Novarupta Newspaper 2016
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National Park Service Park News U.S. Department of the Interior The Novarupta What do a botanist, a steaming volcanic landscape, and the national park idea have in common? Katmai. In 1916 a team led by Robert F. Griggs—a botanist by training and profession—discovered the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Griggs immediately recognized the area was worthy of protection as a national park. Largely through his efforts, Katmai National Monument was established two years later. In 2016, as the National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary, you are encouraged to find your park. Robert Griggs found Katmai and his legacy lives on. Does Katmai speak to you as strongly as it spoke to Griggs? How will you #FindYourPark? NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY NATIONAL What’s Inside: Brooks Camp ..............6 Bearcam .....................12 Centennial! .................14 ROY WOOD Three National Parks, Many Amazing Experiences National Park Service Welcome to Katmai Country U.S. Department of the Interior Welcome to Alagnak Wild River, Aniakchak parks. Many people over several genera- National Monument and Preserve, and tions worked tirelessly to protect national Katmai National Park and Preserve! In parks in the past. In this second century of these nearly five million acres of remote National Park Service history, that legacy of Alagnak Wild River Alaska, you will discover lands that are stewardship continues. Aniakchak National Monument and home to abundant wildlife, a diverse range Preserve of habitats, spectacular scenery, and a long Alagnak, Aniakchak, and Katmai are among Katmai National Park and Preserve human history. Volcanic areas like the Val- more than 400 national park areas across ley of Ten Thousand Smokes and Aniak- the nation, ranging from vast wilderness Katmai was declared a national monument in 1918. Aniakchak National Monument was chak Caldera are graphic reminders of the areas to historical sites in urban centers. established in 1978. The 1980 Alaska Na- awesome power of our changing earth. National parks exist so that important tional Interest Lands Conservation Act estab- These areas offer wilderness, solace, rec- parts of our heritage can be experienced lished Alagnak Wild River, while Katmai and reation, and important habitat for majestic by future generations. Please join us in Aniakchak were expanded to include national animals like brown bears and salmon. celebrating the National Park Service’s preserve areas. Katmai was also redesignated Centennial. No matter where you are, get a national park at this time. Together, these In 2016, the National Park Service cel- out and #FindYourPark. lands encompass nearly five million acres of ebrates its 100th anniversary and you are unique landscapes managed by the National invited to celebrate with us. This is a time to Diane Chung Park Service. reflect back on the national park idea and Superintendent look ahead to the next century of national Mailing Address PO Box 7 King Salmon, AK 99613 Park Headquarters Phone: 907-246-3305 Fax: 907-246-2116 Web Alagnak: www.nps.gov/alag Aniakchak: www.nps.gov/ania Katmai: www.nps.gov/katm © ROY WOOD Contents: Southwest Alaska’s Park Lands .................................... 2-3 Katmai and the National Park Idea .......................... 14-15 Essential Information ....................................................... 4 Fishing Information ....................................................... 17 Getting Here, Getting Around ........................................ 5 Backcountry Travel ......................................................... 18 Brooks Camp .................................................................... 6 Aniakchak National Monument ............................... 20-21 Camping at Brooks Camp ................................................ 8 Alagnak Wild River ................................................... 22-23 Brooks Camp Map ............................................................ 9 Park Neighbors .......................................................... 24-25 Bear Viewing ............................................................. 10-11 Cycle of the Salmon ....................................................... 26 Live Bearcams ................................................................. 12 Alaska Geographic Association ..................................... 27 Safe Travels in Bear Country ......................................... 13 Exploring the Human History of Katmai ...................... 