Inside This Issue......
Reindeer Games...meet Crystal and Agatha Christie
From Harvey and Sandy Bowers
Reindeer Games...........................page one
2000 Fishing Forecast...............page one
Local Events................................page two
Climbing to the top.................page three
Archaeology Dig.........................page two
We want to thank everyone
who entered the “Name Our
Reindeer Contest” featured in
our Winter 1999 newsletter.
There were a total of 59 entries
by the May 1 deadline and on
June 2, Crystal and Agatha
Christie became resident
reindeer at the Agate Inn.
Reindeer herding is an
enjoyable experience, always
with something new to learn.
Lately, friends are asking if we
have seen the movie,
“Reindeer Games”. Our
response.......we watch reindeer
games every day! We haven’t
seen the movie, but we enjoy
watching the games our
reindeer play. Here are some
of Crystal’s and Agatha’s
favorites.....When Harvey sets
down a bucket of water (even
if just for a minute) run up
behind him, kick over the
bucket and then kick and
stomp the bucket around.... ...
Ignore someone calling your
name unless they shake a
bucket of feed, then run full
speed to beat the other reindeer
to the feed.....When Harvey
bends down to clear ice out of
the water pan, pat him on the
back with a hoof to remind him
how reindeer discipline each
other...Play with the basketball
by alternating between pushing
it with your nose, trying to
maneuver the ball with the tips
of your antlers, or stomping the
ball with your hoof......On a hot
summer day (70 degrees F) act
like you are dying from the
heat until Harvey turns on the
sprinkler then chase each other
through the sprinkler...Play
reindeer king of the hill and
run to the top of the hill,
(Continued on page 2)
2000 Fishing Forecast
River systems near Wasilla
offer some of the best Salmon
fishing in Alaska. Local guide
and owner of FishTale River
Guides, Andy Couch, reports
the summer of 2000
(particularly the month of
June) should be another good
to excellent year for King
Salmon fishing on the Little
Susitna River. During May
and July there are smaller
numbers of King Salmon in the
Little Susitna River, but the
Talkeetna River peak King
Salmon season is in early July.
(Continued on page 2)
Reindeer Games.....from page one
2000 Fishing Forecast...... from page one
defend your position until the
other reindeer chases you off, then
take back the hill...Try to start
running while standing on the ice
pond.... ...Better yet, run up to the
pond at full speed, stop abruptly
and then slide across the ice (and
we never see them fall!).
One of these days we will have
to catch the movie, “Reindeer
Games”. In the meantime, we
will no doubt observe more
reindeer games as we try to train
Crystal and Agatha Christie to
pull a sled. The first ride will
surely be a wild one!
Visit Crystal and Agatha
Christie at http://www.agateinn.
com.
King Salmon run from early
May through July 13. Early
Silver Salmon, Chum Salmon,
and Red Salmon usually start
returning to the rivers by mid
July. Expect better than normal
fishing for these species of
Salmon in late July, August, and
early September. Strong fighting
Chum Salmon returned to the
Little Susitna River in big
numbers last summer. Expect
the same this year along with
large numbers of Pink Salmon in
late July and early August.
For more information about
fishing in the Matanuska and
Susitna Valleys, visit FishTale
River Guides’ website at http://
www.fish4salmon.com.
Fishing packages, featuring
four nights at the Agate Inn
with three days fishing, start at
$625.00 per person.
For information about
fishing packages, call FishTale
River Guides at 800-376-3625
or the Agate Inn at 800-7702290.
Archaeology Dig......Digging Up Knik
Local Events
January Willow Winter Carnival
February Iron Dog Race
March
Iditarod Days Festival
Iditarod Sled Dog Race
Sourdough Ball
May
Salmon fishing starts!
June
Colony Days
July
Wasilla Water Festival
Moose Dropping Festival
Palmer Pride Picnic
August Alaska State Fair
Dec.
Colony Christmas
Take part in an Alaska History
Archaeology dig. Before the
town of Anchorage existed, there
was a native village called Knik.
During the late 19th century
Knik became a thriving Euroamerican supply station with its
hay days between 1895 and
1915. Knik was the major
supply point for trappers and
miners in southcentral Alaska.
The old anchorage for ships to
unload onto small boats later
became the town of Anchorage
when the U.S. Government
decided to build the Alaska
Railroad. With the railroad,
most Knik residents and
businesses moved to Wasilla.
