Dyea in Skagway, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

Nature Always Succeeds!

Pullen Creek StreamWalk

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 24, 2024

1. Nature Always Succeeds! Marker

Inscription.
A Disturbed Landscape
After a glacier retreats, bare rock, gravel, and ground up earth are left behind. This provides a blank canvas for the succession of habitat changes to follow.

Building Soils
Pioneer species respond quickly to take advantage of this blank canvas. They are typically small in size and able to reproduce quickly. These include mosses, lichens, grasses and low shrubs.

Woody Pioneers
With some soils in place, shrubs and larger fast growing plants begin to take root and continue to modify the habitat. These plants include willow alder, cottonwood, and some spruce saplings.

Fast Growing Trees
With more soil and established plants creating beneficial microclimates, intermediate species begin to move in. These are typically fast growing species like spruce and cottonwood.

Climax Forest
At last, the long-lived species that form a stable habitat move in. This habitat doesn't change significantly unless it is disturbed again. Hemlocks are a true climax species in that they take a long time to catch up, but eventually shade out the other species

Succession can be witnessed right here in Skagway....
After

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the glaciers are gone, plant succession begins. Pioneer species like small mosses, lichens and plants move in and contribute to building soil. As soils develop, more plant species are able to grow and compete with one another. Eventually, the number and variety of plants stabilizes as long living species become established. The habitat reaches a climax state that will remain generally constant until a disturbance occurs. Plant communities come and go as landslides, floods, insects, fires, people and climate change reshape the land and renew succession.

Glaciers or Humans? Like glaciers, humans also impact their landscapes. Just over 150 years ago, people cut down most of the trees here to build and heat homes and businesses during the gold rush. The trees around you have grown up since then, and are now pioneering their way toward a climax forest.

Erected by the Municipality of Skagway.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 59° 27.114′ N, 135° 19.289′ W. Marker is in

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 24, 2024

2. Nature Always Succeeds! Marker

Skagway, Alaska. It is in Dyea. It is on Broadway, on the right when traveling south. Marker is between Shoreline Park and the Broadway Dock. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Broadway, Skagway AK 99840, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Alaska,

in Tlingit and Haida & Tsimshian Region.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Inside Passage,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gateway to the Interior (within shouting distance of this marker); Ho, for the Klondike! (within shouting distance of this marker); Skagway's Shifting Shoreline (within shouting distance of this marker); The Road to Gold (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. Army Invades Skagway (within shouting distance of this marker); Néechxwúduyaa (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Pullen Creek (within shouting distance

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of this marker); The Plants of Pullen Creek (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Skagway.

Regarding Nature Always Succeeds!. Although primarily natural history related, there is mention of human impact on the environment around Skagway during the gold rush era.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 184 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 1, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.