Wed 8/24/22 Fairbanks
We started the day with a long leisurely breakfast at our B and B where we enjoyed talking with our host and learning about the area. We then set off en route to Fairbanks. It was rainy and slow going but still had lots of photo stops and got some great info. and shots of the Alaska Pipeline. We also stopped in Delta Junction and visited the oldest roadhouse inAlaska which is now a museum, and a farmers market. Our next stop was North Pole Alaska with of course a visit to Santa’s village. We arrived late afternoon and settled into our hotel which is a nice 2 room suite and a full kitchen. Tomorrow we are hoping the weather holds out because we are flying up to Coldfoot in the Arctic circle, then getting droped off with a ride back in search of the northern lights !
We started the day with a long leisurely breakfast at our B and B where we enjoyed talking with our host and learning about the area. We then set off en route to Fairbanks. It was rainy and slow going but still had lots of photo stops and got some great info. and shots of the Alaska Pipeline. We also stopped in Delta Junction and visited the oldest roadhouse inAlaska which is now a museum, and a farmers market. Our next stop was North Pole Alaska with of course a visit to Santa’s village. We arrived late afternoon and settled into our hotel which is a nice 2 room suite and a full kitchen. Tomorrow we are hoping the weather holds out because we are flying up to Coldfoot in the Arctic circle, then getting droped off with a ride back in search of the northern lights !
Thurs 8/25/22 Fairbanks
This was one long day ! We got up and took a walk in then , then arrived at the airport for 11:45 AM for our flight to the Arctic. We took about an an hour fifteen minute flight on a little Piper Chieftan plane. We flew low the whole way up to Coldfoot and had beautiful views of the changing foliage, the Yukon River preserve, the Brooks range, and miles and miles of views of the Alaskan pipeline. We were met at the airport by the first of our 3 drivers. We started in Coldfoot which is approximately 60 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Our first stop was at the Coldfoot camp where we ate lunch, and visited a little information center. We then set off driving south on the famous Dalton Highway which is featured in the TV series Ice Road Truckers. We drove south at a very slow pace on a gravel road full of pot holes. Did not see much traffic except for truckers the entire trip. We made several photo stops, and a big stop at the official Arctic Circle. We then changed drivers and headed on to the Yukon River Camp. We stopped enroute at Finger Mountian for a quick hike. It had started to rain at this point, but the views still amazing. Most trees changing to yellow, but the ground cover was all different shades of yellow, reds and oranges. Even route we received a lot of history about the area in particular regarding the Alaskan pipeline and the truckers route. Interesting the state of Alaska has no income or property taxes as the oil finances the state. We stopped at the Yukon overlook flats at the Yukon River Camp for dinner around 9:00 PM. It was a it overcast but we were on the hunt for the or then lights and hopeful the skies would clear. We arrived at the Arctic Trading Post where we changed drivers again, but remained until 2:00 AM. We were in a log cabin type structure where everyone kept a lookout for the northern lights. The skies did clear, and we did see stars, it the lights were not in our view. We headed out for Fairbanks around 2:00 AM and arrived back at our hotel around 4:30 AM and did not get to bed till close till 5:00 am. We may have seen slight lights that were white around 4:30, but. Not sure……. We had a great adventure of flying to the Arctic, and traveling the dalton highway, and were quite ready for bed !
This was one long day ! We got up and took a walk in then , then arrived at the airport for 11:45 AM for our flight to the Arctic. We took about an an hour fifteen minute flight on a little Piper Chieftan plane. We flew low the whole way up to Coldfoot and had beautiful views of the changing foliage, the Yukon River preserve, the Brooks range, and miles and miles of views of the Alaskan pipeline. We were met at the airport by the first of our 3 drivers. We started in Coldfoot which is approximately 60 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Our first stop was at the Coldfoot camp where we ate lunch, and visited a little information center. We then set off driving south on the famous Dalton Highway which is featured in the TV series Ice Road Truckers. We drove south at a very slow pace on a gravel road full of pot holes. Did not see much traffic except for truckers the entire trip. We made several photo stops, and a big stop at the official Arctic Circle. We then changed drivers and headed on to the Yukon River Camp. We stopped enroute at Finger Mountian for a quick hike. It had started to rain at this point, but the views still amazing. Most trees changing to yellow, but the ground cover was all different shades of yellow, reds and oranges. Even route we received a lot of history about the area in particular regarding the Alaskan pipeline and the truckers route. Interesting the state of Alaska has no income or property taxes as the oil finances the state. We stopped at the Yukon overlook flats at the Yukon River Camp for dinner around 9:00 PM. It was a it overcast but we were on the hunt for the or then lights and hopeful the skies would clear. We arrived at the Arctic Trading Post where we changed drivers again, but remained until 2:00 AM. We were in a log cabin type structure where everyone kept a lookout for the northern lights. The skies did clear, and we did see stars, it the lights were not in our view. We headed out for Fairbanks around 2:00 AM and arrived back at our hotel around 4:30 AM and did not get to bed till close till 5:00 am. We may have seen slight lights that were white around 4:30, but. Not sure……. We had a great adventure of flying to the Arctic, and traveling the dalton highway, and were quite ready for bed !
