The Girdwood Trails Committee spends nearly all its yearly budget funding on summer trail work and winter grooming.
This past summer, there were three phases of work done in the valley.
First, each summer the committee hires, with the help of grants, Southeast Alaska Guidance Association (SAGA) crews who work to maintain and improve our trails. Materials such as lumber, concrete, and gravel are purchased through Trails Committee earnings, community donations, and any remaining budget funds.
The 2009 SAGA summer crews accomplished the following in our valley:
Beaver Pond Trail—brushed out trail, worked on drainage ditches, built and installed boardwalk, built two benches. Abe's Trail—cleared out fallen trees on trail. Fungus Fair Run Trail—worked on drainage and cleared roots to make it safe for runners. Lower Iditarod—brushed out trail. Groomer Winter Trail—poured concrete; set two bollards for a new chain near shed. Robbie's Route—dug ditches to manage new drainage problems near bridges. Stumpy's Summer Trail—brushed out trail.
The Committee thanks Crow Creek Mine for letting the crews camp there again, Norman Starkey for leading the entire effort, Jonnie Lazarus of Parks and Recreation for her help and support in all our work, and community members who fed the crews.
Second, the Trails Committee and Alyeska Resort employees replaced the hand tram rope and maintained the tram. The rope will be replaced and the hand tram maintained and evaluated each year. As always, please be gentle with the tram, wear gloves, and have at least one strong person in the basket.
Thanks to Alpine Air for storing and carrying ropes to and from the site and to Alyeska Resort employees, particularly Brian Burnett, for their help with this project.
Finally, the Alyeska Bike Path had two projects this summer.
John Gallup and a crew of volunteers replaced the bridge decking, and the municipality re-sets and paved the area near several culverts. Thanks again to all the volunteers who replaced the decking on the bridge. The bike path is now much improved for all of us to walk or ride on.
The Trails Committee also thanks all the community artisans and business people who contributed to the Fungus Fair Formal Auction that benefited the Trails Committee. Your efforts helped raise appreciated funds that will be used to maintain and improve our valley's trails.
