WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS JULY & AUGUST 2009 PAGE 1 Wrangell St. Elias News “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty” Volume Eighteen Issue Four July & August 2009 $2.50 r tribute at nve Ke e John n D Denver n tribute i n co h t 2nd t o Story page 12 J Annual 1950 Copper River Survey photo journal Right: Ginny Creek Section house. Photo courtesy Charles R. Charles courtesy Leitzell Photo Photo courtesy R. courtesy Charles Leitzell Photo Above: Chitina Left: Pondering dipnetters in 1950. eternity between Note the wood- Fox Creek and handled dipnets. O’Brien Creek Chi- Fishing must have tina in 1950. been slow, judging by the bored look on More pictures the ladies faces. starting page 8. Photo courtesy Charles R. Leitzell PAGE 2 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS JULY & AUGUST 2009 A note from the publisher ascent of Mt. Blackburn, the highest who help to support this humble he month of June began peak in the Wrangells. We first publication! You are greatly appreci- Twith sudden summer tem- printed it in 1994. The subscribers ated. peratures. Was it ever who got on board WSEN after that Just prior to press time, I re- nice!! Last summer didn’t really date will enjoy reading it for the ceived a phone call from a neighbor happen for us so when the blue sky first time, but many of you old-tim- informing me of the death of Sarah appeared with rising temperatures ers will find it just as interesting the Thorn. Sarah, 25, was well-known in up to 83, local residents, including second time around. the McCarthy/Kennicott area. Her myself, basked in the heat and for- As you know, the centerfold of parents, Steve and Diane, are sum- got about the cold and rain of last WSEN has, for many years, taken mer and fall residents and work for year. the news items from the early the park service. Sarah’s sister, Ma- Gardens and greenhouses are 1900's and shared them with you rie, is also a familiar face to us all. thriving. Folks started planting a bit history buffs. Some time ago, sub- We are sorry we do not have an obit- earlier than usual and then we re- scriber Charlie Ricci, asked me to uary to share with you yet but hope ceived a good rainfall to give our dig up The Katalla Herald and re- to have one next issue. Our deepest seeds a great start at germinating. print the old news from that publi- condolences and prayers go out to What a thrill to walk our garden cation. July of 1909 was the last of this well-loved family! paths and inspect the tiny seedlings this newspaper’s existence. I’ve en- Wrangell St. Elias News wel- and the robust transplants that are joyed “visiting” Katalla through the comes aboard the following sub- now well rooted in their permanents eyes of this newspaper. Beginning scribers: Stephens and Tamara beds. Cauliflower, broccoli, cab- next issue I hope to feature another Harper, AK; Eric Johnson, AK; Mark bage, carrots, beets, parsnips, let- newspaper of history tucked away in Vail, AK; Alex Wesson, CO; Carla tuce, spinach, swiss chard, potatoes the archives of our state library and Hilgendorf, AK; Dian Rhodes, AK; and zucchini are the majority of bring you news items from its view- Bruce James, AK; Mike and Jennifer items we grow outside. The toma- point. Schneider, LA. toes, cucumbers, green beans and Rick and I thank all our contrib- squash are greenhouse musts in my utors and to the faithful advertisers immediate neck-of-the-woods. In between working on the WS- EN and our yearly visitor’s guide to Table of Contents the Kennicott and McCarthy area, A note from the publisher.....................................................................2 Rick and thoroughly enjoy tending Items of Interest...................................................................................3 our garden. Today is June 23rd, (our High Lake Fishing Adventure................................................................6 youngest grandson’s birthday. He’s 1950 Copper River survey photo journal...............................................8 turning 9 today. Happy Birthday, Kennecott’s Denver Tribute Huge Success..........................................12 Caleb!) and we are already sampling Mountaineering history made on Mt. Blackburn.................................13 lettuce, cucumbers, spinach and Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Photo Contest....................16 chard. Seedtime and harvest is cer- Wake up! It’s time to celebrate...........................................................17 tainly a God thing, giving us the joy THE KATALLA HERALD......................................................................18 of taking a tiny seed and with great Scientist kills polar bear during first field experience.........................20 hope and faith, plant it and then Quotes................................................................................................21 eagerly waiting for the end results. Hunting regs for bear, moose