MOOSr PASS LIBRARY
DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF MOOSE PASS AND KENAI PENINSULA
Vol. 1.
Moose Pass» Alaska - August 4, 1939
No. 26
COLORFUL STORY OF A
HIKE OVER JOHNSON PASS
By Mrs. Ray Stafford
(Continued from last week).
It was real. Groundhog creek was in
front of us, roaring out of the mountain
and crashing into the creek we had follow
ed at a perfect right angle. The bridge
that should have carried us across it, was
hanging by one badly bent log, the ties
dangling uncertainly from the log and the
other cross beam broken and lying in the
boiling water below. The bridge was use
less, the creek was boiling and flooded.
We were caught in a corner and to make mat'
ters worse, from a high point we could Bee
across the creek and a little distance be
yond, the roof and chimney of the cabin
we had so long hoped to reach. There was
no way to get there, no way to attract the
attention of the men there if they could
help us, for the roar of the creeks would
drown any sound we might make. It was
doubtful whether they would even hear the
shots from a gun. And who would want to
go back the way we had come?
My husband said, "We'll eat some sup
per, then we'll figure it out," I didn't
want to eat. My breath was gone, my arms
were weak, and appetite had fled.I wanted
to do something. "We will have to do
something about it."
There was a small knoll above the trail
where some scrub hemlock grew and where
we could build a fire and keep our backs
to the hemlock, thus keeping fairly dry.
It was showering again. It was getting
dark. We stirred up hotcakes and made
coffee. We talked of what could be done
and decided to climb the mountain to the
head of the creek and cross over where it
was narrow enough to jump.
That Groundhog creek was the toughest
creek we have ever noticed in any of our
climbing. It was chiseled from a rock
canyon until it came to the place where
the bridge had crossed. There it was
slightly more level and carried a very
narrow shoreline. The walls of the can
yon were steep, and over them and up the
sides of the mountain, the alders snarled
and sprawled. It was the most desperate
looking climb I had ever faced. But that .
awful water! "I can’t go back there - I
can't even look at it again.”
The rain sizzled into our frying pan.
Ashes settled on the batter as I baked.
I was clutched, by fear, but I thought
something had to be done, I called on
all the reserve courage I had, to find
there was none. There was no chance for
a miracle to happen. The $roek wouldn’t
(Continued on last page).
DEATH OF SOURDOUGH
Mika Sullivan, tie inspector for The
Alaska Railroad, well known in this section,
iied last Saturday morning at Anchorage at
the age of 72. Mr. Sullivan participated
In both the Klondike and None gold rushes.
An epidemic of measles at Palmer and
other points in the Matanuska valley, has
prompted the Colony health officer to close
the moving picture shows, churches and oth
er public gathering places,
The Sewing club will neet with Mrs,
Ralph Reid on Wednesday afternoon, August
16.
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Estes and infant daugh
ter, Kathrene Louise, have moved to Mile
44 where Mr. Estes is employed by the Un
ited Mining and Milling Company.
Mrs. J. H. Flickinger of Seward, was a
Moose Pass visitor Friday afternoon.
Remember - the Moose Pass library is
open every Tuesday afternoon from 2 to 4
o'clock.
Mining claims in this section were re
corded during July as follows:
Wyman Anderson and Clarence Miller,lode,
west face of the mountain between Victor
and Ptarmigan creek, 1,000 feet above Ke
iai lake, Mile 21 on Alaska Railroad. Ke
nai No. 1, Kenai No. 2, Kenai No. 3,lode
and mining claim; 1500 linear feet.
W. H. Williams, placer, 20 acres ground,
Veldee No. 1, 20 acres Veldee No. 2; east
side of Canyon creek about 1^ miles and
if miles from where East Fork enters Six
ilile river.
I. Isle, same as foregoing, about 2
niles from where East Fork enters Six Mile
river. "Veldee No. 3."
Harry Veldee, same as foregoing, about
24- miles from where East Fork enters Six
Jile river, "Veldee No. 4."
Estes Brothers - Edward R., Samuel M.,
lobert R., on Bench creek; placer, below
Discovery, Bench No.l,No. 2, No. 3, No. 4,
!Jo, 5, No. 6. Bench creek is tributary
5f East Fork of Six Mile river.
Gordon McCann, placer, on Six Mile creek
ille 6l|-, "Gold Bar;" Mile 6lf,"Big Slide"
R. E. Baumgartner, lode, 1500 feet on
Slate creek side of the hill between Slate
ind Summit creeks, Mile 44, "Egyptian Lode
Diaim."
The dollar you spend in Alaska, in one
form or another, will return to you. The
iollar you send to Seattle helps to build
1 greater Seattle. Think it over. Are
pour interests in Alaska or in Seattle?