What a winter!
This year’s solstice season has full of superlatives – The coldest December since 1980 and 2nd longest stretch of sub-zero temperatures since 1904 – the year the first Roadhouse was constructed at the mouth of the Tolovana River! Between long stretches of deep cold, we received several heavy snowfall events, unusual for the interior and leaving us with an unusually deep snowpack for this point in the season. All this put a damper on outdoor winter plans for many interior residents, but now that temperatures have normalized we are getting out on the trails and looking forward to a fun, productive season ahead.
Thank You!
The responses, contacts and suggestions many of you sent after the last crowdsourcing call are deeply appreciated! I was able to get in touch with several individuals to gain further insight on the feasibility of preservation plans, get a better handle on financial considerations, and learned even more details about history of the Roadhouse.
The most exciting connection made was with the North Star Community Foundation (NCSF). This local organization exists to improve the quality of life for Interior Alaska through philanthropy, community development and public service by supporting projects such as Fairbanks Hope Link, Stars of Gold Readers, Dark Winter Nights and Friends of the S.S. Nenana. They have graciously taken the Roadhouse Preservation Project on as a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, opening up the door for grants and corporate donations that require non-profit status to apply. This will provide increased transparency for individual donors, as well.
Now, thanks to the NSCF partnership, we also have secure donation pathway that ensures 100% of your contributions go directly towards the Roadhouse Preservation Project.
Stay at the Roadhouse!
While the hope was to have the Roadhouse opened up for independent-travelers by mid-December, mother nature had other plans this year. After getting stranded overnight trail-breaking during a cold spell last season, I was hesitant to venture out to tackle the trails until temperatures were consistently above twenty-five below zero. And I wasn’t the only one. What we found almost no signs of human traffic when we finally headed out to start putting in the trail – the cold seemed to have kept most people (rightfully) indoors by the fire. With the snow and wind events, and anything broken in ahead of us (including trail we had broken out during the handful of “warm” below-Zero days during the cold snap) had to be re-broken. Now, on the cusp of February, we have *only* just made it in to the Roadhouse from Manley Hot Springs. Even though someone else had come out on the trail just the day before, the journey still took us twice the amount of time a “good trail” day would, due to yet another wind event causing drifting and additional trees down over the trail.
With perfect winter weather on the horizon, we are excited to announce that the Roadhouse is open for independent travelers! Rate and reservation information is available on our updated website. As of this writing, the trail from Manley Hot Springs is *in* and the trail from Nenana/Standard Creek has only a few miles of connection left to break out – we are hoping to have this completed next week.
Looking to the Future
Although our current focus is on building preservation, we are hopeful that the Roadhouse will be around for decades to come – open as an emergency shelter, available as a low-cost option for trail-travelers, a unique wilderness retreat space, and a warm and welcome hospitality stop for backcountry races. We are looking to develop interpretive information about the history of the site, and preserve stories – both old and new – into the future. Believing deeply in the power of the wilderness to inspire, challenge and heal, the ultimate goal is that these other activities will support making this space (and the wilderness around it) available at low-or-no-cost to underserved and at-risk groups who may not otherwise have a chance to experience these wild places and all they have to offer.
What can you do to help?
DONATE!
If you value the history of this unique site, resources for trail and river travelers, and the continued maintenance and development of interior trail systems – please support this project!
Spread the Word!
Forward this newsletter to anyone who values access to wild spaces! If you work for a company that might be interested in partnering with us, get in touch!
Come Stay!
We are now open for independent travelers. Rate and reservation information is available on our website! After basic operating costs, all lodging fees go directly towards building preservation. Your stay will help move the Roadhouse away from danger, preserving it for future generations!