The Haines Borough has reached an agreement with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority so that residents and tour groups are no longer trespassing when they use the Mount Riley, Mount Ripinsky and 7 Mile Saddle trails.
“In 2019, we got notified by the Mental Health Trust that we were in trespass by using (the trails), that we didn’t have permission granted by them to be doing that,” interim manager Alekka Fullerton said.
Prior to that, it was believed that the borough had permission to use the land through Alaska State Parks, but when staff looked, there was no documentation of any agreement, Fullerton said.
After negotiations with the trust, the borough reached an agreement in which the trust will allow access for five years for $2,000. It’s a classic compromise in that neither party is entirely satisfied.
“We wanted an easement, but they don’t want to be locked into something. They’re required to maximize the income from their lands. They wanted a license that would be annually renewable, so at least we have it for five years at a time,” Fullerton said.
She said the $2,000 will likely come from the borough’s tourism and economic development fund, supported by a 1% sales tax, since the trails are used by tour companies.
Fullerton said while this is only a temporary solution, she hopes it will buy the borough time to find a more permanent solution.
One avenue being pursued for the 7 Mile trail involves Haines Huts’ application for the state’s Recreational Trails Program matching grant to purchase an easement through the University of Alaska and Mental Health Trust lands it crosses. Last fall, the assembly voted to support the application during the 2021 grant cycle.