SourDough Notes U.S. Forest Service Alaska Region Summer 2011 ON THE COVER: INSIDE: Iditarod Trail to Classroom.............16 The Juneau Ranger District Ken Zogas Awarded .....................2 Quiz: From the Archives ................17 and SAGA trail crews work on Trek to Nugget Falls .....................3 Federal Subsistence Program .......18 elevated walkway to Nugget Colossal Bridge on Titan Trail ..........4 Chugach Relay for Life ..................19 Falls. Story begins on page 3. Meet Kruzof .....................................5 Yakutat Tern Festival .....................20 Forest Management Study ..............6 Ben VanAlen Awarded ...................21 Photo by Teresa Haugh. We CAN Do It ..................................7 Welcome Ted Schenck ..................21 Celebration, Reconnection ..............8 Ahead in the Safety Journey .........22 SourDough Notes Search and Rescue Training .........10 Recreation: A Few Simple Steps ...23 Paul Hennon Awarded ...................11 Int’l Youth Eco Forum ....................24 Rocky Bay Fish Ladder .................12 Girl Scout Encampment.................25 Quarterly news magazine Rendezvous in the Rockies ...........13 Classrooms for Climate Change....26 for the POW Island Road ..........................14 Celebrating IYOF ...........................27 U.S. Forest Service Changing the Mind-set ..................15 IYOF Poster ...................................28 Alaska Region P. O. Box 21628 Juneau, AK 99802-1628 http://www.fs.usda.gov/r10 Ken Zogas Recognized for Aviation Safety Summer 2011 ames Hubbard, Produced by: deputy chief, State Regional Public Affairs Office and Private Forestry, Teresa Haugh, Editor J announced this past April that Ken Zogas, Submissions: SourDough Notes is written Biological Technician, for people interested in Alaska Region, was the the Alaska Region. recipient of the 2011 Your suggestions, articles, and Forest Health Protec- photographs are welcome. tion Aviation Safety Please contact: Award. This award commemorates con- Public Affairs Office tributions made by the U.S. Forest Service fallen aerial survey crew Department of Agriculture of N30266—Rodney P. O. Box 21628 Juneau, AK 99802 Whiteman, Dan Snider, (907) 586-9337 and Patrick Jessup— [email protected] by annually recogniz- ing excellence in forest Acceptance of articles does not health aviation activities. guarantee publication. Deputy Chief Hub- The editorial staff reserves bard’s announcement Ken Zogas displays his 2011 Forest Health the right to edit all articles for read, “Mr. Zogas rou- Protection Aviation Safety Award. Photo by Steve journalistic standards and space tinely achieves the high- Swenson. consideration. Articles will be est levels of performance edited to Associated Press style with consideration of and accomplishment in each of the criteria evaluated: promote a positive GPO guidelines. aviation safety culture; conduct forest health aviation activities to directly benefit the resource; and build efficiency and effectiveness among federal The USDA Is an equal opportunity and state partners in forest health aviation safety. He has been involved in employer and provider. FHP aviation for 30 years in Alaska where he continues to excel.” Congratulations, Ken. 2 SourDough Notes at http://www.fs.usda.gov/r10 @AKForestService “A strong person and a waterfall Trek to Nugget Falls always channel their own path.” No Longer a Hop, Skip, and a Jump Author unknown By Ed Grossman, Recreation Program Manager, Juneau Ranger District here is a lot of truth in the saying, “If you build it they will come.” I would Tfurther submit if you build it at their request, they will thank you, as well. The long anticipated completion of the Tongass’ newest pedestrian attraction, Nugget Falls Trail, is being realized. Over the years, Forest Service managers have observed that visitors are irresistibly attracted to this magnifi- cent waterfall located near Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier. The visitors have used an unimproved, “hop, skip, and jump” route to this destination, especially as summer snow melt raises the level of Mendenhall Lake. As a result, the public over the years has repeatedly requested that we con- struct an improved access route to the falls. Visitors bushwhack through the alders along Mendenhall Lake’s The planning and construction of this route flooded shore on their way to the irresistible Nugget Falls. Photo was primarily funded through two Alaska Trails by Hans vonRekowski. Initiative grants (totaling almost $200K) adminis- returned to the Forest Service for en- Special thanks to: tered by the State of Alaska Division of State Parks. hancement projects like this, were also Guide/Outfitter permit fee dollars (about $80K), applied to this effort. Juneau