transplant or seed. ALL anemo- with a yellow ‘eye’ in the center. add nitrogen to the soil, making nes are poisonous! Leaves are many and opposing it richer for other plant life. Behind our cabin on Smokey (ladder-like, hence name) on These are also plant pioneers Mountain, in late April, we find short, 8-14" tall, well branched being one of the first to appear Windflowers growing in large stems. Likes dry, rocky, sunny past glacial recessions. beds on the south-facing slopes habitats. Transplants and grows A visual treat, Lupine grow where the snow melts first. By from seed easily. Will bloom all everywhere in our area and can the way, Smokey Mountain is our season if not allowed to form be enjoyed from the roadsides to name for a flank of Fireweed be- seed. Not to be confused with meadows filled with these showy cause of all those black bears we the taller variety, which does not spikes. By mid-May I always have watched on the hillside over have a yellow “eye” and blooms watch for the ‘early bloomers’ at the years. much later. Beautiful Jacob’s Swift Creek. Occasionally, some FAIRY SLIPPER/CALYPSO Ladder generally is in full bloom have been seen to grow almost ORCHID (Calypso bulbosa) Or- the last week of May and an early pure white. chid Family source of nectar for bees. At one This list is by no means com- This fragrant flower may well time was used to combat rabies, plete or meant to be, as there be the most beautiful of our na- in what manner, I do not know. are countless varieties of plants tive orchids. It produces a rose- These beauties grow every- in full bloom by the end of May. pink ‘slipper’ (sac-like lower where on the roadsides in McCa- Most of the Anemone, Pyrola and flower) on a slender stem, 3-8" rthy as well as gravel areas on Violets as well as (later berry- tall. The single, rounded, deeply the west side of the Kennicott producing) ground covers like veined leaf which grows close to River. I have often seen them in Dwarf Dogwood or Nagoonberry. the ground is evergreen and full bloom the first week of May The list is endless. Keep in mind stays so through the winter. on south-facing rocks in the that there are many variances in However, the soon wilting leaf Kuskulana area. blooming times due to winter dies when the flower appears and ARCTIC LUPINE (Lupinus conditions, locale, etc. I have new leaves appear in August. arcticus) Pea Family seen Fairy Slippers in full bloom This orchid is found in woodsy, A striking plant which is on the first week of May or the last mossy terrain, often on rotting everyone’s list of favorites. The week of May in the same patch. wood. Probably semi-parasitic. pale blue to purple, often bi-col- Other patches may have only a Transplants. ored flowers are shaped like pea few plants, or as in the case of One of the most pleasant blossoms. They grow in an erect last year, huge patches every- surprises was to discover large spike on a large, hollow stalk where. It was a phenomenal or- patches of Fairy Slippers all over which bears palmate, or lobed, chid season! our property. I have a favorite many-fingered leaves. There is Can you guess what patch on our path to the out- often hybridizing with L. noot- (uncommonly used) common house. Every May 1st I start katensis. Depending on species plant name the title refers to? watching for the first buds to they grow 10 to 36" tall. Seed Hint: The name refers to a char- appear. Needless to say, it makes pods develop as the plant ma- acteristic of this flower. I will those daily trips more interest- tures. These as well as the leaves cover this favorite in the next ing. are considered poisonous. Actu- issue. ally are closely related to the WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 13 Outdoors in the Wrangells The first law of nature

lems. Most of us have experienced burn all garbage or bury it some- pring is here, and along encounters with good bears and where away from your building with the budding of have sighed with relief as we watch and living area. This doesn't mean Sleaves and the blooming them retreat through the brush or bagging it in plastic and forget- of the flowers, Bruin will awaken down the trail. Fortunately, this ting about it. Good juicy garbage and resume his wandering ways. has been typical of most of my en- in plastic bags, and warm weather, Forever hungry, and especially so counters with blacks and grizzlies, has a tendency to start rotting and direct from hibernation, he is nat- though not all. will attract a bear quickly. Con- urally led into confrontations with One characteristic common to trary to some popular thinking, people in the Valley. Most every- all bears is their ability to move the plastic doesn't hold in all the one will acknowledge that human- through the woods stealthily. The smell. A hot burn, using enough bear confrontations should be, if disadvantage to people living in dry spruce and plenty of oxygen so possible, avoided. Remember, last bear country is clear—Bruin can the garbage and its smell are to- summer was dubbed “the year of be in your face before you know it. tally consumed, is the only way to the Bear,” the high (?) point of This usually isn't a problem with go. I have seen some lackadaisical which occurred when an individual the timid bear, but a bad bear— burning operations, burn barrels well-known to us all spent an hour one that won't go away or keeps half full of charred, rotting gar- and a half in a small tree above returning and light-footing it bage that I wouldn't want in my “an angry grizzly bear snapping its around your yard at any time of backyard. teeth and pawing the ground...” the day or night—calls for severe The dog's sharp bear bark is With this incident behind us but action. This isn't a charging one of the best bear warning sig- another summer ahead, complete bear—yet—but one which contin- nals and often the dog noise will with possible bear problems, it's ually violates your private domain scare Bruin away. Compared to well to keep in mind the first law and needs to be eliminated before humans, a dog's hearing and sense of nature: EAT OR BE EATEN. a charge does occur. of smell are far superior, therefore Achieving oneness with nature Even the late Edward Abbey, he can detect the bear long before in the form of becoming bear prey champion for untrammeled wild- it can be seen. To my way of think- can generally be prevented. Noise, ness, in his essay “Gather at the ing, this is a distinct advantage. be it the human voice, the sound River,” didn't offer any of his usual We have three good bear dogs, of a machine running, dogs caustic criticism of human intru- and I wouldn’t live where we do barking—anything to give a pass- sion on wildness when his river without at least one. ing bear adequate warning that guide describes the hypothetical To protect rabbit hutches, something alien is in his taking down of an aggressive bear: chicken coops, out buildings, air- proximity—will go a long way to- “You fire the first shot in front of planes, etc., solar electric fence wards helping prevent a violent the Grizz, into the ground, to chargers work very well. confrontation. No two bears are scare him away. If he don't scare If we’re forced to choose to alike, however; while one may run but keeps advancing, you wait un- operate on the bear’s level, by his head-over-heels away from the til you can't stand it anymore, guiding philosophy, it is EAT OR mere slamming of a door, another then shoot to kill. First a shot to BE EATEN. I would prefer to may not even run at the crack of a knock him down, next a shot to achieve oneness with nature on high- powered rifle. In my view, finish him off.” Evidently Mr. Abby my own terms, and skill with a this distinct behavioral difference could see the wisdom of not be- high-powered rifle wielded with separates bears into two catego- coming bear prey, which is a no- little remorse will attain that end. ries: good bears and bad bears. tion close to all our hearts. Editors note: This story origi- Good bears, being naturally One of the easiest and most nally appeared in the May & June shy, elusive and timid around hu- effective ways to keep hungry 1999 issue of the WSEN. man beings offer no real prob- bears out of your yard is to either PAGE 14 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 Guns on the homestead Part one—the bear gun

