Stikeen River journal. (Fort Wrangel, Alaska) 1898-1899, 1898-06-25
DESCRIPTIVE OF THE ST|KEEN
Beautiful Scenery and All Points
of Interest
NOTED AS THEY EXIST NOW
A Field for the Kodak Fiend-
A Great Summer Resort.
AS THEY EXIST NOW


number of times, but there are very
few who can give information regard
ing points of interest along the river.
There are steamboat captains who run
regularly from Wrangel to Glenora
who are unable to give distances be-
tween given points, and who would not
venture to say that the first canyon is
more than 90 miles or less than 40
miles from Wrangel.
One of the best informed men on the
Stikeen river country to be found any
where is Mr. f. T.. Lynch, of Wrangel,
who has spent the best part of his life
engaged in mercantile business ana
prospecting in the Cassiar country, and
along the Stikeen river. The writer Is
indebted to him for Il great deal of the
information here given.
The Stikcen river has its source in
the country lying between the Cassiar
mountains and the coast range. 1t
flows in II southwcsteriy direction and
cmptics into the bay about five miles
from the head of Wrangel Island. That
mart of the river above the big canyon
is unexpored and practically unknown.
but from Telegraph creek to Point
Rosey the river has been navi.ated for
great many years.
The country through which the Sti-
keen river runs is mountainous from
source to mouth and is in consequence
very winding. The average width Is
about one third of mile, but at points
it widens out to Il distance of about one
and half miles. and again is contract
ed into Il distance of less than two nun
dred feet depending upon the distance
between the high mountains through
which it passes. At places where the
channel is vide. the river forms slough
arpositing vast quantities of sand and
Gravel. which in time form islands
covered with thick growth of Cotton
wood. In such places the channel Is
constantly changing. washing away
islands and forming others, and leaving
= GREAT quantity of drift wood or snags
10 be washed down and be deposited on
sand bars below. to become Il constant
menace to the navigator The rapid
ty with which this change is accom-
plished is wonderful and seldom does a
season pass without the navigator be-
ing compelled to find an entire new
channel Where there is any doubt
regarding the depth of the water
soundings are made and frequently the
steamers are compelled to back out and
try another way. The narrowest point
ON the river below Telegraph Creek is
AT the first or small canyon. 10 miles
below Glcnora. where the river is con-
tractri into such a small space that at
extreme high water it is impossible of
navigation on account of the current,
which at such places forms very dam
rerous RAPIDS, while at low water it be-
comes as smoothe as Il mill pond.
There are innumerable islands in the
river. especially below the canyon, the
most important of which is cottonwood
island, and is situated at the mouth of
the river. 1t is five miles long. narrow,
with low banks. and covered with a
thick growth of cottonwood. OF the
rivers and creeks emptying into the
Stikcen below the canyon the most i'm
portant are the IskO and the Porcu
pine. The Iskoot empties into the
Stikeen about thirty-tive miles above
Cottonwood Island. and ii little above
the point known as the old boundary
line. The Porcupine empties into the
Stikeen about fifteen miles above the
mouth of the IskoOt. Between the Is
koot and the Porcupine on the opposite
side of the Sixteen lies the Stikeen
glacier, extending distance of five
miles along the bank of the river and
running back into the narrow opening
through which it passes, a distance of
at least twenty miles. Although some
persons claim that this glacier extends
back more than twice the distance.
In addition to this glacier there are
great many other glaciers below the
canyon, mostly on the left bank. most
important of which are the Muddy
glacier, ten miles above the Stikeen
glacier, and the Flood glacier just
above the Barley cache. The Flood
glacier feeds small lake at its base,
which is confined by snow and ice and
other debris, but which breaks away at
times and floods the river below causing
il to rise as much as seven feet.
The great hot springs are located al
most opposite the center of the Sti-
keen glacier.
The distance from Wrangel to the
first canyon is approximately 100 miles
and the river for this distance flows
through the coast range, while above
the canyon it flows through what is
II, l.