Ranger District Trail Crew Nugget Falls Trail’s popularity • Peter Cross with locals and visitors is already • Matt Adams established. With nearly a half a Trail Crew Assistants million visitors to the Mendenhall • Josh Blechman Glacier Visitor’s Center each year, • Sarah Harwell it is safe to assume the number • Adam Kackstetter of Nugget Falls Trail users will • Dale McFarlin • Sarah Roop be measured in hundreds of thou- • Collin Wigfield-Gorka sands. The trail may also provide approximately 0.8 miles of additional Sitka Ranger District Employees fully accessible pathway for guided • Steve Pauli hiking operations working in the • Nate Vreeland vicinity of the visitor center in the • Tripp Henderson future. • Kyle Hert • Kurt Prond So, the next time you are through Alaska’s Capital City, consider al- State of Alaska lowing time for this leisurely stroll • Steve Neel • Bill Luck amongst glacial erratics, post-glacial vegetative succession, and dunes of Last But Not Least glacial till. Just follow the roar while • Matt Philips (former soaking in the scenery, and eventu- landscape architect) ally you will have the option of step- • Regional Office • Southeast Alaska ping into the mist of what is left of Guidance Association the previous winter’s snow. • Tongass Forest Supervisor’s Office Visitors at the terminus of Nugget Falls. Photo by Ed Grossman. SourDough Notes Summer 2011 3 Colossal Bridge for the Titan Trail By Eleanor Oman, ETS Civil Engineer and Rod Dell’Andrea, RO Structural Engineer growth forest and open avalanche slopes. Hikers are able to reach the alpine ridge marking the border between Alaska and British Co- lumbia. Along the way, hikers can see fabulous elevated views of the Salmon River Valley, with glimpses of the ice cap and glaciers. The new bridge provides im- proved trail access by eliminating a deep water crossing on Fish Creek within the first quarter mile of the trail. The Fish Creek Wildlife Ob- servation Site, also managed by the district, and just ¼ mile from the trailhead, draws as many as 40,000 visitors annually for world-class bear viewing opportunities. District employees believe that a good per- The Titan Trail Bridge awaits foot traffic. Photos by Eleanor Oman. centage of these visitors will likely take advantage of the enhanced hik- hat’s in a name, you monitor construction progress and ing opportunity the new footbridge ask? The short answer— provide timely technical assistance. offers. Wabsolutely everything, at The result of Brand’s foresight Paul Larkin, district forestry least to Karen Brand, Recreation/ and the ETS effort is the addition technician, said, “It’s a splendid Wilderness/Lands Staff Officer for of the new Titan Trail Bridge. Its addition to the local infrastructure. the Ketchikan-Misty Fiords Ranger grand size and strong design will The Hyder Community is very District. When Brand found an op- reflect the attributes of the trail pleased with this project.” portunity to use American Recovery from which it draws its name for The new bridge is 90 feet long and Reinvestment Act funding for many years to come. The bridge is and 5 feet wide. It is a single span, a trail project located on her dis- destined to become a very popular glued-laminated, tied-arch super- trict, she quickly identified all of the subject with photographers and art- structure built on timber sills. Its superior benefits the project would ists as it gracefully crosses a beauti- design is uniquely Alaskan, and create for visitors and local area hik- ful reach of salmon stream along was originally developed for two ers. Her vision was to create some- the Titan Trail. installations on the Trail of Blue thing colossal, befitting of a trail The Titan Trailhead parking Ice near Girdwood. The design was that had been given the name Titan. area is located just off the Salmon chosen for the Titan Trail because Using ARRA funds, Brand River Road approximately three it provides substantial clearance enlisted the aid of a Forest Service miles from Hyder, Alaska (pop. above stream flows by placing most enterprise team, Enterprise Techni- 100). Hyder is accessible from the of the bridge superstructure compo- cal Services, to manage the project Canadian highway system through nents above the walking surface of to completion. ETS served as the Stewart, B.C., and by float plane the deck. The bridge deck and floor project manager and the contracting and ship from Ketchikan, Alaska. beam system are suspended from officer’s representative, working to The 4.8 mile trail, managed by the each arch rib with six steel tension create the development drawings, Ketchikan-Misty Fiords Ranger rod and hanger assemblies. In this specifications and cost estimate for District, permits hikers to climb a configuration, the arch ribs always