Anan Bay Cabin destroyed by falling tree

• News Home
• More from News of the North

Saturday, March 4th, 2023 12:52pm

By Jasz Garrett

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Whatsapp

The tree took down a side wall and caved in the cabin’s roof. (Photo courtesy of USDA Forest Service)

Wrangell, Alaska (KINY) - The Anan Bay Cabin is closed until further notice after a large spruce tree fell on the structure and caused severe damage two weeks ago. The tree took down a side wall and caved in the cabin’s roof.

Recreation staff from the Wrangell Ranger District were unable to visit the cabin for further assessment due to the weather for an entire week after the incident occurred on Feb. 24.

Tori Houser, the Acting District Ranger for the Wrangell Ranger District, summarized the incident.

"Two weekends ago, I got a call from a person in Ketchikan. He took his boat with his family out there to have a nice winter visit and arrived and found that a large spruce tree had fallen on the cabin and completely demolished it. It wasn't safe to use. So they were able to go and stay at another local cabin, but he was kind enough to give me a call and let me know what happened," she said. "Our folks, we had to wait a whole week to get good enough weather so we could get out there; but I sent my folks out last Monday and they found that it was pretty rough. One thing that was interesting is that the tree, a large spruce tree fell over and it was a total root wad fall. So the root wad gateway and the whole thing. The whole tree tipped over onto the cabin."

Houser said clean-up wouldn't occur until the spring when the tree will be thawed and easier to move. She said it will be a long process and their Ranger District is still deciding on the best course of action, and if there are any pieces they will be able to save and reuse.

The cabin is about 25 miles south of the community of Wrangell. It's about an hour and fifteen-minute boat ride to get there, and then a mile walk on a trail.

Anan Bay Cabin was originally built in 1964, but a new cabin was constructed in the spring of 2012 using Alaska yellow cedar from the Tongass National Forest.

Houser added if people are interested in volunteering when the time comes she will reach out to them.

"It's going to be quite a job," she said. "We are hopefully going to seek funding and make an engineering plan to reconstruct the cabin."

To be put on a list as a potential volunteer this spring, contact Houser's main office at 907-874-2323.

Below: A view looking up at the destruction. (Photo courtesy of USDA Forest Service)

More from News of the North

• Governor Dunleavy names Board of Fisheries and Board of Game Appointees

  Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - Governor Mike Dunleavy appointed four Alaskans to fill open seats on the Alaska Board of Game and the Alaska Board of Fisheries and made two reappointments to the Board of Game. All appointments begin on Jul. 1, 2023.

• Inadequate training and a fatal U-turn cost Alaska government $3 million, settlement documents say

  Juneau, Alaska (Alaska Beacon) - The state of Alaska will pay $3 million to the family of a man killed in a 2018 traffic accident caused when an Alaska state trooper made an abrupt U-turn in front of him.

• Anchorage couple indicted for fentanyl overdose of six-month-old infant

  Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - On Tuesday, an Anchorage grand jury indicted Albert A. Clark and Eike M. Larson on a lead charge of assault in the first degree.

• Weyiouanna enters plea deal in 2018 stabbing murder

  Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - Simon Weyiouanna pleaded guilty Mar. 31 to murder in the second degree for the 2018 stabbing death of Cheri Ingram. The State entered into a plea agreement with Mr. Weyiouanna for a sentence of 75 years with 25 suspended, and 50 years to serve.

• Alaska Native Scouts feted 67 years after rescuing Navy crew

  Gambell, Alaska (AP) - Bruce Boolowon, then a lean 20-year-old, and a group of friends were hunting for murre eggs in a walrus skin boat on a remote Alaska island in the Bering Strait when they saw a crippled airplane flying low.

• University of Alaska Anchorage Robotics the sole Alaska team to go to World Championship

  Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation’s 16th annual VEX Robotics World Championship will be back in Dallas to showcase the talent of student competitors from Apr. 25 to May 4.

• Update: Capital City Fire Rescue responded to a fatal structure fire, investigation ongoing

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - CCFR responded to a structure fire on Engineers Cutoff Rd. on Thursday, Mar. 30.

• Juneau Police Department investigates possible threat

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - On Friday, Mar. 31 at about 6:45 a.m., the Juneau Police Department received a report from a business in the 600 block of Willoughby Ave, regarding a note being found in the store that indicated a possible general threat against children.

• Official News of The North Retraction regarding SEACC and SEACC United

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Yesterday afternoon, News of The North published a story regarding the Southeast Alaska Conversation Council or SEACC and SEACC United.

• Board of Education selects Frank Hauser as the next Superintendent

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - On Friday, Mar. 31, the Board of Education selected Frank Hauser to be the next Superintendent of the Juneau School District.

• Ketchikan Grand Jury indicts two young adults, one juvenile in 80 year old’s death after Facebook post

  Ketchikan, Alaska (KINY) - A Ketchikan grand jury indicted two young adults and one juvenile on multiple charges Thursday for the death of 80-year-old Lincoln Peratrovich on Mar. 21 in the community of Klawock on Prince of Wales Island, 56 miles from Ketchikan.

• Alaska Federation of Natives now accepting nominations for 2023 President's Awards

  Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - The Alaska Federation of Natives is now accepting nominations for the annual President's Awards, which will be presented at the 2023 AFN Convention, Oct. 19-21, in Anchorage.