National Trails Day on the Chugach

 A shaded-relief map showing the extent of the Chugach National Forest. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This year you can celebrate National Trails Day on the Chugach National Forest on Saturday, June 2^nd and Wednesday, June 6th.
Glacier Ranger District has joined Girdwood Trails on Saturday, June 2^nd from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Meet at the Glacier Ranger Station (first left off the Alyeska Highway) and go to work on the Girdwood Bike Path cutting back alders and other brush.
Contact Alison at arein@fs.fed.us or 754-2329
The second National Trails Day outing is for the Kids! Meet at the Ptarmigan Creek Campground Day Use Area (mile 23.5 of the Seward Highway) and takes place on Wednesday, June 6^th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. You’ll have an opportunity to take part in a variety of nature activities, crafts, bear safety, and counter assault bear spray demonstration. Pack a lunch and some water and join a short hike after the festivities conclude.
Contact Irene for more information ilindquist@fs.fed.us or 907-288-7748

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National Park Service Seeking Comments on Horseshoe LakeTrail Project

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DENALI PARK, Alaska: The National Park Service (NPS) intends to evaluate the impacts of making improvements and additions to the Horseshoe Lake Trail.The current trail to the picturesque Horseshoe Lake is approximately 1.5 miles long, and is very popular with park visitors.The lake provides habitat for a variety of wildlife, and visitors walking on the trail have opportunities to see moose, beaver, and several bird species. The footpath was constructed in 1940 as the park's first established trail. The trailhead is located at the railroad crossing on the Denali Park road (Mile 1).

Sections of the trail are in poor condition. There are steep sections that are difficult for many visitors, and portions are eroding due to inadequate drainage.A network of social trails has developed around the lake and throughout the area, creating additional erosion and damage to sensitive wildlife habitat, including beaver dams and lodges.

Proposed changes may include:

·rehabilitation of social trails

·reconstruction of the existing Horseshoe Lake Trail to improve trail surface and drainage

·construction of a new loop trail to the Nenana River and around Horseshoe Lake

Extending the trail to the Nenana River and around Horseshoe Lake would provide increased hiking opportunities for visitors and consolidate use, allowing the web of social trails to be rehabilitated.Maps showing proposed routes are available at the website below.

The NPS invites the public to submit written comments by Monday, March 19, 2012. Comments may be submitted online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/dena, faxed to 907-683-9612, or mailed to:

Superintendent

Denali National Park and Preserve

ATTN:Horseshoe Lake Trail

P.O. Box 9

Denali Park, AK99755

For additional information about the proposal please contact Dan Ostrowski, Project Lead at 907-683-9557 or e-mail us; or Paula Homan, Project Planning Lead, at 907-683-6223 or e-mail us.

Related articles

• Change to Denali National Park and Preserve Entrance Fee (alaska-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Northern 1980 Additions to Denali National Park and Preserve Now Open to Snowmobiling for Traditional Activities (alaska-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Applications Open for 2012 Research Fellowship Programs, Denali National Park and Preserve (alaska-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Applications Open for 2012-2013 Researcher-in-Residence Program (alaska-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Denali: 2012 Research Fellowship Application Deadline is 2/15/12 (alaska-outdoors.blogspot.com)

Volunteer at Wrangell St Elias National Park and Preserve

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Copper Center, Alaska-Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve has scheduled a volunteer trail improvement event in the Slana area. The event is scheduled for the weekend of August 26, 27, and 28^th. The project kicks-off with a barbeque on the 26^th at 6:00pm at the Slana Community Corporation building followed by a classroom session on sustainable trails, presented by Kevin Meyer, National Park Service Regional Trails Specialist.

On Saturday, August 27, volunteers will meet at 9:00am at the Copper Lake Trailhead at mile 12.2 of the Nabesna Road for trail maintenance to help with the installation of Geoblock, atrail hardening material to be placed in a wet meadow area approximately ¾ of a mile from the trailhead.Please bring gloves, water-proof boots and a sack lunch.

On Sunday, August 28, at 9:00am meet back at the Copper Lake Trailhead with Kevin Meyer to test your sustainable trail skills and apply the fundamentals in an on-the-ground trail layout exercise.

Volunteers are welcome to participate in any or all of the activities.For more information please contact Bruce Rogers at 822-7276.

Tangle Lakes Campground Renovation Update

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The Tangle Lakes Campground provides access to camping and boating facilities within the Delta Wild and Scenic River corridor. The current campground is in need of renovation and improvements to include road reconstruction, campsite definition, boat launch toilet replacement, creation of a day-use area, the addition of walk-in and group campsites and defined foot trails within the campground to meet the needs and requests of the public. 

The BLM Tangle Lakes Campground will be under construction during the summer of 2011.  During construction, the existing paved boat launch will be available to the public at all times.  Construction will occur Monday - Friday of each week.  Portions of the campground will remain open to the public for limited camping and day-use on a first-come, first-served basis at all times.  Please check this website before you travel for updates on construction.  Thank you for your patience during this renovation project.