change.................................................24 The Wrangell St. Elias News is McCarthy Road Volunteer Fire Departments .....................................24 now 17 years old with this Rare original Declaration of Independence copy to tour Princess Alaska July/August issue. Over the years we ships July 4th week....................................................................................25 have had such wonderful contribu- Fishing, Chitina style..........................................................................28 tors. Rick chose to go into our Ar- Cooking with Peggy............................................................................32 chives and reprint a story written by A LOOK AT THE WEATHER................................................................33 Neil O’Donnell entitled, “Mountaineering history made on FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.............................................................34 Mt. Blackburn.” It highlights Dora Time to Seize this Opportunity...........................................................34 Keen who made the first historic LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.................................................................35 WRANGELL ST. ELIAS NEWS JULY & AUGUST 2009 PAGE 3 Items of Interest (I’m glad I was on the list!) and can’t miss it! Kurt says he will Jim and Peggy Guntis: The even fit in a trip up to Kennicott have room to expand his hardware Guntis’ are more-than-familiar for lunch at the lodge and a round and lumber products. A new deck faces to the McCarthy area. They of shopping at Terry and Dee is in the offing as well, says Peggy. have been coming to this special Frady’s Fireweed Mountain Arts On May 30th Paul Barr with Sour- place since 1993. Daughter Kim and Crafts’ gift shop. They also dough Drilling found them an ex- (Northrup) used to work at the attended the McCarthy Lodge’s cellent, abundant supply of water McCarthy Lodge in those early Dinner Night especially geared to at 40 feet. Congratulations! days so Jim and Peggy decided the locals. Fun was had by all, says There is now a cleared, and they would go in with Kim and Peggy! level pad for the new building purchase a piece of property and Jim and Peggy just left to trav- (thanks to Rowcon Services, says build a permanent summer home. el to Homer to pay Kim and family Peggy) with plans for a concrete The construction began in ‘96 a visit. When they return to McCa- foundation to be finished by the and after 4 summer seasons, they rthy on the 25th of June, Jim’s end of this summer. Building moved in. We are within a 5 min- daughter, Sue Miller, and her should begin next spring. The ute walk from each other. For friend, Chris Pinhey, of Tucson are Smiths expect the new Merc to be those of you who have just joined arriving and will take in the July open for the 2011 summer season. the ranks of a WSEN subscriber, 4th festivities. A sightseeing trip to Lots of work yet to be done, but Peggy is the author of Cooking Cordova is also in the plan. much has already taken place. Be- with Peggy. She is also my “mail- Welcome back, Jim and Peg! fore we know it, we’ll be lounging day buddy” who accompanies me on the new deck complete with a Kurt and Peggy Smith and to the mail shack on Wednesdays cup of my favorite low fat peach the good ole’ McCarthy Mercan- and Fridays, and shares my favor- yogurt! tile: It has been a busy 2 months ite ice cream flavor at the McCa- for the Smith family and for the Peggy says the Merc has an rthy Mercantile —low fat peach “Merc.” Not only did they get the “international flair” this year. yogurt! (How can something low store up and running for the sum- Among those helping customers fat still taste so good?) mer of 2009 but the new store’s are Albina Izmaylova from Russia The Guntis’ arrived on May site began taking on a totally dif- and Majbritt Logan from Den- 21st this year. Jim got their water ferent look. The present site is mark. Both young ladies make line up and running in record just a hop and a few skips from sure you are well taken care of. time. By the time daughter Kim, the Ma Johnson Hotel in down- In May daughters Kelsey and her husband, Richard, and 5- town McCarthy. The new site is Katy and granddaughter Ava came month old son, Robert “Robbie” just before one enters what I refer calling. Katy and Ava were only Franklin Frost arrived on the 31st, to as “downtown.” here a few days. Unfortunately, I the house was in fine shape. Peggy Across the road from the Mu- missed seeing them this time and Kim took time to visit friends seum is the new location. You around. Kelsey is helping out at the Mercantile until the end of Wrangell St. Elias News (USPS 011301) VOL. Eighteen, Issue Four, July & August 2009. 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 © 2009 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, George Cebula, Ned Rozell, Neil O’Donnell, Carrie Hale, Terry Blosser, Charles Leitzell, John Rice, Carole Morrison and Meg Jensen.