Editor’s Note: This is an attempt inland, not the huge browns found The single-barrel has the virtue to revive the Guns on the homestead on the coast. of being the least expensive to pur- series that originally ran in 1999. In this and future issues of WS- chase, and the easiest to learn to Our hope is to reprint the first 4 arti- EN we will explore the shotgun, the operate. Its shortcoming is that you cles in the series, which dealt with high-powered rifle, and the hand- have to reload after each shot— firearm types, then continue on to gun. Each has its place. something that is not desirable in subjects such as handloading and The shotgun our context. I only recommend it if perhaps hunting. This first story ap- funds are extremely tight, AND you The consensus among those peared in our May & June 1999 is- are willing to take the time to prac- that I talked with is that the shot- sue. tice until you can always hit what gun is the ideal weapon for “close you shoot at, and can reload with- We are always looking for con- encounters of the bruin kind.” This out fumbling. tributors. Let’s share our collective is particularly true for those not experience! otherwise interested in hunting or Double-barrels are wonderful shooting. bird guns, but a good one is quite expensive and they are probably not n this first installment of Shotguns come in different pow- the best action type for our purpos- what I hope will become a er levels and action types. Unlike es. Iregular, if infrequent col- rifles and pistols, they are catego- umn in WSEN, I thought we would rized by the bore “gauge,” rather The bolt-action shares the sin- take a look at some of the hardware than “caliber.” (There is one excep- gle-barrel's virtue of economy, but available to give one a sense of at tion to this rule, and that is the di- has the advantage of carrying more least somewhat equal footing when minutive .410, which refers to than one shell which can be loaded faced with one of the creatures that caliber rather than gauge.) Gauge is by activating the bolt. Again, if columnist Fred Denner describes as defined as “the interior diameter of money is tight, you might consider a "bad bear." a shotgun barrel as determined by this type. Let me say up front that I am the number of lead balls of a size The pump-action shotgun is not an expert in the subject of bears exactly fitting the barrel that are highly regarded as reliable, fairly or "bear guns." (However, having required to make one pound.” Thus, easy to become familiar with, and is lived in the Alaskan bush for over 12 gauge is larger than 16 gauge, still affordable. They carry 3 or twenty years [30 years now!] I have which is larger than 20 gauge, etc. more shells in their magazine, and had to, on more than one occasion, At first it seems backwards but you repeat shots can be made very rapid- dispatch bruins—both black and get used to it. Just remember the ly. Remington and Mossberg both grizzly— who had made a nuisance larger the gauge number, the small- offer entry-level models at street of themselves and were deemed to er the barrel diameter. The general prices (WalMart, Kmart, and Fred be incorrigible.) Much of the infor- consensus is that the 12 gauge is Myers) of just over $200. The stan- mation presented here was gleaned the best compromise for use in bear dard barrel has a single bead at the from conversations with others who country for most people. The more muzzle but no other sights. They have more experience than I in the powerful 10 gauge is more punish- also may be purchased with a "slug field of bear encounters. ing in recoil, while the 16 gauge has barrel," which has rifling inside and Bear in mind that this article is less recoil than the 12. However, as regular rifle-type sights. If I had to intended for the homesteader, hiker neither has become as popular as choose, I would pick this one. For and back-country camper— not the the 12 gauge, it is more difficult to an additional $50 or so you can get bear hunter. Setting forth to delib- find a good assortment of ammuni- one with both barrels which I highly erately take one of the animals in a tion, so I would not recommend recommend. This gives you a num- fair-chase hunt is a somewhat differ- them. If you find the recoil of the 12 ber of options, as well as a dual-pur- ent situation than being faced gauge to be more than you can pose gun which will serve well for (probably, but not necessarily, unex- comfortably handle, the 20 gauge hunting small game. Steer clear of pectedly) with the necessity of deal- would be my second choice. the models with only a pistol grip, ing with a bad bear. Also, my As with gauges, there are differ- as they are much more difficult to experience, and the information in ent action types. Each has its advan- control. this article, is with the bears found tages and its shortcomings. WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 15

The semi-automatic has a repu- called sabots and have a good repu- the wound area, at which time you tation of being slightly more com- tation for accuracy and stopping have a more clear shot at his head. fortable to shoot than the other power, but are designed to be shot As to carrying the shotgun while action types, as the action itself ab- from a rifled barrel, rather than the walking or riding a bike, a sling sorbs some of the recoil. They are more common smooth barrel. works quite well. When walking, I more expensive than the pump-ac- Also recommended are a type of like to carry muzzle-down, sling over tion, normally less reliable, and lead projectile with fins at the rear my left shoulder. (I shoot right- more prone to accidental discharge. to help stabilize the projectile by handed.) The sling must be long It's probably better to stick with the causing it to spin, thus enhancing enough to keep the pistol grip from other action types, and if recoil is a accuracy. These are called Brenneke digging into your back, but it allows problem go with the 20 gauge rath- slugs. the gun to be brought into action er than the 12. Again, set up the paper plates, very quickly. If riding a bike you will As for ammunition, 00 or 000 at distances out to perhaps 50 likely need a more secure over the buckshot is preferred for close yards. Practice until you can keep neck position for the strap, with the range work. How close is close? It all of your shots on the plates. As shotgun at your back. Another pos- depends on the gun, in particular with the buckshot, guns with some sibility is a scabbard attached to the choke used. (Some guns come type of sights will be easier to shoot your bike. Where should your shells with detachable chokes and are de- accurately than those with only the be? I like to keep the magazine of sirable for an all-purpose gun.) The standard bead at the muzzle. the gun full, but the chamber emp- tighter the choke (full, for example) Why all the talk about accuracy? ty. This is another area where the the further the effective range will I thought with a shotgun it didn't pump-action shines. You can quickly be. If you get one of the "slug-guns" really matter—just point at the bear rack a shell into the chamber when they will have little or no choke and and the spray of pellets will do the needed. Sometimes just that action the barrel may have rifling, and the rest? Unfortunately this is not true and sound is enough to send the range at which the buckshot will at all. If a bear is determined to eat bear scooting off. scatter beyond an effective diameter you, a solid hit in the vital organs If your plan is to keep the gun will be much less. I suggest you take will be necessary to dissuade him. unloaded and perhaps in a case as ordinary paper dinner plates, set Never aim at the bear—aim at the you traverse the backcountry roads them up at various distances and bear's vital organs. (That's why we and trails, you may as well save your see just how far away you can still used a paper dinner plate as a prac- money. By the time you perceive the place all of the pellets within the tice target rather than a 55 gallon threat, get your weapon out and diameter of the plate. Be sure you barrel!) Generally this means the load it, the matter will most likely have a safe backstop, and if you are heart-lung area, or the brain. Bear have already been decided—one way new to shooting find an instructor anatomy is beyond the scope of this or another. to help. article but you won't go too far Above all, learn the proper safe You might be surprised to find wrong if you follow this simple handling methods for whatever gun that up to seven or eight paces the guide: if the bear is charging "head- you choose. Get someone to help shot charge stays in a very tight pat- on," aim for the nose. A bit high or you, and join the NRA. You will get tern, and it becomes obvious that low will take out the heart-lungs or your choice of one of three monthly the shotgun at close range must be spine, a bit to the side has a good magazines; The Rifleman, The Hunt- used like a rifle. It must be aimed. chance of breaking a shoulder. er, or The Guardian. The Guardian This can be done without sights, but Broadside, aim for the front shoul- is my favorite and is filled with help- it is easier and faster with rifle-type der. ful articles on self-defense guns, safe sights. Here is a bit of advice someone handling, practice methods, and Beyond the range where all, or gave me for a special situation: You other interesting subjects. Plus, you at least most of your pellets make a are out with a friend, encounter a help support your right to keep and fist-size pattern on the paper plates, bear, the bear attacks your friend. bear arms, which has been under the buckshot loses its effectiveness. You have a gun, but how to make attack all over the world since time At any farther distances, slugs are the bear cease and desist without began. called for. the likelihood of shooting your Be sure and join us next time Slugs come in different types. friend? Take a position broadside to when we look at the dual purpose Some are .63 or .54 caliber projec- the action, and shoot the bear high hunting and bear defense gun—the tiles encased in plastic or other ma- in the rear hip area. This accom- high powered rifle. terial that is designed to fall away plishes two things; the bear will stop after exiting the barrel. These are what he is doing in order to bite at PAGE 16 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 Carl Ben Eielson—Pioneer Alaskan Bush Pilot

