Used to be steps coming down here…
Mom would sit on that curved root and sketch…or just look at the bay!
Cloths line used to be in this open area, part of the Building Site
Old growth spruce, dogs sheltered under there.
Log barn sat here…we could see the outline
Looking East from the airstrip.
Yes! There are the two trees that the steps came down from, same curved root in evidence!
There is an old yurt ‘parked’ in the middle of the path at the top but the building site itself has changed very little. Big old spruce trees, moss covered ground, some of the old path from our days is still visible along the edge where the brush has not gotten a foot hold due to lack of light.
[Our folks were always going to build out there, thus the name, but only got as far as a large root cellar, and that is still visible due to a large depression in the soil. Also the area where the clothes line hung for many years.]
Turning toward the mountain, what used to be a clearing is filled with brush; alder, cottonwood and…devil’s club along the sides.
We sighted on an old dead cottonwood and a very large spruce tree because they looked right, even after all those years. Happily, the leaves were not out yet on the devil’s club because we had to navigate through some that was up to ten foot tall. It does not stand straight of course, is springy and stickery and will grab you.
When we got to the large spruce tree, and turned around, one could see the footprint of the old log barn in exactly the right location. Moss covered depression, but there. The cabin was further out in the devil’s club and although we could determine the logical position, we really could see no evidence.
This section of the homestead now belongs to some folks in Juneau. We understand that Zach Stenson’s mother is part owner but other than that we’ve no information. [Since then, we’ve made contact with the owners!]
Finally we decided we really must get back out to the beach, have another drink of water and then head back north. It seems likely that our old tractor is probably still back there in the brush, because no one would have moved it. Trying to find it could have taken hours so we opted not to. It was some distance from the cabin, and even back then there was brush between the cabin and that garden area. We did not explore south of the creek either, not wanting to get wet in crossing!
We made few stops on the return trip, just enough to catch our breath [okay, mine] and were back to the airstrip with time to spare. We were all down to T-shirts by this time, an absolutely beautiful day. Nancy and I sat on an old log while Linda and Ruth went off to see if they could get to Davidson Glacier. They planned to watch their time and turn back before they had gone too far. We rested a bit and then checked the high tide ponds; nothing too interesting but you have to look! Turned my cell phone on for the time and Holy Cow, have bars! We had all looked when down on the homestead, no signal there at all which was what we expected. Called the other girls, who were totally surprised to have the phone ring, and found they were visiting with the folks who do tours of the Glacier. Couple of young folk, getting everything ready for the season and the rest of the crew. They were excited, they have our book!
Not having enough time for the trek to the glacier, the girls came back and not long after we heard a small plane. Drake was back for us, and on the return trip we got to see sea lions near Pyramid Island, plus a great view of Pyramid Harbor, where Schnabel’s Mill was on Jones Point and other landmarks. The tight turns were a little un-nerving but we loved the experience!
Tired because we’d been out and about for hours of hiking we opted for dinner at the Chilkat Bakery & Restaurant. The owner would not let us all order the same item, but insisted we each choose a different thing and share. Hey, we can do that, we often do!
Back to our cabin on Lutak Road and soon into bed.