The goal of the SCA/USFWS Trails Inventory program is to provide the Fish and Wildlife Service with a comprehensive and accurate inventory of all trails on USFWS sites across the country. This is certainly an ambitious project as there are over 600 USFWS sites nationwide. This project will take us to every corner of the country, to high mountains and low deserts through bayous and fjords. We are all extremely excited for this opportunity as it provides the chance to perform an important service to the USFWS, expand our own knowledge and expertise, and experience many different parts of the country for the first time.
Hitch 5- Alaska
Alaska did not disappoint Team Alpha on their fifth hitch. Beginning with a Bear Safety and Awareness training in Anchorage, Christina, Letha, Michael (with special guest appearance by Program Manager, Tyler Lobdell) started off this hitch with a literal bang. This prepared them for the many wilderness adventures the foursome would have in three weeks at Alaska Peninsula NWR, Kenai NWR and Tetlin NWR. The group traveled by float plane to their inventory site on the Alaska Peninsula. From the shores of Ruth Lake, the group mapped an 8-mile trail that has been used for centuries. From here the group traveled to the Kenai Peninsula to inventory a portion of the over 200 miles of trail there. Finally the group traveled to Tetlin NWR, close to the Yukon border where they donned knee boots to map 15 miles of trail not included in cycle 1 data.
Aside from wildlife spotting with on trail, exciting activities included close encounters with moose, glacier hikes, wildlife boat cruises, and one memorable day of clamming.