Ben felt at home in the air, but keep his mind on his studies and ave you ever been flying he had one weakness—he got lost was very restless. He talked to a pro- with a bush pilot and very easily. When he got lost, he fessor who suggested joining a flying Hhad engine problems? would get mad, fly until he ran out club. Ben got together with some No doubt he spotted a lake or flat of gas, and had to land. A report of local business men who were inter- spot and expertly made a dead stick one such episode is the following: ested in flying. After discussing the landing. You probably wondered “Ben was on a check flight from feasibility of owning a plane they who pioneered the techniques your Sacramento to Santa Cruz when he bought a Curtiss JN-4 airplane. Ben pilot used to land safely. got lost and ended up over 40 miles was elated. He went back to his His name was Carl Ben Eielson. off course and flying over Oakland. studies, but in his off time he flew He was born July 10, 1897 in Hat- He ran out of gas and landed in a and taught the other people in the ton, North Dakota and had a pas- tomato field. The farmer came run- flying club to fly. sion for flying from an early age. By ning out with a shovel and told him Then his friend Hank Robinson the end of his life Ben was famous not to move, he had Ben covered wired Ben and said that his boss had for his prowess as an Alaskan bush with the shovel. Ben got the mis- cracked up stunting and wondered pilot and opening up the modern guided farmer, who thought that if Ben wanted his position. Ben re- airways for the pilots of today. Ben was a foreigner, straightened sisted the temptation to join Hank's During Ben's boyhood, planes out, and asked to use a phone. The group of flying gypsies until after he were still a relatively new and un- farmer consented and Ben called his had finished college for the year. tried concept. December 17, 1903 commanding officer. The officer Then Ben met up with and joined was when the first plane had been told Ben to ride back on a train and Hank. They traveled the countryside flown by one of the Wright brothers- that he would send a flight instruc- and flew in flying circuses all over for 12 seconds. It wasn't until 1909 tor to fly the plane back.” America. Sometimes they slept in that the first successful flight for When Ben got back to the army expensive hotels. Sometimes when the U.S. Army was completed. base his commanding officer told their fortunes weren't so good they slept under the wings of their planes When Ben was in college he him that he had ten days to fly with the skies for a blanket. would sit in his class rooms and plane #56 and then he would have a dream of flying. He worked naviga- cross-country flight. If Ben failed An expedition the army made in tion problems in his head and was and got lost he would no longer be four De-Havillands to Alaska turned constantly looking out from his with the Air Cadets. Ben's eyes to the wonderful state of classrooms to check flying condi- Ben passed the test. Alaska. He followed the planes' ardu- tions. Ben's father, Ole, was dead One month later the war was ous journey by newspaper, and in his set against flying in general and won by the Americans and Ben was mind. Ben's flying in particular. Ole did never shipped overseas. On March Later that summer Hank got everything he could to dissuade Ben 4th Ben was commissioned to Sec- hurt while stunting and Ben went from his passion—flying. Ole and ond Lieutenant, Aviation Section, back to law school. Once again his most other people at Hatton Signal Officers' Reserve Corps. Ben mind was in the clouds. While in thought flying in those “egg crates” was then honorably discharged from college he worked as a guard at was too dangerous, and Ben would the army. Thanks to the paid train- Congress. crash and die at an early age. ing and flight time Ben was now At his guard job Ben met dele- The only problem for the people equipped to fly. Now he just needed gate Dan Sutherland and the two of Hatton was that Ben's passion to find a flying job. became friends. One day Dan of- could not be squelched. He had to Although Ben would fly a lot in fered Ben a teaching job at Fair- fly. the lower forty-eight the only real banks High School in Interior In April 1917 America entered good it did for his Alaska flying was Alaska but Ben just said that he into war with Europe, and Ben saw that he had the stunt pilot mentali- would think about it for awhile. his chance. He reported for active ty which would help pull him out of Shortly after that Hank Robinson duty in the Aviation Section of the many a scary situation. crashed into a bay and died. Ben Army Signal Corps and was trained After his service to his country decided that now there was nothing to fly. with the army Ben went to college holding him and he took Dan up on again, but once again he could not the offer to teach at Fairbanks. WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 17

Ben traveled to Fairbanks and commercial flight made the front serving as a runway. The landing started to teach high school. He was lines on all the newspapers. speed of the De Haviland was 60 the English teacher and a coach for After the first commercial flight miles per hour which didn't bode the sports team. Once again he with Ben as chief and only pilot un- well with landing on the muddy missed flying. Mid-winter one of der the Farthest North Airplane ground. One passenger's remark Ben's students had a message for Company, he hauled supplies to all after getting cut out of the upside Ben, he said that his father and the mines within a 75-mile radius. down plane was, “Shucks, Ben, do some other men wanted Ben to After hauling tons of groceries out you always land a plane like this?” meet them. They were interested in to all the mines, one morning Ben On his eighth trip he had the cus- flying too. They asked Ben if he was woken up by one of his associ- tomary crash at the Fairbanks field. thought flying would be feasible in ates to haul a water pump to Circle The Post Office canceled the con- Alaska. Ben thought it would be City. It was on this trip, when he tract because, in the words of Jim quite possible. They bought a Cur- had no food, that his plane decided Reardon, “Ben's mail contract was tiss Jenny JN-4 biplane. The esti- to quit. Ben landed on a gravel bar, canceled because he piled up his mated cost for the plane was $750 got eaten alive by mosquitoes, and plane. Three times.” To make it fi- and freight was estimated at $800. finally managed to fix the plane nal they told Ben to ship the plane The plane was delivered on July which had a dry radiator. Ben put back to Seattle. 1, 1923 and the assembling began. water in the radiator and gave the Soon after Ben’s mail contract On July 3rd at 9:00 p.m. Ben did prop a whirl. The jenny started. Ben was canceled a man by the name of the final check on the plane and then roared off into the sky and Jimmy Rodebaugh bought two Cur- declared that it was ready to fly. Ben made his delivery. tiss Standard airplanes and formed hopped in and his mechanic pulled Although Ben was flying full the Alaska Aerial Transportation the prop through. It coughed but time, his pet project was securing Company. He then hired Ben and did not start. He pulled the prop an airmail contract. He traveled to another young flier by the name of through again. The plane roared to Washington several times to get the Noel Wien as pilots for his new com- life and took to the air. Ben was contract awarded to himself. Ben pany. The Standards were a step elated as he was in the air once finally got the contract, which in- back from the De Haviland but Ben more, this time in Alaska. cluded ten trips to McGrath and a was in the air again and that suited The next day Ben did an aerial De Haviland airplane. His first air- him just fine. stunt show for the 4th of July cele- mail flight made history. It was Feb- One day Ben landed and told brations in Fairbanks and Nenana. ruary 21, 1924. When he landed in Jimmy that he was quitting and go- The crowds loved this new and dar- Fairbanks after dark, he came in too ing to Washington to fight for his ing pilot who could so easily defy low and crashed. He crawled out, airmail contract. He kept thinking the forces of nature. and with help from some others, about his route to McGrath and it Ben's friend "Wrong Font" righted the plane. Ben reported the disgusted him to think about his Thompson was the writer of the flight to the Postmaster General, contract being canceled When he Fairbanks News-Miner. He put ads who called the President and his arrived in Washington no one would in his newspaper like: “Time flies! cabinet to hear the official report admit to blocking airmail service, When will you? A thrill you will re- on the first airmail flight to but no one was pushing it through. member all your life!” The ads McGrath. The president was so im- After making the round of postal brought in customers from all over. pressed he sent a congratulatory offices several times and not getting All the trips so far were joy rides and letter to Ben. his contract Ben went to Hatton, those who waited the longest got The three trips that followed North Dakota to visit his family. longer rides because Ben was mak- passed without incident. On his fifth While at Hatton he decided to ing each circle bigger so he could flight the "good" flights were fin- enroll in law school again. Shortly get familiar with the landscape. ished. He came into McGrath for his after enrollment Ben enlisted in the Eventually the joy ride business customary landing and his skis on Army Air Service. Even though Ben dwindled. On July 16th Ben flew a the plane ripped into the rotten ice was flying for the Army in the lower stunt show for President Harding and tore off the plane. Ben made forty-eight his thoughts were always and he also got his first commercial hasty repairs and flew back to Fair- in Alaska. He told his superiors that customer. The mine was down at banks. Ben and his mechanic took the army should establish air routes Stewart Creek and the lawyer for off the skis and put the wheels back from the United States to China. the mine wanted to fly out with on. In April there was a lot of rain The answer was always the same: parts to fix a problem. Ben's first and he flipped the plane over twice No, we can't spare any planes for in the muddy ball park that was such a route since there aren't any

