THIS MESS COULD CHANGE YOUR FISHING OR CAMPING PLANS THIS SUMMER
The Alaska Department of Transportation is urging dip netters, bikers, ATVers, and hikers to not cross a rock slide on O’Brien Creek to Haley Creek Trail near Chitina.
The slide that occurred three miles past the bridge at the start of the trail is significant and unstable, DOT said. It is currently unsafe for crossing, DOT said. If individuals do cross the slide, they risk injury or even getting trapped beyond the slide, because DOT will not be able to clear the slide during the 2019 fishing season, due to its instability.
The O’Brien Creek to Haley Creek Trail is frequently used by dip netters traveling by four-wheeler, and also mountain bikers.
The Chitina personal use dip net salmon fishery is open on and off between June 7 and Sept. 30. The dip net schedule can be found on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website here.
In 2018, DOT, ADF&G and Chitina Dip Netters Association worked to improve and maintain several miles of the trail and had plans to continue improvements in the fall of 2019. This slide will now be added to the work list for these trail improvements, DOT said in a statement.
The trail is accessed by driving the Edgerton Highway to Chitina, and then just beyond, where a sign directs to O’Brien. Creek. The trail has great views of the Copper River, historic sites and structures, as well as geological formations.
Seems like a good time for some real Alaskans to do what real Alaskans used to do and go solve the problem without needing government to do it for them. A couple dipnetters surely have access to some tools for clearing debris, even if it is just pickaxes and shovels.
Take a look at those slabs…then guess how far to the top of the slide, then decide how to move one slab at a time safely. Good luck with the pick and shovel. That slide is death waiting.
An enterprising group of hearty Alaskans could tackle this minor challenge in no time, our forebearers did on a daily basis. I would start at the top and work my way down. If we as a people let a few small rocks get in our way of our food supply we are doomed. If we think we need DOT to clear a trail we are doomed.
This means the 4 am line for the water taxi will be that much longer…
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