Moose Passings

By Willow Hetrick
Turnagain Times
Moose Pass Correspondent

Seward Ranger District Vantastic Season Comes to an End

The Vantastic program within the Seward District is a part of the entire Chugach National Forest’s Conservation Education and Interpretation team, and traveling and assisting with events around the Forest is their specialty. Throughout the summer the Vantastic crew was able to attend and help with many education activities around the state: the Potter Marsh Spring Fling, Glacier Ranger District’s “Fish Day”, Seward Ranger District’s “Fish Day”, the Moose Pass Solstice Festival, Seward’s 4th of July celebration, the Cordova Slammin’ Salmon Festival, Girdwood Science Camp, Hope Heritage Day, Bird TLC Autumn Wings Festival, and the Valdez Gold Rush Days.   

Amidst this busy schedule, the team also provided naturalist interpretation at either Tern Lake or Dave’s Creek Recreation Area, and presented campfire programs at Quartz Creek or Trail River campgrounds in Cooper Landing and Moose Pass, respectively. This rainy and cold summer experienced on the Kenai Peninsula kept the Vantastic crew from being at Tern Lake as much as they had planned.

When the red salmon made the journey inland in late July, the Vantastic crew staffed the Moose Creek Fish Viewing Platform in Moose Pass and answered visitors salmon questions galore for a few days. Although the tourist season is coming to an end, the Vantastic crew will continue on their education efforts at the Begich Boggs Visitor Center, assisting the staff with climate change and weather educational field trips for 5 grade classes from Anchorage.  

After September is the close of the Vantastic 2010 summer season with a wonderful program getting ‘Kids in the Woods’ which is a national program effort by the U.S. Forest Service.

Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area Grant Funding

Two Moose Pass projects received funding from the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area: Bruce Jaffa has will restore the Ed Estes water wheel, and Rose Hetrick and her Girl Scouts will create a sign for the new Forest Service Dave’s Creek Recreation Area.

Kenai Crewsers Rowing Club Wins Gold

Our local rowing club, the Kenai Crewsers, hosted the ‘Head of the Kenai Regatta’ this past Saturday on Kenai Lake at Quartz Creek Campground. Participating clubs from Anchorage and Kenai/Soldotna participated. Despite strong winds on the lake, the boats were able to compete after slight adjustments in the original course. The mixed (both men and women) Kenai Crewsers boat crossed the finish line to claim the gold medal on their home turf. To celebrate, all of the rowing clubs shared good food, good camaraderie and good friends rounded out a great event.

Forest Service Trail Updates

Thanks to our dedicated Rangers at the Kenai Lake Work Center in Moose Pass, we have updated Forest Service trail information in-and-around Moose Pass.

As of July 26, due to recent rain, conditions on many of the trails have become very muddy with areas of standing water. Soon the following trails will be brushed: Gull Rock Trail, Bear Creek Trail, Resurrection Pass Trail from the north trailhead to Caribou Creek, and Russian Lakes Trail from Barber Cabin junction to Upper Russian Lake.

As of July 15, all of Resurrection River Trail has been cleared of fallen trees except for the three miles between Martin and Boulder Creeks. Martin, Boulder and Summit Creek’s are running high.