(Continued on page 24) PAGE 18 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 THE McCARTHY WEEKLY NEWS 1919 May & June editions The McCarthy Greenhouse has a A NEW VEHICLE John Tjosevig has been a couple of fine showing of fresh lettuce, radishes, H.H. Mitchell lately received a fine weeks visiting at the Mother Lode. He etc., today. large "dogmobile" from the outside, has renewed his acquaintance with old Owing to the rails, being up on the capable of hauling between 4 and 5 friends for a few days. Chitina bridge, and the ice still run- hundred lbs to the load with two dogs Con Miller, who has been suffering ning, no regular passenger trains have in the wheel. Mr. Mitchell will use this from an attack of the grippe, is now arrived this week, but one is expected wagon principally for hauling ice and completely recovered, and is preparing on Tuesday next. Meantime a regular water this summer. for a trip to his property at the head of mail service has been given by the * * * the Chitina. He purchased a couple of speeders. horses from the Brower Stage Line: The Kennecott Copper Corpora- Chitina, landing them here on On account of the fact that there tion operates the largest copper mine Tuesday’s train. are cases of influenza and smallpox in in the world five miles away. A fifteen Cordova, Kennecott has established a mile run by automobile brings you to Mr. Hanfield, who has spent the detention camp which will be contin- the Mother Lode mines, an extensive winter at Kennecott, takes the trip with ued till the danger is over. property now employing upwards of 50 him. FERRY FOR NIZINA men, and with untold wealth of ore in Nels and John Tjosevig left for While we are waiting for the ver- sight. The power plant and warehouse Nizina River yesterday morning to re- dict on the recent examination of the of the Mother Lode are located in Mc- move the pile driver to a place of safety Nizina Bridge and site etc, we have the Carthy. against high water. Alex Kienwald ac- consolation of knowing that Bill Land The Green Group, which is 5 miles companied them. has sent to Valdez for a license to run a nearer town, is steadily forging ahead Last week a party of volunteer ferry across that bad old stream. as a big producer. workers spent several hours at the He has purchased the boats which May 10 Cemetery, clearing and putting plots in order, so that the place is looking more were used several summers ago by John J.B. Hubrick has been making ex- of a credit to the community. The vol- Baltuff, and service begins this month. tensive improvements to his studio and unteers were Mrs. Woodin, Mrs. Nor- residence across the track. A porch GENERAL NEWS man Erickson, W. Graham, John W. running the entire length of the build- Dan Campbell arrived from Shush- Nickell, & H.H. Mitchell. anna last Sunday with mail. He will ing and extending from the top of the gable, new skylighting and new photo- Al Doze, who has kindly offered the return to the interior camp in a few use of his team to do the grading, will days in company with E.L. French & graphic appliances will make his studio as complete as any in Alaska. be at liberty to do his share very soon, they will prospect in that district this and more volunteers are needed to help summer. MORE IMPROVEMENTS him. Frank Iverson and his wife and A substantial improvement on the John Barrett and Chas Veach have Aron Erickson and family spent last R.L.H. Marshall building is in course of each a bear to their credit. Barrett weekend at Long Lake on a fishing and construction. killing his near the 4th July Pass, and hunting trip. They had a fine time and The addition is 16 x 24 feet & is Veach getting his on the homestead. some success but we understand the two stories high. The new rooms will be Both animals were splendid specimens. camera caught everything. used downstairs to enlarge the grocery * * * Game Warden Erickson has se- display and upstairs for a warehouse cured 2 horses from Bill Henly for use room. They are being finished in a sim- The horse market has kept up to this summer. ilar manner to the original building, its usual mark, the following purchases being recorded. TOWN TOPICS Dick Woodman and C. Graber are in charge of the construction. From the old Mother Lode Co.: to First of May was moving day for a May 31 G.C. Gwinn, one team, $450. W. Ma- fact last Thursday where the boys from her, one team, $340. the Mother Lode mine came down. As PERSONAL ITEMS French & Co. 3 head $600. & 1 the work is now done from the Kenne- Ed Young, of Chitina, who has been extra, $150. John Barrett, one gelding, cott end the gang was laid off. appointed Game Warden in place of “Fox” $175. W. Henry one gelding, May 3 Pete Erickson, arrived on yesterday’s $175. Con. Miller, one team from Chi- train & took over his duties. tina, $350. J. Murie, 1 team from Chi- tina. WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 19

June 24 HORSES ARE COMMANDING MOTHER LODE CONSOLIDATED EASTERN GAME HUNTERS BIG PRICES MINES CO. NOW IN CONTROL Captain J.P. Hubrick, the Alaska Al Doze has sold his fancy team to James J. Godfrey, president of the guide with headquarters at McCarthy, John Barrett for $300. Nelson has sold Mother Lode Mines Company of Alaska, has three hunting parties signed up for his team, sleds, etc., for $550. says that the deed of all the mining prop- the coming season, which he will pilot erty and improvements thereon in Alaska TRAIL NEWS has been delivered to the Mother Lode through the White river country. They Harry Boyden and Louie Hender- are Richard Mitten and friends from Coalition Mines Company. The Mother son left for Chisana this week with Lode Coalition Mines Company there- Boston, Mass., Governor B.B. Comer thirteen head of stock loaded from upon deposited funds to redeem all the and friends from Birmington, Alabama, Marshall's. ten year 6 per cent bonds now outstand- and Ottoman H. Van Norton and John ing which were issued by the Mother B. Burnbaum, of New York City. Mr. Lysle Brown has returned to Chisa- na, and reports five inches of snow at Lode Copper Company of Alaska. The Van Norton returned only recently property is now being operated under the from France and in his letter to Cap- Horsefeldt. Lysle's dog was poisoned while he was in Chisana. Many dogs ownership and management of the Moth- tain Hubrick he states that he met er Lode Coalition Mines Company. Jimmy Morris, of McCarthy in St. Mi- have been poisoned in that district this LATE ALASKA NEWS hiel last October. The three parties will spring and considerable agitation is arrive in Cordova about middle of Au- being made. N.P. Nelson lost several A big potlatch will be held in Copper gust and go from here to McCarthy. dogs from his dandy team. Some inves- Center by the Copper river natives early in July. Elaborate arrangements have They expect to spend four or five weeks tigation should be make by the author- been make to receive visitors, and tribes in the game fields. ities as the loss of dogs is a serious matter to Chisana people. within a radius of 400 miles have been BEARS GET THE BENEFIT OF Warren Nelson has returned from invited. The chief of the Copper river LUXURIES his trip to the Creeks. natives will potlatch from 75 to 100 blan- kets and a large quantity of provisions. Bears broke into the cache left by Mail for the Creeks left Monday A big run of salmon is reported on the Muncasters on Dan creek and de- last. voured a great portion of the outfit. the upper Copper river and the natives The luxuries were a total loss. PURELY LOCAL GOSSIP ABOUT have smoked large quantities for the YOUR FRIENDS coming winter. They have more fish A BIG PRACTICE GAME Ranchers are very busy people smoked at the present time than during Everybody is invited to attend an these days. On the Lubbe ranch 13 any previous year known. This means area request to be present on Sunday acres are in seed. Micky Gallagher re- good times according to the native stan- afternoon at the ball grounds, when a ports 14 acres in seed on his ranch at dard. There is much rejoicing among the big practice game will be held. The the Lakina. tribes, many of whose members died baseball game on the Fourth will be a from starvation last winter and the win- tremendous attraction. Eddie Som- Sixty horses are now on the trail, ter before. and more horses are coming from the mers, brother to our genial depot A big bear has been bothering pedes- States to fill in for the many hunting agent, and crack ball player has kindly trians on the Perseverance road near consented to play for McCarthy. parties which will arrive here this sum- Juneau for the past week. Several people mer. BUSINESS CHANGES HANDS have encountered bruin in his rambles William Longley had been appoint- and the bear had it all his own way. An Mrs. Drury, who was a recent arriv- ed administrator in the estate of Olive employee of the mines who was coming al to McCarthy from the Fairbanks and Walters, deceased, known in McCarthy to Juneau was held up by the bear for a Nenana country, has purchased Mr. under the name of Molly Parks. couple of hours before he was able to C.K. Brown's interest in the laundry. At the movie show tomorrow eve- continue his journey. When he endeav- * * * ning will be: Pathe News and "Baby ored to cross the road bruin would block A number of prospectors have been Mine", 6-act comedy played by Madge his way. When he sidetracked, the bear working the creeks and benches in the Kennedy. would do likewise. The game of tag vicinity of Tiekhel. Several good finds ceased when the bear became tired of the William Longley has been appoint- exercise. have been made. ed administrator of the estate of Olive The Tonsina tribe of natives were EXCURSION RATES TO Walters, of McCarthy. practically wiped out by the recent influ- McCARTHY FOR THE FOURTH A complete line of ladies suits, enza epidemic, but two members remain- Through the courtesy of the Cop- waists and summer coats. Also chil- ing. The natives are deathly afraid of the per River and Northwestern Railroad drens' goods in great variety. Mail or- influenza and succumb easily to its rav- company excursion rates will be ders given attention promptly. ages. charged on the Fourth, half fare. DOUGHERTY'S, CORDOVA. PAGE 20 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 Birds blazing an electronic trail north during spring migration

