Ketchikan Outdoor Recreation and Trails Coalition
2002 Activities
We sponsored several hikes, kayak trips, and boat trips again in 2002.
Saturday, January 26. Deer Mountain. On what was historically the day of the
Parks & Recreation Winter Festival, KORTC held an impromptu winter fest of their own.
Sunshine glistened on fresh snow as Nana, Dave (left) and Mike made their way up Deer Mountain.
Saturday, April 20. Salvage Road. KORTC and Forest Service co-sponsored this Parks & Recreation hike. Approximately eight people checked out this brand new trail. I forgot my camera.
Saturday, May 11. First Waterfall Creek. Four hardy, or perhaps foolhardy, hikers
braved a steady light rain to enjoy this hike. Once again this year,
we failed to find the lakes
before it was time to turn around.
"I think they're just over that hill!" says Carol to (L-R:) Yuba, Harold, and Tracy.
Photo by Dave.
Saturday, May 25-Monday, May 27. Carroll Inlet kayak trip. Inclement weather
(in Ketchikan, go figure!) caused this to be shortened to a two-day trip. On Saturday
we hiked the historic Black Mountain Trail, built by the CCC in the 1930s,
then endured some rough
water between Carroll Point and the entrance of the inlet before finding calmer water.
This photo shows (L-R:) Harold, Dave, and Julie enjoying
breakfast at the campsite near Brunn Point.
We paddled a couple miles further along the inlet
before heading back to Mountain Point.
Saturday, June 1. National Trails Day. We celebrated with a work party
for the Lunch Falls Loop Trail at Settler's Cove. The rain that had been falling for
days stopped just in time for us to carry cedar boards (pictured: Jim.
Photo by Dave) to the parts of the trail under
construction. Afterwards we relaxed with a barbeque lunch and prize hunt.
Saturday, June 8. Connell Lake. KORTC and Forest Service co-sponsored
this Parks & Recreation hike. Ten (including two who were carried on backs) hikers enjoyed
this hike on a beautiful sunny morning. L-R, back: David, Tony, Diana,
Arlindo, Lisa, Harold. Front: Art, Ashley. Photo by Dave with technical assistance
by Danny.
Saturday, June 22 & Sunday, June 23. Jordan Lake kayak/boat trip. From Harold:
The Jordan Lake trip proved to be a relaxing and successful trip for 4 backpackers.
The 4.3 mile treks from Naha to the cabin and back were rain free, with only
a few light showers in between. Fishing by Jim, Morgan, and Diane was
rewarded by dinner (17" rainbow) and breakfast (14" dolly). We all explored
the creek inlet from Emma Lake, and planned more adventures for next time here.
A beautiful and peaceful trip. (L-R: Diane, Jim, Morgan, Harold)
Saturday, June 29. Lunch Falls Loop Trail work party. Weekly work parties
for the Lunch Falls Loop Trail at Settler's Cove State Park
continued. Henry helped build a gravel portion of the trail.
Photo by Dave. Volunteers not only were able to spend
time in the woods and get some exercise, but also recieved the satisfaction of
knowing they accomplished something, rather than, say, sitting around watching
television. Years from now, when they're showing
visitors from out of town around, they will be able to point to a section
of trail and say, "I helped build this part."
Saturday, July 6 & Sunday, July 7. Lunch Creek/Lake Emery Tobin. This might have been
our most difficult hike of the year, but 10 hikers, one toddler,
and five dogs were up to the challenge. Thankfully, part of the trail has been
cleared, but other parts were
very difficult for those with heavy packs. We usually don't take a parking lot picture,
but it's a good thing we did, as it was the last time the group was all together.
L-R, front: Dave, Danny, Harold, Laughton, Alroy. Back: Lindsey, I forget the dog's name,
Ryan, Michael, Carol, Chris, Steve. Harold went ahead of the rest of the group, and all but
Dave, Danny, and Carol made it all the way to the lake. Chris and Harold
camped overnight at the lake, the others made it back to the trailhead
at about 8 p.m. The Forest Service is scheduled
to begin construction on this trail next year, it'll be a great hike when it's done.
Saturday, July 20 & Sunday, July 21. Lake Shelokum boat trip. Our most ambitious
trip of the year was a great one. Those of us who had never been there before agreed
that it might be the most scenic trail in the area. L-R, front: Harold, Nana, Mike,
Roy, Diane, Jim. Back: Matt, Brian, Mary Jo. Photo by Dave. All but Matt and Brian, who
didn't have appropriate footware for crossing Maude Creek, made it all the way to the
hot springs. Jim, Diane, and Roy stayed overnight on their boat, and Mary Jo, Harold,
and Dave camped overnight near the hot springs. After unexpectedly great weather
on Saturday, there was some rain during the night,
and some drizzle and light rain on the way back, then the rain started in earnest around
the time we boarded the boat for the ride back to town. We'll have to do this trip again
next year!
Saturday, August 3 & Sunday, August 4. Dude Mountain. Somehow every time we hike
this trail it winds up being just Harold and myself. We started at
2 p.m., Harold camped near
the top,
while I hiked back the same day. This picture shows Harold enjoying the view of
Pennock, Gravina, and Annette Islands from near the top of Dude Mountain. Photo by Dave.
While those in town enjoying the last part of the
Blueberry Festival had nothing but sun, those of us
on the mountain endured a fairly brief, fairly intense shower. Harold reports he
had a great time exploring the area.
Saturday, August 17. Deer Mountain. KORTC and Forest Service co-sponsored
this Parks & Recreation hike. Hmmm, our turnouts are getting smaller and smaller.
It was just Danny and I, he slept through his first time reaching the top. A cloudy
morning on the way up turned into a beautiful sunny afternoon on the way down.
Saturday, August 31-Monday, September 2. George Inlet kayak trip.
The trip was shortened by rain at both ends, but we had some decent weather in between.
We started from Hole in the Wall Harbor around midday on Saturday, and endured
some pretty big waves before we entered George Inlet. Occasional showers turned
to mostly sunshine. We camped near Mahoney Creek, and spent Sunday morning exploring
the Mahoney Lake area on foot. It was pretty wavy as we started paddling north,
so we turned around
before we went too far. The wind decreased, but the showers increased
in frequency, duration, and intensity until it became steady rain,
leading to the decision to stop at George Inlet Lodge.
This photo shows (L-R) Dave, Julie, and Harold, with the George Inlet Cannery in
the background.
Saturday, September 14. Lunch Falls Loop Trail work party. One of the last
work parties for the Lunch Falls Loop Trail had our best turnout of the year as
volunteers from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Boy Scouts, and
the Trails Coalition joined State Parks workers to haul lumber scraps and excess
lumber to the parking lot. Photo by Mary.
If you haven't been out there lately, do yourself a favor and check it out! It's a
beautiful trail, kudos to Mary, Zolton, Rod, Dave, and Cooper, as well as all the volunteers,
for doing a great job on it.
Check out some pictures from 2004 hikes
Check out some pictures from 2003 hikes
Check out some pictures from 2001 hikes
Check out some pictures from 2000 hikes
This page is maintained by Dave Lieben, dlieben@yahoo.com.