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The US Forest Service said at Alaska Huts’ April 15 annual meeting that a second backcountry whistle stop platform will be built this summer at Grandview, but the location has changed. Instead of a platform and a short interpretive loop on state land, the platform will be moved more than a mile north, off of state land and onto Chugach National Forest land. The State and Federal governments could not agree on a way to invest federal funds on state lands. Carl Skustad from the Glacier Ranger District made the announcement during a short slide presentation at the annual meeting.

Skustad and Alaska Railroad project manager Don Worthley gave a general update on the Whistle Stop Project. The project is a partnership between Chugach National Forest and the Railroad for new rail-accessible backcountry trail, campground, and cabin access in a remote mountainous area between Anchorage and Seward. Alaska Huts is proposing two huts associated with the developing trails and whistle stop platforms. The Grandview Whistle Stop platform is critical to the unfolding project. It will provide a second place for people to get off the train, and will provide impetus for extending the trail between the existing whistle stop at Spencer Glacier and the new stop at Grandview. Alaska Huts has proposed a hut site at Grandview, not far from the proposed site of the relocated whistle stop platform.

Skustad and Worthley also said:

• Federal Recovery Act funds will pay for construction of a big pedestrian bridge across the Placer River, a key (and expensive) connection to the continuing trail toward Grandview and the key to access Alaska Huts’ proposed hut site on the south side of the river. Construction is to begin this summer.
• Funding also is in place for construction of the first Forest Service cabin in the area, at the top of the Spencer Bench Trail. Construction is set to begin this summer.
• The Forest Service trail crew this summer will be more than twice as large as last year’s and will work in two shifts seven days a week in an effort to complete the Spencer Bench Trail.
• The Railroad has donated an old caboose which will be completely renovated and placed permanently at the Spencer whistle stop as a center for backcountry information and education. It will be put in place this summer.

Skustad and Worthley attended the annual meeting with posters and a short slide show. The feature presentation, on huts and trails in New Zealand, was well received by a crowd of about 80, as were cheesecake, wine, rustic bread, and information on Manitoba and Whistle Stop hut proposals. Beth Cleary, a student at Alaska Pacific University who is completing a senior project on avalanche terrain assessment in the proposed hut areas, also attended, with drafts of avalanche terrain posters.

Many thanks to event sponsors and providers of top-flight door prizes:

• Hilltop Ski Area
• Alaska Railroad
• Chugach Adventure Guides
• AMH
• Barney’s Sports Chalet
• Sportsmans Warehouse
• Chugach National Forest

And to donators of food and drink:

• Fire Island Rustic Bake Shop
• New Sagaya’s City Market
• Paula Freerksen—homemade cheesecake!
• Crush Wine Bistro

And to board member Mike Goodwin, the prime organizer of the event.