winter in Ecuador and is current- be on their way back, according uring the next ly near Bakersfield, California, to Jim Johnson of the U.S. Fish month, while many almost ready to leap into the air and Wildlife Service in Anchor- Dof us are sleeping, and start for Alaska. The third is age. Johnson and other biolo- Alaska’s population will increase in Panama, also itching to head gists, including Luke DeCicco by millions. The migrant birds north. and Travis Booms of Fairbanks, are returning, and, thanks to “The birds showed up in Ka- fitted 14 short-eared owls with tracking technology that gets nuti the last few days of April transmitter backpacks last sum- better each year, we know where (last year),” Gill said, adding mer, and the birds scattered as some of them are. that he would expect them to far south as Mexico. A male whimbrel that’s appear in the Interior about the Their transmitters were de- probably headed to the Kanuti same time this year. signed to last two years and are National Wildlife Refuge in Inte- * * * allowing Johnson to track the rior Alaska is now in alfalfa fields Several dozen tundra swans birds’ springtime movement. just south of the Salton Sea in are transmitting their journey “A bird that spent the winter northern Mexico. north, too. Craig Ely, also of the just north of Denver began mov- “I think he’s putting on fat USGS Alaska Science Center, is ing north a few days ago and is to do a nonstop flight from the part of a team that implanted now in eastern Montana, about a Salton Sea to Alaska,” said Bob satellite transmitters in tundra 500-mile flight,” Johnson said. Gill of the U.S. Geological Sur- swans a few years ago. Those de- Last fall, the owls impressed vey Alaska Science Center in An- vices show that swans that win- Johnson with how far they mi- chorage. tered in the Pacific Northwest grated, how they spread over The handsome shorebird have already returned to their western North America, and the with the long, curved beak spent summering grounds near King routes they took. One bird flew the winter on an island off the Salmon, Alaska. from the Kenai Peninsula to coast of Chile. On March 23, the Swans that will spend their Southeast Alaska, right over the bird took off from the island and summers in the Yukon-Kuskok- Gulf of Alaska. flew more than 5,000 miles, non- wim Delta and another group The farthest-north short- stop, to northern Mexico. At that prefers Kotzebue Sound are eared owl with a transmitter was, times, backed by stiff winds, the now in Alberta. Meanwhile, in mid-April, near Calgary. John- whimbrel flew more than 60 swans that congregate on the son isn’t sure if the owls will re- mph. Gill has been following its North Slope during summer are turn to Safety Sound outside progress using a satellite trans- currently in the farm fields of Nome, or even to Alaska, be- mitter he and others surgically Wisconsin. Ely expects the birds cause short-eared owls prefer to implanted in the birds last sum- to arrive in Alaska around the breed where there’s a good pop- mer. same times they appeared last ulation of rodents. “We’ve got three in the air year—early May for the Yukon- “If the birds do migrate right now,” Gill said. “We’re just Kuskokwim Delta and Kotzebue north to breed, we should see riding some good luck with the Sound birds, and late May for the them on the move soon,” John- batteries (which are lasting lon- North Slope birds. son said. “They were starting to ger than expected).” * * * nest near Nome at the beginning Another whimbrel with a Short-eared owls that spent of June last year.” working transmitter spent the last summer near Nome may not

This column is provided as a public service by the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fair- banks, in cooperation with the UAF research community. Ned Rozell is a science writer at the institute. WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 21 Salmon on the Menu for Denali Wolves

the park during 1986-2002, and and their ungulate prey, estimat- urprisingly, salmon are blood samples from moose, ed predation rates on ungulates an important item on sheep and caribou studies in the in the northwestern flats of De- Sthe dinner menu for same area. Spawned out chums nali were about three times high- many wolves in Denali National were also collected from the er than those in the remainder Park, according to research pub- Toklat Springs area, a spawning of the study area, indicative of lished this winter in the journal area just north of the park’s influences abundant salmon can Ecological Applications, by boundary. The researchers then have on wolf-ungulate relation- Layne Adams, a biologist with looked at the ratios of nitrogen ships. the U. S. Geological Survey’s isotopes in wolf bones and com- In addition to helping ex- Alaska Science Center, and six pared them to the prey samples plain low moose and caribou colleagues. to obtain evidence of the diets of densities in northwestern Denali, Although the potential for individual wolves. the study also has implications salmon to be important to in- While the presence of salm- for wildlife managers in much of land wolves had been suggested on-related isotopes varied widely Alaska. “Current understanding by other biologists, this is the among 73 wolf samples, a clear and management of wolf-ungu- first research to focus on the pattern emerged. Wolves whose late systems is based on the as- food source and its relationship home ranges were in areas with sumption that effects of other to wolf and ungulate popula- salmon present but a low density food sources are minimal,” Ad- tions. The study looked at wolves of moose and caribou had very ams said. That assumption may in Denali north of the Alaska different chemical signatures not be true where ungulate num- Range. than wolves whose ranges had bers are low and significant num- In the northwest portion of few salmon or a high density of bers of salmon are within the the park, it was found that the ungulates. Salmon contributed range of wolves. fall runs of chum and coho salm- up to 34 percent of some wolves’ “Spawning salmon provide a on formed a food supply compa- diet. One result of a salmon diet previously unrecognized and dy- rable to the area’s moose is that wolf numbers were sub- namic connection between in- population. On average, around stantially higher where salmon land wolves, ungulates and 80,000 chum and coho move were plentiful than would be ex- distant marine ecosystems,” Ad- into the flat, northwest portion pected for the ungulate abun- ams said. of Denali each summer and fall, dance alone, Adams said. The journal Ecological Ap- returning up the Kuskokwim and “Ungulate densities were 78 plications is published by the Kantishna Rivers. percent lower in the northwest Ecological Society of America. Adams and his colleagues flats compared with the remain- An online copy of the publication made use of bone samples from der of the study area, but wolf is available at wolves that were radio-collared densities were reduced by only http://www.esajournals.org/doi/ as part of a long-term study at about 17 percent,” he said. Giv- full/10.1890/08-1437.1 Denali and that died in or near en the estimated wolf diets and the relative abundance of wolves

CLASSIFIED For Sale: 5 acres with well, cabin and large outbuilding. Mile 50 ½ McCarthy Road. $70,000 Call 1-907-554- 4428 in evenings, or if no answer, call 1-907-373-4193 in evenings. For Sale: BEAR GUN Puma/Legacy Model 92 Lever Action carbine 20” barrel 454 Cassul with “peep” sight. $375 call Rick 907-554-4454 PAGE 22 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 Letter from WRST Superintendent Meg Jensen

oday we saw the first few Restoration work will continue have an increased ability to provide drops of rain, and this on the Dairy Barn and as well as the emergency medical and search and Tpast week we have felt the Kennecott Visitor’s Center inside rescue response as well as southerly winds blow, which can on- the General Store. Other restora- bear/human conflict management ly mean one thing, that summer is tion work will occur in the Leaching in the Kennicott Valley. The protec- fast approaching. 2009 was a great Plant, as well as the Transformer tion staff will be conducting regular summer for Wrangell St. Elias Na- House and the New School. Stabili- patrols in the immediate area and in tional Park and Preserve, and 2010 zation work on the Mill Building is the backcountry to educate visitors promises to be even better. scheduled to begin in 2012; we will on ways to reduce impacts on park Our summer activities could not be doing preliminary assessments resources. Enforcement of the be made possible without our highly and engineering this year to prepare park’s food storage requirement and skilled returning employees as well for that project. proper human waste disposal regu- as the addition of new folks. Please Please be careful in the mill lation will remain a high priority welcome Erica Edmonds, who joined town this summer; there will be this season. us in January as the new Kennecott heavy equipment in many locations. The protection staff will contin- District Interpreter, and Carol Hard- We know there is concern about ue to work with area guide services, ing, our new Exhibit Specialist, who noise, so we have established work McCarthy/Kennecott VFD and other will be assisting in designing and curfews for evening and early morn- area residents to better coordinate installing park displays in Kenne- ing work. Please let us know if there emergency medical and search and cott. are any problems. rescue response. If you are interest- This summer Kennecott will Interpretation: ed in signing up as a volunteer and host a Teacher-Ranger-Teacher This spring the interpretive staff being involved in NPS sponsored (TRT). This is a unique park pro- will be moving to their offices in the emergency response training and gram for an experienced teacher to General Store and welcoming the backcountry patrols please contact become a Park Ranger for the sum- store displays and fixtures designed Park Ranger Matt Smith at mer. The teacher takes the park by Harpers Ferry. The General [email protected], cell 907-960- experience back to their classroom Store Visitor Center will recreate a 1011 or Park Ranger Stephens and educates their students about shopping experience typical for a Harper at the National Park Service. Kennecott miner in the 1930’s. [email protected], cell 907- 554-1144. The following is a list of some of This year we will also be operat- the specific projects/activities we ing a Backcountry information sta- Group Size limit in Donoho have scheduled for this year: tion that will help educate park Basin: Kennecott Restoration: visitors to low-impact camping tech- As you know from last year’s Ken Hutchison, who worked in niques and bear safety, with empha- discussions, new regulations are in Kennecott as Historic Architect on sis on the Donohoe Basin. In effect this year, from May 15 to the stabilization project, has moved addition, the interpretive rangers September 15, for camping in the on to Glacier Bay National Park. will be giving daily programs includ- Donoho Basin: Jim Baker will be filling in as Proj- ing history walks, nature walks, and All groups of eight or more ect Manager while we recruit and fill screenings of the Kennecott History must register to camp at Donoho the vacancy. The National Creek film. As in the past, the rangers will Basin. project continues, with the removal be hosting twice-weekly evening his- · Education and registration can of the Assay Building and parts of tory programs at the Kennecott be done online(through our web Recreation Hall. This summer, the the Hospital ruins to protect the site), by phone or in person at trestle in case of future flood McCarthy Area Information Station events. The East Bunkhouse will be will be staffed only in the after- the Kennecott Visitor Center stabilized with a new foundation and noons. (554-1105) between the hours the banks of National Creek will be Resource and Visitor Protec- of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. armored with a combination of tion: Registration includes large rocks and cribbing, designed The protection staff will include contacting the park, reading, to replicate the ‘look’ of historic three general rangers this season as signing and hiking with the Kennecott as much as possible. well as a couple of law enforcement rangers and a volunteer. We will registration. WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 23

