By Bobbie Jo Skibo,
Special to the Turnagain Times
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On July 20 the Chugach National Forest celebrated with a tasty barbeque and music by the “Fiddlin’ Foresters.” Other special events included a narrated “Walk Through Time”, story telling, dancing, the Port City players’ “Alaska Nellie” show, and an appearance from Smokey Bear. The evening ended with a ribbon cutting ceremony to the newly renovated Trail River Campground which has been developed into the largest US Forest Service recreation site in Alaska. |
Proudly the Chugach Nation Forest celebrated its 100-year Centennial July 20, 2007 at the newly renovated Trail River Campground located just south of Moose Pass. The National Forest was created in 1907 by Teddy Roosevelt for the conservation of fish and wildlife resources and includes the Kenai Peninsula, the Copper River Delta, and Prince William Sound. Chugach National Forest Seward Ranger District would like to extend a sincere thank you to all who participated in the Trail River Centennial Event at the newly renovated Trail River Campground at MP 24.2, Seward Highway.
With close to 300 people attending, the event was a huge success! The event started out with a community barbeque with tasty salmon hot off the grill, fresh salads, and yummy desserts, including smore’s around the campfire. The evening events also included a one time only cultural, entertaining, and theatrical performance titled the “Chugach Walk Through Time”.
An entertaining “Walk through Time”, narrated by “Helen-the-Trapper” was created to give people a better understanding and appreciation of the 5.4 million acres that make up the Chugach National Forest. The performance included oral history and dancing by Sasha Lindgren and the Kenaitze Indian Tribe; mining and trapping historical stories told by Cooper Landing Historical Society’s Mona Painter; and the Port City Player’s Alaska Nellie show (Into Alaska a Woman Came, The Alaska Nellie Story). In addition to the “Walk Through Time”, all enjoyed live music by the USDA Forest Service’s Fiddlin’ Foresters, educational displays, and an appearance from Smokey Bear.
To commemorate the Chugach’s 100 Wild Years, everyone took the walk through time and ended the performance with a celebratory ribbon cutting of the new Trail River Campground area.
The Trail River Campground has recently been renovated into the largest Forest Service developed recreation site in Alaska. This was one of the facilities that was built during the early recreation boom and needed upgrades such as accessible restrooms, campsites, and tables. Over the past few months, the renovation project was completed and the facility now contains 87 campsites, a lake front day use area, and an amazing group site where the event was held.
Seward District Ranger, Jeni Evans, while looking to the future, sees a horizon that holds another 100 years of world class recreation and tourism opportunities; wild watersheds and wildlife; and a high quality of life for its residents.
Forest management is crucial to the many residents who live a unique rural and subsistence lifestyle and to those who visit as a once in a lifetime destination. Our past and present are inextricably interwoven, and it will be a great challenge and pleasure to manage the Forest to a future that will be as rich in story and promise as is its past. Please stop by our office anytime and be sure to get out and enjoy YOUR national forest!