This Nov. 22, 1973 file photo shows a birds-eye view of the national forest. Ron Wood, Forest Service landscape architect, “reads” an oblique photograma to gain information about the Chilkat Mountain Peninsula. Forest Service photographer Ed Boone took the photos from a plane which skimmed above the waters near Excursion Inlet. Every 11 to 17 seconds a photo was taken recording the passing landscape. The landscape architect used the oblique photos — spliced together in a photograma — to fuse man’s work s with nature. If a road is planned, the architect can use the photos to help design the route so it visually blends with the landscape. If it is a timber sale, ridges or natural openings are identified that would help camouflage the cutting area.
Forest Service soil and watershed scientists also “read” the pictures for signs of unstable soil and slide areas. In addition, wildlife biologists, recreation specialists, foresters and geologists make use of the photogramas in their planning. Although oblique photography is not new, it s the first time the Forest Service has made use of the photograma system in the Tongass National Forest.
10 years ago (Nov. 20, 2014)
Sosa: Open area to heli-ski event
Haines Borough Manager David Sosa said he’ll recommend the assembly approve use of out-of-bounds area for a snowboard and ski competition this spring.
The assembly would need to approve a resolution opening up the area on the face of Telemark Ridge for use by Freeride World Tour, an international competition that is partnering up with Haines-based heli-ski company Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures for the March 14-22 event. The assembly meets next on Dec. 16.
Sosa recently met with several community members concerned about allowing the competition to access areas on Telemark Ridge, outside the borough-created boundaries for heli-skiing.
“I am awaiting some draft recommendation comments based on conversations with community members. I do intend to recommend that the permit be granted subject to a number of provisions based on the conversations,” Sosa said.
“Among the provisions will be items such as keeping a specified distance from recorded positions of goats, provision for reporting wildlife spotting, and adhering to recommended flight routes and profiles,” he added.
It is taking longer than the code-mandated period of seven days to produce a recommendation because of the community conversations, Sosa said. “Part of the delay has been engaging with the community and then relaying back to Freeride World Tour the concerns so that they clearly understand the issues,” he said.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist Kevin White attended a meeting between Sosa and residents Thom Ely, Eric Holle, Deborah Vogt and Carrie Weishahn to share his concerns about mountain goats in the area.
Ely, who lives on River Road across from Telemark Ridge, said he was willing to accept use of the out-of-bounds area only if it is for this one event, one time. “No repeats,” he said.
“(Tourism director) Leslie Ross just put the big pitch that this will be great marketing for Haines,” Ely said. “It’s a compromise. And I’m like, ‘OK, I can live with it.’”
Ely said he got clarification on the precise area Freeride World Tour wanted access to, which is the part of Telemark Ridge that faces the Chilkat River. He was glad to see they weren’t interested in Haska Bowl, which Ely said acts as a giant amphitheater and would bounce sound all around the valley.
Weishahn, who lives at a residence near 40 Mile Haines Highway that faces the river, said she was worried opening the out-of-bounds zone would become a slippery slope.
“My concern was that if they start using the front ranges, then it might happen up here where I live,” Weishahn said.
Freeride World Tour issued a press release last week announcing Haines as its fourth stop on its spring tour, calling the selection “historic” and referring to the town as the “mecca” and “epicenter” of freeriding.
“Alaska has long been recognized as one of the best locations in the world for skiing and snowboarding,” said Freeride World Tour general manager Nicolas Hale-Woods. “It is fantastic working with the community there and we expect this event to be one of the highlights of the season.”
The press release said 16 men and seven women will compete in the skiing category, while eight men and five women will compete in the snowboarding category.
25 years ago
Former Department of Community and Regional Affairs grants administrator Vince Hansen has been chosen to be the new administrator for the City of Haines.
The city council selected Hansen for the job over two more experienced candidates after interviewing finalist Tom Armor of Yakutat during a council meeting.
Councillors cited Hansen’s intelligence and apparent willingness to stay in Haines as assets.
“I don’t think having a lot of administrative background is essential. We don’t have lots of big problems. What we need is somebody who’s smart and willing to work at the job,” said councilor Chip Lende.
Hansen, who briefly attended law school, worked as a community development specialist and grants administrator. City staffers Susan Johnston and Mike Ricker both endorsed Hansen. “He’s got energy, youth and experience. He’s also willing to work within the pay scale. Everybody deserves a chance, said Johnston.
In a recent job interview, Hansen described himself as friendly, hard-working and clear. He said his greatest strength was communication and his weakness, taking on too much.
Hansen said he was a detail person with research skills. “I’ll be honest. I have never run a city before but I know where the things are to help me do the job.” Johnston, who has been serving as interim city administrator since mid-September, said she’s ready for some help. “He can start tomorrow.”
51 years ago
In an effort to curb its increasing personnel shortage, the Coast Guard this week opened a four-year enlistment program for women, according to the officer in charge of the Coast Guard recruiting office in Anchorage.
Women who enlist in the new program will undergo basic training at the Coast Guard Training Center, Cape May, N.J., and as far as practical will receive the same 10-week training given to men. After basic training, women will have the same opportunities for advanced training, promotions and advancement and will receive the same pay and benefits as their male counterparts.
Initially, the Coast Guard will enlist only those women applicants who desire and qualify for basic petty officer training schools in the yeoman, storekeeper, hospital corpsman and dental technician ratings. In addition, a limited number of positions will be open to women with skill in photojournalism and musician fields. Additional ratings will be opened at a future date.
Initiation of the four-year enlistment program for women is the second step in an evolving program to bring women into the Coast Guard on an equal footing with men. The first step was the admission of women to the Coast Guard’s officer candidate school in February of 1973.