· Guided groups in Donoho Basin Special events: McCarthy May 5 (after the mail are limited to no more than 12 The Far North Film Festival will plane, approx. 11:30 am) at the Clients. be held June 8 and 16. For more Tony Zak building to talk with area information check out the website residents regarding access to in- · A minimum ratio of one guide Far North Film Festival @ holdings, the Right-of-Way Certifi- per six clients must be www.farnorthfilms.com cate of Access process and progress maintained. Wrangell St. Elias National Park to date, as well as ‘next steps’. Meet- · Unguided groups are limited to and Preserve will host the National ing dates for remainder of the sum- no more than 12 persons total. Park Service Alaska Leadership mer 2010 season will be: · June 18 · Minimum camp distance Council June 15-18. Look for all the NPS Superintendents in Alaska as · July 14 between associated groups is well as the Alaska Regional Director · August 18 one-half mile. and her key staff who will be in at- · September 8 · To register please e-mail the tendance during this time. Topics, times and locations will park at Wrangell St. Elias Alaska Geo- be determined as we go through the [email protected], graphic Store is hosting the Alaska summer. Please let me or Stephens or contact the park at 1-907- Geographic’s Founder’s Council re- Harper know if you have specific treat in Kennecott this year from 822-5234 during normal topics you would like the park to Sept 9-12th. business hours. address at these meetings. Front Country Planning: New Informational Signs: We Resource Management: We plan to embark on a front have worked with the AK Depart- At the Mill Building, there will country planning effort, beginning ment of Transportation staff to be an archeologist mapping and do- with advance scoping meetings in reach agreement on signage along ing small scale testing around the McCarthy/Kennecott this summer, the McCarthy Road. Additional site this summer in preparation for which will address a variety of man- signs will be installed which will a larger crew next summer as we get agement issues in the park’s front show boundaries between public ready for stabilization of that struc- country along the Nabesna and Mc- and private lands, as well as bound- ture. A wildlife biologist will be Carthy Road Corridors and in the aries between the park and pre- conducting bird surveys along the Kennecott/McCarthy area. These serve. Informational kiosks similar length of the McCarthy Road in May meetings will be early brainstorm- to the ones already along the road and June. Invasive plant species ing to identify issues and concerns will be installed near the east side of work will continue around the park which should be covered in the plan- the Kennecott River footbridge, this summer with several SAGA ning process. We also want to dis- near the McCarthy Museum, at the work crews in the Kennecott area. cuss in detail the geographic area(s) McCarthy airport and at the Root In addition, fire ecology monitoring which should be included in this Glacier Trailhead. These kiosks will will begin on the Chakina Fire area plan. We are looking forward to this include maps that show visitors to better assess long term effects of process and hope to have lots of where public lands are and will last summer’s fire. public participation from the Ken- hopefully reduce trespass on private Trail Crew: necott and McCarthy communities. land. The park’s trail crew will be This is an opportunity for us to work Cutting Firewood/Chainsaw use: together on a common vision for working in the Bremner area and As a followup to previous discus- our collaborative efforts in the area. well as other park locations. sions, the park’s Subsistence Re- Most of the planning work will be New Shuttle Bus Turnaround: source Commission is working with done in 2011 and 2012. Look for installation of a new NPS staff to propose new regulatory sign, a covered waiting area and in- Mine Adit Work: language to address harvest of formation kiosk. This addition to The park will secure entrances firewood/chainsaw use in the McCa- the National Historic Landmark will at Peavine and Nelson Mines this rthy-Kennecott area. Don Welty is a help ease traffic flow through the summer to protect public safety. member of the subcommittee work- site and provide an amazing first Public Meetings and Notices: ing on that effort with us. look at Kennecott. This winter we Last summer, the park agreed Looking forward to seeing you received the new map, information to host monthly meetings for the all soon in the next few weeks! It and orientation signs. Look for McCarthy/Kennecott community to should be a great summer. them to be hung in early spring. discuss issues of concern with resi- Sincerely, dents. The first of these will be in Meg Jensen PAGE 24 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 (Carl Ben Eilson, continued from page 17) planes that will fly that far. Ben also ceived by huge banquets and gather- and Earl decided to try the flight thought that a military base should ings all over the world. Everywhere anyways. They took off from Teller be established in Alaska. That didn't they went people wanted speeches and were not seen again for several go over very well either. Ben met about the flight. The routine of ban- months. As soon as they were miss- Billy Mitchell who agreed that quets and speeches got very tiring. ing and the weather cleared up a planes would open up Alaska. Billy The King of England knighted little bit (which didn't necessarily fought for airplanes in Alaska so Wilkins who became Sir Hubert coincide very well) Harold Gillam enthusiastically and was such a nui- Wilkins and Ben received the Lief and Joe Crosson showed up at the sance that he got court-martialed Ericson Memorial Medal with the Nanuk in open cockpit planes on and resigned from the army. inscription “Transpolar Flier of Nor- December 21st and 22nd respective- After Ben's term ended with the wegian Ancestry for Viking Deed in ly. When the weather cooperated Army Air Service, he was waiting his Daring.” they took off to find Ben and Earl. turn at a barbershop when he re- After returning to Fairbanks On the 27th of Dec. Joe found the ceived a long distance call from Hat- Ben bought the Fairbanks Airplane Hamilton. Then the search began ton. His father, Ole, was on the Corporation from Noel Wien and for the two fliers. The crew of shov- phone and said that he had a tele- started servicing by air all towns elers shoveled the rock-hard drifted gram from an arctic explorer by the that had freight for him to haul. snow until the 16th of February name of Vilhjalmur Stefansson. He One day in October a call came in when they found Earl Borland. Two was helping an Australian named from the motor ship Nanuk which days later they found Carl Ben Eiel- George Hubert Wilkins organize a was icebound close to North Cape, son. The altimeter had been faulty transpolar flight across the Arctic Siberia. On board the ship were fif- and they flew into a hillside and had Ocean. They would fly from Point teen passengers and one million been thrown hundreds of feet from Barrow to Spitzbergen and wanted dollars of fur. The fur market was the plane. The search was over and to sign Ben on as chief pilot. Ben sagging so it was imperative to haul every one returned to Fairbanks for agreed enthusiastically. He returned the fur out as quickly as possible so the funerals and to continue their to Fairbanks on February 17, 1926 it could be sent to market. The cap- duties. and made arrangements for the ex- tain of the boat offered Ben fifty- Today the name Carl Ben Eiel- pedition. The arrangements includ- thousand dollars if he would trans- son has a ring of heroism to it. His ed a smooth runway, mechanics, fer the cargo and people to Alaska. name is forever etched into people's and warm hangers. On October 22nd 1929 Ben and minds when they think of Mt. Eiel- The expedition would be herald- his mechanic, Earl Borland, showed son and Eielson Air Force Base. His ed with disaster. The first two at- up at the Nanuk after a 4 hour and flight pioneering has made it possi- tempts were shadowed by crashed 20 minute flight in a Hamilton all- ble in Alaska, the land of harsh and planes and long hikes out, but in metal airplane. Between October unpredictable weather, to travel 1928 they finally had the right con- 22nd and November 9th the weath- hundreds of miles in just a few ditions and made the transpolar er was bad enough that no one hours. Carl Ben Eielson was a great flight. Upon arrival in Spitzbergen could go out to the ship. On the 9th man, and he will forever be appreci- Ben and Captain Wilkins were re- the weather was still bad but Ben ated by the people of Alaska. McCarthy Road Signage

