NATIONAL COAST TRAIL ASSOCIATION

5124 NE 34th Ave. - Portland, OR 97211-7452 - http://www.coasttrails.org - (503) 335-3876

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, July 7, 2003

Media Contact: Al LePage, Executive Director and "Alexander McLeod" - 503-335-3876

Fur Trader "Alexander McLeod" Retraces His 1826 Trapping Expedition along Oregon Coast!

Director of trail organization is not only retracing the 100-mile coastal portion of the first overland expedition to ever explore the central Oregon coast, he's also portraying the man who led it in 1826!

     National Coast Trail Association Executive Director Al LePage continues retracing the entire approximate route of an 1826 fur brigade led by Alexander Roderick McLeod, the Hudson's Bay Company Chief Trader from Fort Vancouver who led the first expedition to ever explore the central Oregon coast.  LePage plans to leave Roads End State Park in Lincoln City, Oregon, about 11 AM on Monday, July 7th.  He will be in the historic character, clothing, and with the replica gear of Alexander McLeod himself and provide impromtu historic interpretation to those he encounters as he walks some 100 miles of what could be called the "Alexander McLeod Trail" all the way to Florence, Oregon.  He plans to finish the "Meet Alexander McLeod Living History Hike" just outside Florence at the old historic highway marker referring to McLeod along Highway 126 towards Eugene about noon on July 16th, the same historic calender date McLeod also finished his journey in the Florence area.  A special "living history" presentation will also be offered on Wednesday, July 16th, at the Umpqua Discovery Center in Reedsport, Oregon, at 7 P.M.

     "Everyone's heard of Lewis & Clark who first explored Oregon's north coast, and some people have even heard of mountain man Jedediah Smith who explored the south coast," notes LePage, "but few know it was Alexander McLeod who was the first to travel overland and explore the central Oregon coast. One goal of retracing this historic fur brigade expedition route is to highlight the significance of the relatively unknown McLeod and his historic coastal expeditions.  And, what better way to tell the story than hearing it from Alexander Roderick McLeod himself!"

     The first McLeod coastal expedition left Fort Vancouver early in May 1826. One party began on May 5th to travel by boat up the Willamette with supplies and trade goods. McLeod left on May 10th with newly arrived horses from eastern Washington and apparently brought them along the west bank of the Willamette to finally rejoin and regroup with the others south of present-day Newberg near today's Champoeg State Park. Here they packed up the horses and headed across the Yamhill Valley on foot (to spare the already weary horses now packed with supplies) to travel over the mountains and eventually reach the coast. They continued south, apparently by horse, to trap coastal streams and trade with local tribes for furs. The expedition finally reached the Siuslaw River at present-day Florence, Oregon, having traveled by boat, on foot, crossing rivers in canoes provided by local tribes, and on horseback by July 16th.  They essentially retraced their route back up the coast and Yamhill Valley, with a short-cut through the Tualatin Plains, to arrive at Fort Vancouver on August 18th, 1826.

     LePage has invested a lot of time, energy, and resources to create an authentic characterization of McLeod.  He developed his first-person persona of the chief trader based on McLeod's own journals, the writings of those who knew him, letters between Dr. McLoughlin and himself, and general information about fur brigades and those who led them. The costume -- easily valued at $1,000 or more -- was carefully researched and required bringing together the diverse knowledge and unique skills of many generous people.  He even learned how to speak with a Scottish accent specifically for this role.  LePage's background includes certification as an interpretive guide through the National Association for Interpretation, experience portraying other historic figures in National Park Service living history events at Fort Vancouver, creating and implementing living history events at various historic sites, and coursework in voice and improvisational theater.

     "In a way," notes LePage, "I'll be like Johnny Appleseed.  I'll be sowing the seeds of history in the minds of the people I meet along the way.  Hopefully, their unexpected encounter with a Hudson's Bay Company fur trader from 1826 will blossom into a desire to learn more about the past.  Hopefully, they will learn the Oregon Coast Trail can offer you more than just a great hike, but also an opportunity to travel back in time and walk in the footsteps -- and hoofprints -- of history.  Yet another reason to build and maintain coastal trails -- and preserve the coast -- for everyone!"

     LePage did the first part of this historic route retracing as a "history bike ride" and after visiting the National Park Service's annual Fur Brigade Encampment, left Fort Vancouver on Saturday, June 21st.  The first part of the journey took him about one week, and covered about 150 miles of travel along the Willamette River, through the Yamhill Valley, and then over the coast range via Route 18 to reach Roads End State Park around 11 AM on Saturday, June 28th.

     LePage, a long-distance hiker and cyclist, has retraced other historic routes over the last few years. He hiked in the footsteps and kayaked in the paddle strokes of the 1805-06 Lewis & Clark Expedition along sections of both the Washington and Oregon coasts during 1999 and 2000. He also retraced -- dressed as the famed mountain man with replica gear -- the Jedediah Smith Trail during 2000 some 200 miles over 3 weeks along the southern Oregon coast on the exact calendar dates it was originally done by Smith in 1828.  LePage is also the first, and apparently only person, to have ever hiked the entire 1800-mile length of the West Coast Trail, having done the 400-mile the Oregon Coast Trail section in 1988, the 200-mile Washington Coast Trail in 1992, and the 1,200-mile California Coastal Trail in 1996.  He recently received the 2003 Doug Newman Award from the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department for his efforts towards the development of recreational trails in Oregon.

(PHOTOS AVAILABLE DIRECTLY BELOW THIS PRESS RELEASE)

MASTER SCHEDULE FOR ENTIRE LIVING HISTORY HIKE EVENT

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The National Coast Trail Association (NCTA) is a non-profit organization working to "Keep The Coast For Everyone" through advocacy, education, and action for trails, public access, and coastal preservation.  Visit www.coasttrails.org to learn more about events and the organization..

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