I received another interesting letter about the ice bridge, which I wrote about in the original column titled The Tricks of Nature.
The letter came from Linda Reed of Atlin, BC.
The first letter I received came from Samson Hartland who told me this ice bridge was called “Ice King’s Triumphal Arch.” In Reed’s letter she called it “The Mystery Arch Bridge,” but also said it was named “the King’s Triumphal Arch.” I’m mentioning this because I love descriptions.
Both letters were great. And the ice bridge was a kind of wonder of the North. Thank you very much to Linda Reed for the following letter:
Dear Jim:
Re The Mystery Arch Bridge
We have this photo in the archives at the Atlin Museum. The following is an excerpt from the book, Atlin by Christine Frances Dickinson and Diane Solie Smith:
“The opportunity to explore an ancient, yet active, ice mass was among the many choices for adventure offered an Atlin visitor. And in the summer of 1919, a spectacular feature drew international attention, and throngs of curious tourists, who travelled to Llewellyn Glacier aboard the Tarahne. During the previous winter, movement and pressure had formed a massive arch of ice, a solid bridge, that stood over nine metres high. It formed a magnificent bow, and was so strong that it easily supported all who wanted to walk across or pose at the very top for pictures. The gigantic ice bridge was named the King’s Triumphal Arch, but sadly, its reign was short. By 1920, after a winter of grinding glacial activity, the phenomenon had all but disappeared, and only the abutments remained.”
Thanks for giving me the incentive to learn more about this photo, and the chance to share it with you and your readers.
Yours truly,
Linda Reed
Anyone with information about this subject, please write Jim Robb: The Colourful Five Per Cent Scrapbook—Can You Identify? c/o the Yukon News, 211 Wood Street, Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 2E4, or e-mail through the News website, www.yukon-news.com.