within the McCarthy Road ROW to ka, we will install them. Our plans ark staff and area resi- AKDOT&PF to address this need. include installation of land status dents have long recog- These signs will identify federal information kiosks at the McCa- Pnized the need to and nonfederal (private) lands, rthy Airport and Chitina Wayside communicate information and trailheads, waysides and the loca- and up to 36 NPS signs along the educate park visitors regarding tion of the Park, Preserve and Wil- McCarthy road corridor this sum- the complex land status within derness unit boundaries. In April, mer. For information contact Wrangell-St. Elias National Park we were given permission by AK- Land Manager, Danny Rosenkrans and Preserve. We submitted a DOT to proceed. Once the signs at 907-822-7240. plan to install signs and kiosks are fabricated and shipped to Alas- WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 25 University Land Bill—dead in the water

Murkowski’s bill. Although Gov. vide and sell the land in small he 26th Legislature Ses- Parnell’s bills took care of the parcels. A common theme widely legal issue by funneling funds into heard was that the community sion ended April 18th general state coffers, it did not needed the state land to act as a Tand so did the hopes of provide the university guaranteed “buffer” between private lands the University of Alaska’s (UOA) money, according to Earthjustice and federal park/preserve lands, Land Bill, referred to as House lawyer Kate Glover, of the Juneau as well as the fear that the land Bill 295 and its counterpart Sen- firm representing plaintiffs in the would end up in federal hands. ate Bill 225. Mari Montgomery, lawsuit. None of those things happened. Lands Manager for the University, said in a phone interview with In testimony, University Sys- Residents in other communi- Wrangell St. Elias News (WSEN) tem Executive President Wendy ties affected by the land transfer Redman called the land grants were concerned about losing for- on April 29th , “I am very disap- process frustrating. President est access for wood gathering and pointed.” According to Mont- Mark Hamilton told Parnell in a hunting or restricted access by gomery the Bill never got out of letter last year that the university private ownership of otherwise committee. Because of a May 1st needs land resources to build a public land usage. deadline, the land that the Uni- greater education system. “The In an earlier interview with versity acquired in House Bill 130 University of Alaska is a land- Mari Montgomery for the in 2005, was “conveyed back to grant college without the land,” May/June 2005 WSEN, she stat- the State of Alaska’s Department he wrote. Many college systems ed: “Our administration has of Natural Resources (DNR) on are funded through land grants asked that McCarthy lands be re- Monday, April 26th.” DNR should but Alaska’s received little land moved from the list of lands be in the process of recording the compared to others in the nation. scheduled to be transferred to the deeds, says Montgomery. The nearly 200,000 acres in- federal government under S. According to Representative cluded in the bills were located in 293.” She also stressed that it Cathy Munoz, who co-chaired the Southeast (34,655 acres), was DNR, not the University, that House Community and Regional 150,953 acres in the northern originally put the 12,500 acres Affairs Committee, “several legis- Interior and the Southcentral near McCarthy on the state’s list. lative attempts over the past 10 tracts totaled 14,230 acres, most- The state land transfer provided years have resulted in a lawsuit ly in the McCarthy area. the University with a portfolio of filed by the Southeast Alaska The lands near McCarthy were income and educational proper- Conservation Council (SEACC) to tracts that ran from Long Lake to ties to provide steady income and stop the sale of any of the lands. the May Creek area. (The cover of the ability to expand its research SEACC successfully challenged the March/April 2005 WSEN con- capabilities. the university on the constitu- tained a map of the land in ques- A good portion of local folks tional dedication of the funds tion.) They bordered the Nizina in the McCarthy area will wel- clause.” River and formed a corridor that come the transfer of the Universi- A nearly identical bill intro- ranged between one and three ty land back into state ownership, duced by then-Gov. Murkowski in miles wide, and ran from several but, others who were hoping to 2005 passed but was shot down miles east of the Nizina Bridge get their own piece of property by the Alaska Supreme Court in area to Long Lake at Mile 48 of within these special parcels, will 2009 when the court said it vio- the McCarthy Road. have to look elsewhere. According lated the state constitution’s ded- At the time of the 2005 trans- to Mari Montgomery, things icated funds clause. The clause fer, McCarthy area residents could change in the future, if a prohibits setting aside a source of came together with a rare show of new land bill were to pass in their revenue for any one purpose. unity in opposing this state legis- favor. Gov. Sean Parnell introduced lation. Many opposed the bill be- HB 295 and SB 225 this session cause they were concerned the with land parcels the same as University would quickly subdi- PAGE 26 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010

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Call Us: 822-3375 Mile 188.5 Glenn Highway Box 276 Glennallen, AK 99588 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 33 Cooking with Peggy Pepper If you are making this ahead appy Spring everyone! Stuff the tomatoes and top of time, do not add the almonds My calendar says it is with shredded cheddar cheese. and sesame seeds until you add HApril 5 so spring and Bake at 350 degrees for at least the noodles. summer are just around the cor- 30 minutes. (My girl friend cooks I may have given you this reci- ner. That means that before I hers for an hour or longer!) You’ll pe before but I love it so I wanted write again I’ll turn 70 and be in be able to tell the consistency you to share it again! McCarthy with all my friends. like by looking at them while they Now I would like to pass Turning 70 doesn’t bother me at cook. Some like a much softer to- along a recipe for a Breakfast Cas- all since I know that’s the age mato and, of course, it depends on serole that you can make for your the softness of the tomato when when you become very wise…..at family or in the larger amount for a you start as well as the size of the least that’s what Jim told me church breakfast. You can put it chopped celery and onion. They when he turned 70. My family together the night before and bake are really good so give it a try. and friends threw a surprise it in the morning or do it all in the COLESLAW SALAD OR NUT- morning. My girlfriend takes it to birthday party for me a month TY SPINACH SALAD the Easter breakfast at church ev- early and it was absolutely fan- ery year and it is one of the first tastic. Kim was even able to fly 1 package fresh spinach (10 oz.) , tear into pieces things eaten. I took it this year to a in from Alaska for two days and family Easter brunch and it was make it perfect. 1 package cole slaw salad mix (shredded cabbage & carrots), wonderful. Now, how about some recipes 16 oz. BREAKFAST CASSEROLE for those spring and summer days 6 green onions, thinly sliced ahead. The first three are using First the smaller one. Use an 8” Small bag of slivered almonds square casserole well sprayed with vegetables that grow in your gar- 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds Pam or whatever. dens or are at a great price in the 2 packages Oriental Ramen noodles 4 pieces bread, torn up supermarkets. (use both packages of noodles 2 eggs, 1 cup milk—beat together POTATO PANCAKES but only one package of flavor- 4 oz. cheddar (or any) cheese, ing) 8 large potatoes, peeled and grated shredded DRESSING ½ teaspoon salt 1 can cream of mushroom soup 3 eggs ¾ cup salad oil Layer ingredients in order in 1 tablespoon grated onion 1 teaspoon Accent the 8” square baking pan. Bake at ¼ cup cream or rich milk 2 teaspoons salt 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes. About ½ cup flour or enough to 1 teaspoon pepper or Mrs. Dash NOTE: You may add 6 oz. of take up some of the liquid 4 tablespoons sugar browned sausage, chopped green (should be thin batter-like) 6 tablespoons Rice Vinegar (may be pepper, diced ham, chopped onion Drop by large spoonfuls onto a hot found in the Chinese food sec- etc. Sprinkle these over the bread greased griddle and fry until tion.) brown. Don’t turn until well set. layer. (I added the sausage, green Mix spinach, slaw and onions pepper, and onions and it was deli- Makes about 6 in a large bowl. Brown almonds in STUFFED TOMATOES cious.) small non-stick skillet. When al- REMEMBER, this dish can be Cut the tops off and scoop out 6 most brown, add sesame seeds prepared ahead and refrigerated tomatoes until both are brown. overnight. Then bake it as direct- Mix the pulp with: ½ cup fried ba- When cool, add to spinach ed. con mixture. Refrigerate. Prepare If you need a larger amount ¼ cup celery, chopped dressing. Before serving, crumble 1 small onion, chopped use one of the foil roaster pans noodles over spinach. Pour dress- and be sure to spray first. 1 cup Pepperidge Farm herb dress- ing over salad, mix and serve. ing The ingredients and amounts ½ teaspoon salt are as follows: PAGE 34 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010

