Tongass National Forest Sitka Ranger District proposes to reconstruct Sitkoh Lake Trail

The Tongass National Forest Sitka Ranger District is proposing to reconstruct the Sitkoh Lake Trail, beginning with survey and design in 2018 and construction in 2019.

Sitkoh Lake Trail is located on southeast Chichagof Island, about 35 miles north of Sitka, and connects Sitkoh Lake and Sitkoh Bay. The trail is approximately 4.5 miles in length and is currently in poor condition overall, but navigable. There are several large log stringer trail bridges along the trail, and one has collapsed while another is tilting and unsafe to easily cross.

In some sections and at higher stream flows, hikers are walking within the stream bed and the trail is under water. The trail is used primarily for fishing access, remote hiking, hunting, and nature viewing. You can find the project description here on the internet along with a project area map.

If you would like more information about the proposal, please contact project manager Mike Mullin at (907) 747-4274 or mmullin@fs.fed.us.

• Sitkoh Lake Trail reconstruction project scoping letter

SAIL Senior Hiking Club sets next hike for the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 17

The Sitka office of Southeast Alaska Independent Living Inc. (SAIL) has announced its next Senior Hiking Club hike will be from 1-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 17. Seniors should meet at the Swan Lake Senior Center for transportation to the trailhead for Indian River Trail.

Normally, the group picks the trail on the day of the hike, but occasionally a trail is picked before the event. SAIL makes trekking poles available for hikers to use (trekking poles are great on ice or uneven terrain, and they help seniors keep their balance), and hikers are encouraged to bring ice cleats such as YakTrax during the icy months of winter.

SAIL offers Senior Hiking Club events for those age 60 or older once a month, usually on the second or third Thursday. There is a $5 fee, but nobody will be turned away because of finances. The hikes are open to people of all abilities and fitness levels. To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, check out our January 2013 post introducing the club.

To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, senior and adaptive kayaking trips, senior cycling events, and and a variety of other outdoors skills and survival classes, contact SAIL ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Community Access) program coordinator Clare Kelly at 747-6859 or email her at sitka@sailinc.org or ckelly@sailinc.org. The calendar includes hiking, orienteering, kayaking, and other events for seniors, youth, and the disabled.

• SAIL events calendar for August 2017

New Indian River pedestrian bridge in Sitka National Historical Park opens for use

OPENED BRIDGE – Sitka National Historical Park Superintendent David Elkowitz and contractor Jeremy Twaddle of Island Enterprises Inc. cut a ceremonial ribbon to officially open the Indian River foot bridge Friday morning, July 28, 2017. The new bridge, which is two feet wider than the old one, was completed on schedule, just ahead of pink salmon spawning. Pictured on the bridge are, from left, Ryan Carpenter, Elkowitz, Brinnen Carter, Twaddle and Mike Trainor. (Daily Sitka Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

Sitka Maritime Heritage Society to host summer camp, harbor walk, and a treasure hunt

The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society is hosting a summer camp, waterfront/harbor walk and a treasure hunt during August.

The Sails, Knots and What-Nots summer camp takes place on Monday, July 31, though Friday, Aug. 4, and is geared toward youth ages 10-15. During the camp, participants will learn about harnessing the wind, sailing knots, designing sailing models, and more. The camp is co-sponsored by the Coast Guard Spouses and Women’s Association. The cost is $200 for SMHS members and Coast Guard, and $220 for non-members. Applications are available at sitkamaritime@gmail.com.

Walk That Dock is a free waterfront and harbor walk set for noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12. Participants will meet at 11:50 a.m. at the SMHS booth at the Sitka Seafood Festival, and then will walk Crescent Harbor, ANB Harbor and the Sitka waterfront to learn about Sitka’s maritime history. If you can’t make this event, check out the SMHS historic harbor and waterfront map posted here (note, map prints out as a double-sided 11×17 document).

All Treasures Wet and Salty is a free family fun day that includes a treasure hunt from noon until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Japonski Island Boathouse. This event also is part of the Sitka Seafood Festival. Young pirates can grab a treasure map to explore the historic boathouse, while more seasoned pirates can explore the SMHS collections.