28 2 The Novarupta Alagnak Aniakchak Katmai Wild River National Monument and Preserve National Park and Preserve Unbounded by dams or arti- Midway down the wild, On June 6th, 1912 residents ficial channels, the Alagnak remote, and mostly roadless of the northern Alaska River meanders its way from Alaska Peninsula lies one of Peninsula experienced one of headwaters in the Aleutian the nation’s most fascinat- the largest volcanic eruptions Range across the Alaska ing, but least visited, volcanic in recorded history. The erup- Peninsula to Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea. features. Aniakchak National Monument tion at Novarupta volcano sent ash over The upper 69 miles of river are designated and Preserve surrounds a large caldera 100,000 feet into the atmosphere, led to the a national wild river, meaning free flow, no formed by the collapse of a 7,000 foot collapse of Mount Katmai, and created the dams, and little human impact. volcano. Set inland in a place of frequent Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. clouds and fierce storms, Aniakchak was From the time of the earliest Alaskans, the unknown to all but area Natives until the Katmai National Monument was estab- river has given much to those willing to 1920s, and had its last eruption in 1931. lished in 1918 to protect the volcanically learn its ways. In summer, the river teems Nestled inside the caldera is Surprise devastated region surrounding Mount with salmon. Falls brings migrating caribou Lake, a remnant of a much larger lake Katmai and the Valley of Ten Thousand and berries. It traverses the beautiful Alaska that catastrophically drained in a massive Smokes. Today, Katmai National Park and Peninsula, providing opportunities to expe- flood. Warm springs, melting snow, and Preserve is still an active volcanic land- rience the unique wilderness, wildlife, and glaciers feed Surprise Lake, which in turn scape, but it also protects 9,000 years of cultural heritage of the area. gives rise to the Aniakchak Wild River. human history as well as important habitat for runs of salmon and the thousands of This river is one of the most popular sport This narrow stretch of the Alaska Penin- brown bears that feed on them. fishing destinations in all of Alaska. Alag- sula boasts a rich human history. Volca- nak’s extraordinary rainbow trout, char, noes, earthquakes, and tsunamis have Katmai is a rugged and diverse land where grayling, and abundant salmon are some of interrupted the human story, yet the land bears are plentiful, salmon leap water- the most attractive sport fish in the world, abides as a wild place where people can falls on their journey to spawn, steaming and the river has become the most popular experience independence and interde- volcanoes serve as a reminder of the earth’s fly-in fishing destination in all of Southwest pendence. Life has persisted here in the power, and the stories of cultural change Alaska. face of catastrophic change. continue to live on. See pages 22-23 for more information. See pages 20-21 for more information. See pages 6-18 for more information. © M. FITZ Glacially shrouded volcanoes, like Mount Mageik, form the geologic backbone of the Alaska Peninsula. Katmai National Park is the site of the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century (see pages 14-15). The Novarupta 3 Essential Information Dates and Hours of Operation anywhere on the Alaska Peninsula. See page Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve. Alagnak, Aniakchak, and Katmai are open 24 13 for more bear safety information. Only non-guided sport hunting is allowed in hours a day every day of the year. Most services the Alagnak Wild River corridor. In all other such as lodges and air taxis operate seasonally. Visitors to Brooks Camp are required, upon areas, sport hunting is prohibited. All hunting arrival, to participate in a brief, mandatory bear activities require a license and are subject to National Park Service and concessionaire safety talk at the Brooks Camp Visitor Center. National Park Service and Alaska Department operated facilities at Brooks Camp, in Katmai of Fish and Game regulations and restrictions. National Park, are open from June 1 through Food Storage September 17. All food, beverages, garbage, equipment used Weather to cook or store food, and/or any odorous Even during summer, visitors to the Alaska Pen- Camping item must be properly stored in an approved insula should be prepared for cool and stormy Within 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of Brooks Falls (i.e., bear-resistant container (BRC). BRCs include conditions with frequent strong winds. Clear the Brooks Camp Developed Area), camping those approved by the Department of Interior skies occur about 20 percent of days. In gen- is only allowed at Brooks Camp Campground. and Agriculture‘s Interagency Grizzly Bear eral, visitors to the Aniakchak area should ex- Camping is permitted elsewhere in Katmai with Committee (www.igbconline.org/images/pdf/ pect significantly cooler, stormier, and windier one exception (see page 18) and on any public Certified_Products_list.pdf) and additional conditions. Wherever