Setting the Scene

We are one of six SCA Corps teams working throughout Alaska this summer, each team has a unique set of projects and locations they will be working in. Last season I led a crew through south-central Alaska, here is a link to our blog in case you're curious: http://scaalaskatc.blogspot.com/. AK Team 5 is set largely in south-east Alaska, within the maize of coastline and islands. Our summer schedule will take us to the towns of Palmer, Gustravus, Skagway, and Sitka over the course of 14 weeks of conservation projects.

Palmer 

Mat-Su Borough Trails

West Butte Trail Project June 8 to June 11

Source: http://www.alaskapublic.org/2014/12/01/buying-a-landmark/

Palmer is located about an hour north of Anchorage, set North of the Knik Arm of the Cook Intet, east of the Matanuska River, and surrounded by the Talkeetna Mountains to the North and Chugach Range to the South. The Bodenburg Butte is a geologic feature within the Matanuska valley, left as a remnant from glacial activity. It serves as a popular day hiking destination for the Mat-Su area. The trail will be receiving work early this season to take account for newly aquired property on the summit of the butte. 

Gustavus 

Glacier Bay National Park

Bartlett Cove June 15 to July 3

Dry Bay July 6 to July 24

Source: www.sandygennrich.com

Glacier Bay National Park harbors high peaks, temperate rainforest, and dynamic coastlines of glaciers and fjords. The park and preserve is 3,283,000 acres, with approximately 27% covered by 1,045 glaciers. The majority of the glaciers are located at elevations between 8,000 to 12,000 feet, few but notable are the tidewater glaciers infamous for their calving and dramatic addition to the landscape. 
Gustavus is the nearest town, 10 miles from park boundary, and can be accessed only by boat or plane. Limited access to the area influences the large quantity of cruise ship passengers visiting the park. Prior to modern establishments the region was the homeland to the Huna Tlingit people. 

Skagway

Klondike Goldrush National Historic Park

Chilkoot Trail Maintenance July 27 to August 21

Source: nps.gov

Klondike Goldrush National Historic Park is a collection of scattered sites in the Skagway area to commemorate the history of mining that influenced the growth of Alaskan and Yukon territories in the late 1800s. Miners flooding the area were referred to as Stampeders, and utilized the Chilkoot Trail to hike from Dyea, Alaska, to Lake Bennett, British Columbia, to mine for gold. The 33 mile trail was a demanding trek and intensified by the requirement for each person to bring a years worth of supplies across the border with them. The National Historic Park is also connected to sites in Seattle, Washington, and Dawson City, Yukon Territory, that help to encompass the story of gold mining from start to finish. The Klondike goldrush is one of 50 mining booms that took place between 1800-1915 that helped expand the options for further development in the north. 

Sitka

Sitka Trail Works

Boardwalk removal August 24 to September 11

Source: tripadvisor.com

The location of Sitka was originally a Tlingit native settlement, that was taken over through a series of struggled by the Russians between 1799-1804. Sitka, served as the trading hub for the Russian-American Company and was designated the capital of Russian America. Political and economic concerns in Russia led to the sale of the Alaskan Territory to the United States is 1867 for $7.2 million dollars. Today Sitka serves as a major fishing port for the U.S. and was assisted in development by the goldrush era. The town is located primarily on Baranof Island and on the southern end of Chichagof Island, which are part of the Alexander Archipelago.  
We will be partnering with Sitka Trail Works, a local non profit started in 1997. Their mission is to enhance the trails of Sitka and provide opportunities for "physical activity, economic development, cultural enrichment and spiritual renewal."


There is so much to look forward to in the quickly approaching season. Each of these places have unique stories and opportunities within them that we get the chance to interact with. Next post will feature introductions to the crew members of AK Team 5. 

-Lesley