Sitka National Historical Park to open new Indian River pedestrian bridge on Friday, July 28

The new cross-park pedestrian bridge over Indian River in Sitka National Historical Park will officially open for park visitors at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 28.

An informal ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by park superintendent David Elkowitz will dedicate the new bridge. “We heartily invite all of our park users, including the Park Prescriptions participants and daily walkers, to join us in crossing the river for the first time using this latest park infrastructure improvement,” Elkowitz said.

The removal and replacement of an almost half-century-old bridge was necessary to ensure park visitors have safe passage through the park. The new bridge is wider to allow for enhanced salmon and other wildlife viewing for decades to come. As before, bicyclists are reminded to walk their bikes through park trails, including over the bridge.

Speaking about the project, which began in early May, Sitka National Historical Park Chief of Maintenance Mike Trainor said, “Our goal was to have this project completed by mid-July to protect the late summer salmon run, which is one of the park’s most important natural resource missions. I’m happy to report the first pink salmon are just beginning to show up at the mouth of the river. We also wanted to ensure a minimum inconvenience to park visitors and especially those who use the cross-park trail to get to and from downtown Sitka. We thank everyone for their patience.”

The cross-trail linking the Park’s east and west sections across the footbridge has been a traditional pedestrian commuter route, and park visitor walk, for decades.

The new bridge was designed after considerable public input, and retains the character of the old bridge. For more information about this work, please contact Angie Richman at 747-0132 or Mike Trainor at 747-0150.

SAIL Senior Hiking Club sets next hike for the afternoon of Thursday, July 27

The Sitka office of Southeast Alaska Independent Living Inc. (SAIL) has announced its next Senior Hiking Club hike will be from 1-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 27. Seniors should meet at the Swan Lake Senior Center for transportation to the trailhead, which will be chosen by the group participating that day.

Normally, the group picks the trail on the day of the hike, but occasionally a trail is picked before the event. SAIL makes trekking poles available for hikers to use (trekking poles are great on ice or uneven terrain, and they help seniors keep their balance), and hikers are encouraged to bring ice cleats such as YakTrax during the icy months of winter.

SAIL offers Senior Hiking Club events for those age 60 or older once a month, usually on the second or third Thursday. There is a $5 fee, but nobody will be turned away because of finances. The hikes are open to people of all abilities and fitness levels. To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, check out our January 2013 post introducing the club.

To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, senior and adaptive kayaking trips, senior cycling events, and and a variety of other outdoors skills and survival classes, contact SAIL ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Community Access) program coordinator Steve Hutchinson at 747-6859 or email him at shutchinson@sailinc.org. The calendar includes hiking, orienteering, kayaking, and other events for seniors, youth, and the disabled.

• SAIL events calendar for July 2017

Sitka Community Hospital launches Active August Fitness Challenge geared toward walking and biking

Commuting by bicycle or on foot is an economical and environmentally responsible way to simultaneously meet your needs for transportation, physical activity and fun all in one! In the month of August, Sitka Community Hospital will hold a summer fitness challenge encouraging Sitka residents to leave the car behind and instead enjoy a walk or bike ride as they do their regular errands and commutes.

Sitka residents can start logging trips at any point to be eligible for weekly drawing by completing one or more non-motorized transportation trips a week. On Tuesdays, starting on Aug. 8, one local resident will be selected to win a $100 gift certificate to a local business, the second-place winner will get a free class at the Hames Center. Cyclists or walkers who participate in all four weeks of the challenge will be entered into the grand prize drawing.

“Sitka really is a great place to experience on foot or bike and because we are compact, have courteous drivers, and a mild climate it’s possible to combine exercise with basic commuting. Every day lots of people in Sitka are doing just that,” Sitka Community Hospital Director of Health Promotion Doug Osborne said.

Participants can enter online at http://bit.ly/walkbikesitka  or drop off a hard copy at the Hames Center, Sitka Public Library, Sitka Public Health Center or Oceanside Therapy Center.

For more information, visit sitkahospital.org or call 747-0373.

• Sitka Community Hospital Active August Challenge Brochure 2017