Partners Make Peterson Lake Trail Renovations Possible

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SourDough News | September 2, 2015

 

 

 

Cabin and trail maintenance can be costly and time consuming, especially in the challenging conditions of a coastal rainforest. There are other factors which come into play, also. For example, some trails are not wholly contained on national forest lands; they may start on property belonging to another government agency or entity. When this is the case, forging a partnership can be a beneficial way for managers like Grossman to accomplish their goals of keeping trails at the high standard the public appreciates. Peterson Lake Trail is a perfect example of that kind of partnership. The Juneau Ranger District has had an ongoing renovation project for the past four years to upgrade the 4.5-mile trail that leads to Peterson Lake Cabin.

 

In addition to improving the safety and accessibility of the trail, the Forest Service has taken great interest in preserving as much of the history and heritage of the trail as possible. Like many trails in Juneau, Peterson Lake was once a path that led to a gold mine. John Peterson bought the claim in 1901, and homesteaded near the site with his wife and two daughters. The mine was then leased to Alaska Consolidated Mines who built a wooden plank tram for horses or mules to pull the ore carts. In 1910, Peterson regained control of Peterson Mine and managed it till he died in 1916. After his death, his daughters ran the mine until 1923; their exploits and skills the subject of news articles of the day.

 

In 1985, volunteers joined with the Forest Service to build the Peterson Lake cabin, which became one of the “Big Five” most popular cabins accessible from the road system on the district.  In 1988, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game purchased much of the homestead lands from the descendants of the Peterson Family, the Jenson’s and Olson’s, because they viewed Peterson Creek and its adjoining wetlands as valuable salmon and steelhead trout habitat. Since Peterson Lake Trail crossed the boundaries of state land, it was advantageous for the Forest Service to enter into a partnership with ADF&G maintain and renovate the trail.

 

Much of the original mining trail was made of wooden planks over the old tramway, which became slippery when it rained. To avoid falling, hikers often left the constructed trail and forged their own route. This created muddy channels and pits alongside the original trail for hikers to trudge through and resulted in damage to historic features.

 

The reconstruction of the trail got off to a bumpy start. The original plan called for a trail to be constructed by using a log crib (turnpike) with gravel laid inside of it. Unfortunately, through some miscommunication between the Forest Service, ADF&G, and the Southeast Alaska Guidance Association, the crib turned out to be too narrow for trail crews to continue their work by using Canycoms (a type of motorized wheelbarrow) as the got further along in the trail reconstruction.

 

The Forest Service did not want to give up on their efforts, however. Mike Dilger, Recreation Planner for the Juneau Ranger District, eventually made the decision to tear out the crib work that had already been done.

 

When asked about the decision to remove work that had already been done, Grossman mused, “Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to move forward down a better path.”

 

The district enlisted the aid of a local organization, Trail Mix, to help them complete the project. Through Alaska Trails Initiative (Alaska State Parks), Secure Rural Schools Act, and Legacy Roads and Trails funding, construction work on Peterson Lake Trail continued under Dilger’s detailed guidance.

 

Grossman is happy that the bumpy start to the project was eventually worked out. In a nod to Dilger, Gorssman observed that,“It has been Mike’s oversight that has turned this project around. Something with a complicated and perhaps difficult history has turned into something that is really, I think, a work of art.”

 

The new trail work is indeed a work of art.  The historical aspects of the trail were maintained, giving  hikers a unique experience of traveling though time without the burden of constantly looking at their feet to avoid mud pits or slipping on waterlogged or broken rotted planks. The new trail has a much smoother surface and an easier incline. Original metal strappings, used as rails to guide ore carts on the historic horse tram, were repurposed on several portions of the trail where sections of tram were rebuilt as interpretive examples. The cedar decking came from Icy Straits Lumber Company in Hoonah.

 

Other partners helped to lift the heavy load, literally. During the highway expansion of the road out of Juneau, Miller Construction dropped off truckloads of free rock that was used for the base construction of the new trail. They also made and dropped off the D1-cut rock, which is a smaller crushed rock that the Forest Service was able to buy and use for the compacted top layer that hikers can see when walking on the trail.

 

Local help was also provided by Blue Water Building, a local contractor, and Coastal Helicopters.  Blue Water hired Coastal to delivered brailer bags along sections of the trail where motorized equipment were not able to access. These bags were full of D1-cut rock Blue Water had prepared and staged on the 25 Mile Road.  As an extra bonus for Coastal, this project provided their newest pilots the opportunity to gain flight experience in delivering cargo.

 

Grossman pointed out the mutual benefits that come from the Forest Service working with partners. “This shows how a project like the Peterson Lake Trail can turn into great opportunities for young people to learn new skills while working on a summer trail crew to benefitting a multitude of local businesses,” he said.

 

The relationships and partnerships between the Forest Service, ADF&G, Southeast Alaska Guidance Association, Trail Mix, Miller Construction, Alaska State Parks, Icy Straits Lumber, Blue Water Building, and Coastal Helicopters have made this project possible.  Through sharing a common purpose, they joined together to provide great recreational opportunities for the public.

 

Best of all, visitors and local reserved Peterson Lake Cabin about 200 nights per year last year, up from averaging 150 nights per year a year before trail work began. Grossman is expecting the cabin’s popularity to grow even more when reconstruction of the trail is finished.

 

He concluded, “It used to be that the best time to visit Peterson Lake Cabin was in the winter when the muddy trail was frozen solid. Now, whether it is a day hike, fishing trip, or overnight stay at the cabin, the trail improvements underway make this trek a more enjoyable and safe experience year around.”

 

By: Sarah Tarver, SCA Intern for the Forest Service Alaska Region’s Public Affairs/Partnerships Office