Seward Ranger District-10/17/ 19

Weather and conditions are closing in on the arrival of winter on Seward Ranger District. In the Northern reaches of our District beginning near 1,400 feet in elevation snow is beginning to accumulate and;

It’s beginning to feel a lot like winter everywhere you go

Take a look at the fallen snow

Glistening once again

With snow covered mountains and animal tracks aglow.

However, unusual weather patterns in the Southern areas of our District have no snow until appx. 2,000 feet in elevation, go figure.

Before yesterday’s snowfall in the Resurrection Pass Trail area there was 4-12” of settled snow between Swan Lake (Mile 12.7 south) (through Resurrection Pass) and Fox Creek (Mile 11.7 north) for a distance of 14.4 miles. Backpacking through the Pass on October 14 was slow due to several inches of hoarfrost rising from the ground and breaking trail, I was forever Thankful I did not have my fat tire bike. Swan Lake froze October 12, on October 14 Swan Lake had 2” of ice, this was quite a surprise, Trout and Juneau Lakes are not frozen. While hazard trees have been removed from around the cabins and designated camp sites within the Swan Lake Fire burn on Resurrection Pass trail you can anticipate many trees along the hiking trail and inside the burn to randomly fall down when winds pick up and trees become laden with snow.  

And a reminder that the Dale Clemens Cabin heating source has been changed to a Nordic oil drip stove. This stove requires one gallon of kerosene or number one heating oil per day June-August and two gallon per day the rest of the year. Users should plan to carry one gallon of heating oil for each day spent at the cabin June-August and two gallons per day the rest of the year.

All Campgrounds on Seward Ranger District remain open until ice/snow accumulation negate keeping them open, though there are select loops within C.G.’s that are gated closed; No fees = no services, please take everything you bring in with you back out. The same holds true for Palmer Creek Road.

Irene Lindquist 
Forest Technician

Forest Service

Chugach National Forest, Seward Ranger District

p: 907-288-7748 
irene.lindquist@usda.gov

33599 Ranger Station Spur
Seward, AK 99664
www.fs.fed.us 

Caring for the land and serving people