Enough torn bread to cover and fill friend who got it from the internet bacon. Sprinkle with pecans. Bake the pan ¾ to top (about a 24 oz. so where it started I don’t know 5-10 minutes longer or until ba- loaf of white bread) but it was so good I brought the con is crisp. (You can try draining Ham, sausage, green pepper, onion, leftovers home and sneak a piece the pieces on a paper towel but I etc. every couple of hours! noticed that sometimes they stick 1 dozen eggs and 4 cups milk PRALINE BACON so I just put them on another Several kinds of cheese (whatever 1 pound of sliced bacon (I suggest piece of foil or at least loosen you have on hand, Cheddar, them from the foil they were American, Velveeta, Swiss, Jack, getting a bacon that isn’t too thin. I used Hormel original) cooked on. Because of the brown etc. Use about 1 lb. of cheese sugar, they can stick a little). As total) 3 tablespoons brown sugar 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder far as I’m concerned the bacon 4 cans mushroom soup. does not have to be served hot. It’s Remember to layer in order. ¼ cup finely chopped pecans Line two (you might be able to a personal preference. I’m eating Cook for about an hour at 350 the leftovers right out of the re- degrees and then maybe another do it on one) baking pans with foil. Arrange the bacon in a single layer frigerator and it tastes like des- 45 minutes at 250 degrees. on the foil. Bake at 425 degrees for sert! Now, how about one more that 10 minutes; drain. Guess that’s all for this time. I tried for the first time for this Combine the brown sugar and I’ll be writing next time from Mc- same Easter brunch. I got it from a chili powder; sprinkle it over the Carthy. Yippee! A LOOKA look AT at theTHE weather WEATHER

inches (14.4 in ‘09, 9.9 in ‘08, 2.5 trace in Mar. '06) and snowfall was ebruary and March 2010 in ‘07 and 8.6 in ‘06). McCarthy 15.4 inches ( 15.4 in Mar. ‘09, were above average in began February with 29 inches of 11.3 in Mar. ‘08, 3.7 in Mar. '07 Ftemperature and below snow on the ground and ended the and 0.1 in Mar. '06). March start- average in precipitation. There month with 25 inches. Kennicott ed the month with 25 inches of were 9 days of February data miss- had 0.80 inches of liquid and 10.4 snow on the ground and ended the ing and again I filled in with Ken- inches of snow. month with 22 inches. Kennicott nicott data. March was a continuation of had 0.20 inches of liquid and 2.0 The high temperature for Feb- February in both temperature and inches of snow. Kennicott started the month with 26 inches of snow ruary was 43 on the 18th (38 on precipitation.. on the ground and ended March Feb. 18, ‘08, 41 on Feb.18, '08 and The high temperature for with 18 inches. 41 on Feb. 3, '07). The lowest tem- March was 49 on the 28th and 31th perature recorded in February was (45 on Mar. 26, ‘09, 47 on Mar. 9, The total snowfall for '09-'10 was 73.3 inches, thru 3/31 ( 118.4 -10 on the 12th and 13th (-11 on '08 and 40 on Mar. 21, '07). The in ‘08-‘09, 73.4 in ‘07-‘08, 44.7 in Feb 5, ‘09, -10 on Feb. 9, '08 and low temperature for March was -13 ‘06-‘07, 84.0 in ‘05-‘06, 79.4 in -42 on Feb. 23, '07). The high was on the 13th (-25 on Mar 3, ‘09, -11 ‘04-'05, 110.6 in ‘03-‘04, 44.5 in 40 or above on only 2 days and the on Mar. 11, '08 and -40 on Mar. 3, ‘02-‘03, and 67.1 in '01-'02 ). The low was -5 or lower on 3 days. The '07). The average March tempera- greatest snow depth was 31 inches average February temperature was ture at McCarthy was 23.0 com- th 16.5 (13.2 in ‘09, 6.8 in ‘08, 1.7 in pared to 15.0 in Mar ‘09, 21.7 in on January 17 . This compares ‘07, 11.6 in ‘06 and 12.3 in ‘05). Mar. ‘08, 4.2 in Mar. ‘07, 10.0 in with an average ('80-'09) of 65.1 This is warm compared to -5.9 in Mar. '06 and 28.7 in Mar. '05. The inches and a snow depth of 27 '99. high reached 45 or higher on 5 inches. The greatest snow fall so far was 118.4 inches in ‘08-‘09 Mike Monroe in Kennicott had days and the low was -10 or below (110.6 in ‘03-‘04 and 99.9 inches an average temperature of 22.5. on 2 days. Kennicott had an aver- age temperature of 25.8. in '90-'91) and the lowest was 27.3 The February precipitation inches in '86-'87. The greatest March liquid precipitation was was 0.78 inches of liquid (1.01 in snow depth was 42 inches ‘03-‘04 0.03 inches (0.93 in Mar. ‘09, 0.51 ‘09, 0.81 in ‘08, 0.05 in '07 and (39 inches in '90-'91) and the low- 1.72 in '06). Total snowfall was 9.7 in Mar. ‘08 0.21 in Mar. '07 and WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS MAY & JUNE 2010 PAGE 35 est was 16 inches in '86-'87 and had an average temperature of 3.6 May should see a rapid increase '98-'99. with a high of 26 on the 17th and a in temperatures with highs in the 60's by mid month. Precipitation is A short summary of the rest of low of -23 on the 1st and 2nd . Precip- the winter months show about av- itation was 0.85 inches and there usually on the light side with an av- erage temperatures and precipita- was 14.4 inches of snow. At the end erage amount of less than an inch. tion. of January there was 29 inches of June is usually the warmest month at McCarthy with an average The average temperature for snow on the ground at Kennicott. temperature in the mid 50's, highs October 2009 at McCarthy was The snow should be gone by the end of April, with high temperatures in the 70's and about 2 inches of 32.8 with a high of 61 on the 11th usually in the 50's. rain. and a low of -3 on the 31th. Liquid precipitation was 2.18 inches and snowfall was 5.3 inches. Kennicott had an average tem- perature of 35.3 with a high of 57 on the 11th and a low of 3 on the 30th. Liquid precipita- Rough & tion was 2.70 inches and 7.2 inches of snow. The average temperature for November 2009 at McCa- Rugged rthy was 6.5 with a high of 33 on the 12th and a low of -35 on the 19th. Precipitation was The 1.41 inches, with 20.0 inches Motorola of snow. There was 12 inches Quantico only of snow on the ground at the end of the month. Kennicott is durable, $ had an average temperature of waterproof 49.95 11.8 with a high of 36 on the and 27th and a low of -19 on the withstands 19th . Precipitation was 2.25 extreme Keep your inches and 28.2 inches of existing pressure. snow. There was 15 inches of number! snow at Kennicott at the end of November. The average temperature for December at McCarthy was 11.0 Add a wireless data card and plan, and the Quantico is FREE! with a high of 35 on the 2nd and In addition, you’ll receive a 25% discount on your data card. a low of -30 on the 31st. Precipi- tation was 2.07 inches and 23.2 Available on Copper Valley Wireless’ 3G Network inches of snow. There was 26 Call us today to learn more! inches of snow on the ground at Check out the new lineup the end of 2009. Kennicott had of phones at Copper Valley Va l d ez · 835-2231 an average temperature of 14.5 Wireless - including the Gl en n a l l en · 822-3551 with a high of 36 on the 1st and popular HTC HERO! t o l l f r ee · 800-478-6612 26th and a low of -20 on the 31st. Kennicott also had 26 inches of www.cvtc.org While supplies last.Terms and conditions may apply. snow on the ground at the end Requires new 2-year contract. Deposit may be requested. of the year. 3GN and number porting presently not available in McCarthy & Cordova markets No data was recorded at Mc- Expires May 31, 2010. Carthy in January. Kennicott 80 PAGE 36 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS MayNEWS 2009MAY & JUNE 2010 70

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