Mail Carrier, Stopping in Naknek, Between Kanatak and Dillingham, 1930's

The mail route started at Kanatak. (The location of the former village of Kanatak is on the Pacific coast of the Alaska Peninsula, west of Kodiak Island.) From there they would go on to Egegik (possibly Ugashik) and on to Naknek. They proceeded to Kongiung, then across the Kvichak to Dillingham. This trip would take approximately five or six weeks, round trip. The river crossings probably depended on how cold the winter was. Note the size of the dogs, which are double the size of the dogs presently used for races such as the Iditarod.

For those familiar with Naknek, the house in the background, with the brick chimney is the Marshall house which was behind and a little north of the bottling works. The peak of the hip roof on the cannery superintendent's house is behind and to the left of the people standing there.

©Photo from the Monsen Collection

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