Join us for a one week
archaeological dig at the old
townsite of Knik. Digs are held
annually, June 1 through July
31, through cooperation with
the Mat-Su College and the
Cultural Resources Division of
the Matanuska-Susitna
Borough. The Borough charges
a registration fee to join the dig
of $500.00 per week, per
person. University credit is also
available at the cost of $80.00
per credit hour. One credit is
granted per excavation week.
Call Fran Seager-Boss at
907-745-9859 for details.
Climbing To The Top...Mt. McKinley 20,320 feet
by Harvey Bowers
My first dream of climbing Mt.
McKinley was at age 18. I lived
within site of the mountain since
age 21, but I waited until age 45
to make the climb of my life. I
came away from the Mountain
with the overwhelming
impression that I should have
made the ascent when I was
younger. Yet, during the climb I
met three men celebrating their
65th birthday on the summit. I
also met Jennifer Johnston from
Anchorage who at the ripe old age
of 12, was the youngest girl to
summit Mt. McKinley. My best
advice, if you want to climb a tall
mountain, do it at your earliest
convenience.
The Denali climb actually
starts about six months before
landing at base camp. To get in
shape, I did a lot of 20-25 mile
hikes and ski trips with a 65 lb.
pack. As part of my training
program, my wife, Sandy even
ventured with me to the bottom of
the Grand Canyon and back to the
rim in a day.
May and June are the best
climbing months on Mt.
McKinley. May can be very cold
and by the end of June avalanche
danger increases and crevasses
open up on the glaciers making it
almost impossible to travel. So,
on June 10, 1995, we began the
expedition by flying from
Talkeetna and landing on the
Kahiltna Glacier at 6,000 feet. I
was a member of a 11 person
guided group which planned to
Summit Ridge, Mt. McKinley, June, 1995
summit the Mountain, then
traverse over the north side of Mt.
McKinley and hike out to Wonder
Lake in Denali National Park.
From the time we left base
camp, we were roped together in
groups of four. Basically, except
when we were in camp, we spent
a month roped within 50 feet of
each other. This isn’t as bad as it
sounds. When the weather
cooperated we had some of the
most fantastic and interesting
mountain scenery you can
imagine. On clear days, it seemed
like it was over 100 degrees F and
I managed to badly sunburn my
face on the first day.
In reality, you climb Mt.
McKinley two or three times
ferrying the mountain of gear and
food needed to get to the top. On
the first day we reached 8,000
feet. The next day we ferried
gear to 10,000 feet and returned
to 8,000 to sleep. This leap frog
method continues day after day,
weather permitting, until
reaching 17,000 feet.
On day three, at 11,000 feet,
we hit a major snowstorm and
spent the day and night (no
darkness) keeping our camp
shoveled out. From 11,000 to
14,000 feet the mountain starts
getting a bit tricky with a climb
up Motorcycle Hill followed by
a dense crevasse field before
reaching Kahiltna Pass and
Windy Corner. The wind spills
off the pass in a very steep area
with glare ice, some rock and
large crevasses. It was tricky
trying to keep the heavy sleds
tethered behind us from sliding
(Continued on page 4)
Climbing To The Top.......from page three
off the slope and dragging us into
the crevasses below.
The section from 14,000 to
16,000 feet is steep enough to
warrant a permanent fixed rope. On
day six we took our position in the
endless stream of climbers clipped
into the fixed rope moving our gear
to 16,000 feet. By the time we got
to the ridge, I was exhausted. We
cached our gear, returned to 14,000
feet for the night, only to repeat the
climb to 16,000 feet the next day.
At 17,000 feet, high camp, we
dug snow pits to build forts around
the tents. I didn’t understand the
need for the “fort” until a storm hit
that night with 100+ mph winds
and three to four feet of snow.
We spent the next two days
battling the storm.
At this altitude, you can
really feel the affect of the thin
air. With each step forward it is
necessary to take a breath. With
less oxygen it is important to
carefully focus on each step.
The higher you climb, the
harder it becomes to eat and
sleep. It is extremely important
to keep hydrated. You have
very little energy and it is hard
to consume enough calories to
prevent loss of body fat.
http://www.agateinn.com 800-770-2290
email - [email protected]
4725 Begich Circle Wasilla, AK 99654
When the storm finally
cleared, we gathered our gear and
climbed Denali Pass to prepare
for our attempt at the summit
from the North side. After
ferrying half of our gear over
Denali Pass we were poised for
our attempt to climb to the top.
Catch the next issue of Agate
Inn News to reach the summit
and descend the mountain.