The man who turned a volcanic eruption into a spectacle

History · Published 7 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the spring of 1974, the residents of Sitka, Alaska, woke to a startling sight: thick, black smoke billowing from Mount Edgecumbe. This video explores how local resident Porky Bickar responded to the sudden volcanic activity.

The footage captures the moment Mount Edgecumbe, a 3,400-foot peak, began emitting heavy smoke over the Alaska panhandle town of Sitka. While the eruption caused concern among the local population, the event is remembered through the lens of Porky Bickar, a resident who engaged with the phenomenon in a way that followed ancient traditions.

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