Tom Freeman

SCS (Soil Conservation Service) Collection

August 20, 1969

This photo, taken at the heavily forested Black River snow course site, shows snow survey assistant Buddy "Bud" Woods standing below a large cottonwood tree with brush on the ground and heavy cottonwood forest taking up the rest of the image. He's holding up a machete in his outstretched hand pointing it up at a high mark on the tree at which a bear has scratched the bark. Somewhat above the scratch marks is an official "Snow Course Marker" sign proclaiming this as a special government use spot. Apparently, the resident grizzly bear took exception to this claim as indicated by the official note associated with the photo: "Woods pointing to the high claw mark made by a big bear. Each year the bear destroys the snow course marking sign and puts claw marks higher to show how big he is. This time the sign was placed as high as we could reach by one man standing on the shoulders of the other. If the bear makes marks above this one he can have the territory."

Black River, Alaska

Black & White Paper Print, 4" x 5"

People#42xn-SCS