 |
|
Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve - Public Use CabinsIt is a tradition in the northland that when a traveler is in need of shelter and warmth while traveling they can make use of any cabin they come across. It is expected however that they leave the cabin in the same condition, if not better then when they found it and that they fill the firewood box and leave the fixings for a fire near the stove. Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve maintains a number of cabins, some historic -- some modern, for use by the public as they travel through the preserve and enjoy it"s many wondrous treasures. These cabins are located at Nation Bluff, Glenn Creek, Washington Creek, Kandik River and Coal Creek. They are available at no cost on a first come, first served basis. However be aware that if others arrive you may have company, particularly in emergency situations. The Nation Bluff cabin (N 65° 12" 12.32" W 141° 44" 17.62") is located approximately one mile downstream from the mouth of the Nation River on the right (north) bank of the Yukon. It sits at the base of Nation Bluff, a prominent bald mountain that runs into the Yukon. In 1999, a wildfire burned over and around Nation Bluff leaving easily recognizable features. Thanks to quick action on the part of the Alaska Fire Service and NPS"s own FirePro crews the fire was stopped just shy of reaching the cabin. Bluff Cabin, as it is often referred to, is believed to have been built by Christopher "Phonograph" Nelson in 1934 near the site of an earlier cabin built to support a coal mining venture a short distance up the Nation River. Nelson trapped along the Nation maintaining additional trapline cabins at Hardluck Creek, Tindir Creek and Jungle Creek. One of many colorful figures living along the Yukon, "Phonograph" Nelson"s moniker is credited to the fact that when he came to town he could not stand gaps in conversations always filling them with "and-ah". A second source for the nickname may lie in the fact that following his death, an inventory of his possessions listed two phonographs, one at his Nation Bluff cabin and the other at his cabin in Eagle. The National Park Service undertook an extensive restoration and rehabilitation of the cabin in 1995. The Glenn Creek cabin (N 65° 17" 59.58" W 142° 05" 23.65") is approximately 1/4 mile downstream of confluence of Glenn Creek and the Yukon on the left (south) bank. The cabin lies behind an island and is visible from the river. The was built in the 1950s by a Dr. LeFevre of Fairbanks. LeFevre intended to use it as a hunting base camp and is now managed by the National Park Service.The Kandik River cabin (N 65° 22" 34.08" W 142° 30" 46.46") is situated at the mouth of the Kandik River on the right (north) bank of the Yukon. This cabin, also called the Kandik Mouth Cabin or the Ricketts-Trainor Cabin, was built in 1981 by Larry Ricketts and Jean Trainor in support of their subsistence lifestyle of trapping, hunting, fishing and gathering. When the cabin was first constructed, Trainor carefully placed native moss between the logs to serve as chinking. As she laid the moss in, she was careful to have the green upper surface on the inside. This gave the effect of hanging gardens inside the cabin. In addition, the semi-subterranian cabin had a dirt floor that perpetually turned into mud each spring. To solve this constant problem, wooden sleepers were laid and a plywood floor added. Slaven"s Roadhouse (N 65° 21" 01.93" W 143° 07" 12.01") is located just downstream from the mouth of Coal Creek. The two-story roadhouse is clearly visible from the river. Frank Slaven built the roadhouse in 1932 with the help of four of his neighbors: Sandy Johnson, Art Reynolds, Alfred Johnson and Ed Brown. Slaven left the Yukon in 1938 settling in Seattle where he passed away four years later. The National Park Service restored the historic roadhouse in 1993 and constructed a new, public use cabin a short distance to the west. Both structures are open to the public. During February of each year, Slaven"s Roadhouse serves as a dog drop and unofficial checkpoint for the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race between Whitehorse, Yukon Territory (Canada) and Fairbanks, Alaska. |
::Lodging
::Maps
::Planning
∙ Fees
∙ Climate
∙ Contacts
|
|
Spacecraft
Merrell
Sierra Designs
Spy OpticsHome | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Friends of US-Parks | Advertise | Search | Contact Us
Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve - Public Use Cabins
© 2000 -
2009 US National Parks and Monuments Travel Guide: US-Parks.com Inc. All Rights Reserved.