About the KMTA GeoTrail:
Welcome to a geocaching trail exploring Alaska’s only National Heritage Area. In 2009, Congress designated the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm (KMTA) region of Southcentral Alaska as a National Heritage Area (NHA). This designation formally recognizes the history of an area that has deeply shaped the legacy of Alaska and the nation. It is the history of the Alutiiq, Sugpiaq, and Dena’ina people—the original stewards and inhabitants of the Kenai Peninsula. It’s that of the Iditarod National Historic Trail, Alaska Railroad, Gold Rush, Seward Highway, and local industries that give KMTA its character. KMTA’s geographic footprint bridges Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound via mountains, glacial valleys, and productive rivers. Throughout this landscape are communities and stories that connect us to our past and future. It includes the small and vibrant communities of Bird, Indian, Girdwood, Whittier, Hope, Cooper Landing, Moose Pass, and Seward, and all the wilderness between them. As Alaska’s only National Heritage Area, KMTA aims to enhance, preserve, and share the region’s natural and cultural resources— in essence its heritage. Above all else, KMTA strives to foster pride of place and an enduring stewardship ethic for this special place. As you travel through the Heritage Area to complete this GeoTrail, we encourage to keep that stewardship ethic front of mind as you learn about and enjoy the richness of the region.
As you search for the geocaches making up this GeoTrail, you’ll be asked to complete a passport that qualifies you to purchase the KMTA GeoTrail Geocoin. For more information on the Passport and GeoTrail, please visit KMTA-GeoTrail.GCAK.org
KMTA field guide link: https://kmtacorridor.org/field-trip-guide/
The unique code word for this cache is found on the front of the logbook and/or on the inside of the container lid.
**Cell coverage warning: this location has good cell phone coverage with data. If you are continuing on down the Seward highway to other KMTA GeoTrail caches, it would be wise to download cache information to your GPS device from this location.**
KMTA GeoTrail #1: Roundhouse Museum
Since there is a long standing geocache already placed at the Roundhouse Museum (GC641C2 - The Roundhouse at Alyeska Museum), this geocache is placed in an alternate location for the KTMA GeoTrail.
This is a simple multi-stage cache that requires research of the area. Gather some information and complete a bit of basic math at the first stage to obtain the coordinates for the final stage which is located at N AA BB . CCC W 149 0D . E0F
1st Stage: There is a Bear Statue at posted coordinates, this is your starting point.
2nd and Final Stage: Answer questions below to get final coordinates.
Question A: What is the latitude of the Bear Sculpture?
Question B: What year was the first chairlift and Round House completed? Last two digits of year minus 2.
Question C: How many feet above sea level is the Round House Museum? Drop 0 off, divide in half, add 15.
Question D: What year was the Round House Museum placed on the National Historic Register? Add all numbers in year together.
Question E: What century did Colonel James Girdwood stake his first four gold claims? Think 14th century, 15th century, etc...Century minus 10.
Question F: How many local men came together to form the Alyeska Ski Corporation? Answer to this question minus 9.
You can check your answers on GeoChecker.com.
The Roundhouse Museum was built between 1959-1960, originally as a warming hut. It was refurbished in 1974 partly from the Gendzwill Estate. Eddie Gendzwill came to Alaska with the military sometime before 1953 and took up skiing. He served one term as Mayor of Girdwood. Eddie was a master carpenter and refurbished the Roundhouse Museum. The Roundhouse Museum gives a long-standing historical timeline of the area going back as far as 1778 when Captain James Cook searched for the Northwest Passage up until 2018 when the Canadian hospitality company Pomeroy Lodging purchased Alyeska Resort.
If you would like to see additional aerial and other photos of the Roundhouse in 1962, look inside the Boretide Deli & Bar, located at the same elevation as the Roundhouse Museum, 2280 feet above the final coordinates of this cache.
This cache is maintained by local Alaskan geocacher hyfolks26.
Please contact her with any questions or maintenance requests.
Permissions given and area walked with Alyeska Marketing Manager Ben N.
