A board member from Haines Huts and Trails participated in Skagway’s last Parks and Recreation Committee meeting as the idea of a hut traverse between the communities was broached. If the plan came to fruition, the average hiker could make the trip in three days.
Representatives from Skagway and Haines discussed developing a 20-mile hiking trail with three huts between the two communities. Kevin Forster of the Haines Huts and Trails Board called into the Feb. 8 Skagway Parks and Recreation Committee to introduce the idea, in partnership with Parks and Recreation Chair Kate Kolodi.
The pair emphasized the Haines/Skagway hut traverse was in its earliest stages of development, with more questions than answers. One of the main issues is what entity would manage the trail, which is part of the Tongass National Forest. Forster said the groups wanted as much feedback as possible before moving forward.
“So, I think some of the intention with reaching out in a transparent way to as many different people as possible, early on, is to understand concerns and also just understand the general excitement — or not — in the early phases,” Forster said. “To understand whether it’s worth pursuing.”
Forster has hiked the traverse five times. He recommended putting the trail on the east side of the canal, which he said was less arduous than the west.
The proposed one-direction trail would start at the Katzehin (katz-a-heen) River. Hikers would need to be transported by air or boat to the location from Haines. The three huts would be spaced roughly six miles apart, making the trip a three-day journey.
The presentation was met with enthusiasm by the gallery. Assemblymember Deb Potter, who sits on Parks and Recreation, was intrigued.
“I love this idea,” Potter said. “I don’t know if it’s ever happened before, of a cooperative Haines, Skagway approach to trail building. I think it’s great. I think it’s innovative. And it speaks to, you know, kind of the modern relationship between our two communities.”
Both Kolodi and Potter pointed out that the trail system would encourage independent travelers, a demographic Skagway has tried to attract since the pandemic.
