Expedition Log: July
24, 2001
Jonas Parker, Young
Explorers Team
Wrangell
Island
We awoke at 7 a.m., and shortly
after breakfast the Clipper Odyssey docked in
Wrangell, Alaska. Weather consisted of high overcast clouds
with a light breeze. Directly following breakfast, the
Clipper Odyssey called for disembarkation of the
ship.
The community of Wrangell, population 2,550,
sits at the mouth of the Stikine River. The town was founded by the Russian
American Company in 1834 in order to prevent encroachment of the Hudson's
Bay Company traders who were working their way down the Stikine River.
In 1840, the Russians leased the area to the British for an annual payment
of 2,000 otter skins. When the United States purchased Alaska in 1867,
they renamed the area Fort Wrangell. This fort is the only military installation
in North America to have flown three different flags -- Russian, British
and U.S.
While in Wrangell, expedition members first
visited Petroglyph Beach, one mile north of town is primarily in an intertidal
zone. Scattered throughout this area are boulders etched with designs
from Tlinget people dating back thousands of years. Designs included spirals,
animal forms and abstract shapes.
After Petroglyph Beach, members
traveled to Kiksetti Totem Park on Chief Shakes Island.
There we visited a tribal house surrounded by totems and
filled with Tlinget artifacts and historical
displays.
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Fishing boats
tossed ashore on rocky Petroglyph Beach. (Photo by
National Ocean Service, NOAA).
Click
image for a larger view.
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Members then proceeded to
downtown Wrangell and the Elks Hall for a welcoming
reception and traditional Tlinget dancing. Community members
and the vice- mayor welcomed the Harriman Expedition and
gifts were exchanged. At the closing of the presentation,
Tom Litwin (expedition leader) was presented with a key to
the City of Wrangell.
At noon, members reboarded the Clipper Odyssey
and sailed north towards Wrangell Narrows. Dr. Paul Alaback gave a presentation
on economics, politics and logging in the Tongass National Forest. Following
the presentation, the Clipper Odyssey sailed through Wrangell Narrows.
The Narrows terminated at the community of Petersburg, where poor foggy
weather obscured the view. That evening,
expedition members convened in the dining room for Captain Mike Taylor's
welcome dinner.
After dinner, the Clipper
Odyssey continued on course for Tracy Arm and Juneau,
Alaska.
(View
the day's photos)
(top)
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