Covenant News

Wilderness Lodge Badly Damaged by Fire

CHITINA, AK (February 23, 2005) - Work continues to recover from a January 20 fire that devastated Ultimathule Lodge, owned and operated by John and Eleanor Claus and their family, well-known members of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Eleanor at one time served on the Covenant Executive Board.

The lodge is located in the Wrangell/St. Elias National Park in eastern Alaska - the largest national park in the United States and a wilderness area that is characterized as wild and untamed and rarely visited. (Accompanying photo shows view from the lodge area.)

The fire completely destroyed five buildings and a tractor that was parked near the cookhouse and dining room. "Our son's family home was one of the buildings along with two generator houses and a big warehouse," Eleanor reports in an email update to Covenant News Service. "Nothing was usable." It is believed the fire may have originated in the warehouse where a caretaker was warming a small area with a propane heater.

"The lodge keeper called our son, Paul, and reported the fire," Eleanor recalled. "The only communication he had was satellite phone. The Wrangell/St. Elias National Park pilot was notified and he flew out to take photos, emailing them to us. It looked pretty grim! (To learn more about the lodge, visit www.ultimathulelodge.com.)

"We did suffer a huge financial loss, but it seems so insignificant compared to all the human lives lost in the recent disasters and the war-torn countries," Eleanor observed. "It was a great lesson to all of us how very temporal man-made structures are, and the true value in eternity's view is people and God's word! We pray that in all the days ahead, God may be glorified. We know that in all things He works for good to those who love Him, and we have already seen him at work in the tremendous response from our friends all over who have heard."

The family's home church, Anchorage First Covenant, is sponsoring a kitchen supplies shower March 6. Temporary structures called "Yurts" are being erected to house a temporary kitchen and dining room as guests are expected to begin arriving in a month for skiing. "We still have the majestic spot of God's creation in which to rebuild," Eleanor notes. "We are so grateful for all of your prayers and trust the Lord to give us wisdom, strength and creativity in the rebuilding of the lodge."

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