Fri 8/26/22 Fairbanks
After a late night and bed at 5:00 am, we slept in till 11:00 am. We headed out around 1:00 to the Gold Dredge Mine 8, which started with info about the pipeline, the we boarded a N gauge train to an old gold mine operation. It was very interesting learning all about the history of gold mining, We then all learned how to pan for gold and we really had fun doing it. We ended up with gold flakes that we combined andI have a feeling I am going to see in a pendant very soon as a gift. Next we went to pioneer Village which was a series of original buildings moved to a site on the Cheena River, and several small museums. We really enjoyed the old railroad museum. Still were a bit tired so we got back to hotel for an early night, and then back out for our last day in Fairbanks tomorrow !
After a late night and bed at 5:00 am, we slept in till 11:00 am. We headed out around 1:00 to the Gold Dredge Mine 8, which started with info about the pipeline, the we boarded a N gauge train to an old gold mine operation. It was very interesting learning all about the history of gold mining, We then all learned how to pan for gold and we really had fun doing it. We ended up with gold flakes that we combined andI have a feeling I am going to see in a pendant very soon as a gift. Next we went to pioneer Village which was a series of original buildings moved to a site on the Cheena River, and several small museums. We really enjoyed the old railroad museum. Still were a bit tired so we got back to hotel for an early night, and then back out for our last day in Fairbanks tomorrow !
Sat 8/26/2022 Fairbanks
Surprise, it started out drizzly, but ended up being a sunny beautiful day. Our first stop was the large animal research unit at the University of Alaska. Hee we learning more than we knew there was to learn about Musk Ox and reindeer, and got to watch both animals which was really entertaining. The musk ox have been around since teh ice age, and we really fascinating. They have a undercoat that sheds that is called quivet and is softer and warmer than cashmere…it also sells for 100.00 an ounce ! Next we went to Cramer Filed for some bird watching, lot so sand hill cranes there’s we then drove out of town on the Cheena Springs road for some exploring. Out last stop was the Riverboat that was a really fun 3 hour trip that included a float plane demonstration, a dog sled demonstration, and and reenactment of an Indian village. The dog sled kennel was started by a woman name Susan Buthcer from Ma, who raised a dog named Granite who was never expected to amount to anything and they wound up winning the Iditarod 4 times against all odds ! It was a busy fun day, tomorrow off to Denali…..
Sat 8/26/2022 Fairbanks
Surprise, it started out drizzly, but ended up being a sunny beautiful day. Our first stop was the large animal research unit at the University of Alaska. Hee we learning more than we knew there was to learn about Musk Ox and reindeer, and got to watch both animals which was really entertaining. The musk ox have been around since teh ice age, and we really fascinating. They have a undercoat that sheds that is called quivet and is softer and warmer than cashmere…it also sells for 100.00 an ounce ! Next we went to Cramer Filed for some bird watching, lot so sand hill cranes there’s we then drove out of town on the Cheena Springs road for some exploring. Out last stop was the Riverboat that was a really fun 3 hour trip that included a float plane demonstration, a dog sled demonstration, and and reenactment of an Indian village. The dog sled kennel was started by a woman name Susan Buthcer from Ma, who raised a dog named Granite who was never expected to amount to anything and they wound up winning the Iditarod 4 times against all odds ! It was a busy fun day, tomorrow off to Denali…..
Sun 8/28/2022 Denali Bluffs Hotel. Denali
We headed out and drove to Denali. We stopped in this great little town called Nemana. They had a little railroad museum and we enjoyed the curator there. Every year they are famous for a contest they to determine when the ice starts to melt. The prize is about 350,000.00 ! Of course for 3.00 we bought a chance. We arrived in Denali around 3:00 and got settled in. We then went to Denali park and drove in far as you are allowed by car.we took a short hike then headed back out. We lucked upon about 4 moose,so spent a good amount of time watching them. We then wrapped up with a delis dinner at the 49 th Brewery. Our hotel is set up on a bluff with stunning views !
We headed out and drove to Denali. We stopped in this great little town called Nemana. They had a little railroad museum and we enjoyed the curator there. Every year they are famous for a contest they to determine when the ice starts to melt. The prize is about 350,000.00 ! Of course for 3.00 we bought a chance. We arrived in Denali around 3:00 and got settled in. We then went to Denali park and drove in far as you are allowed by car.we took a short hike then headed back out. We lucked upon about 4 moose,so spent a good amount of time watching them. We then wrapped up with a delis dinner at the 49 th Brewery. Our hotel is set up on a bluff with stunning views !
,Mon. 8/29/2022 Denali Bluffs hotel Denali
Today we visited Husky Homestead which is a sled dog compound owned by Jeff King who is an Iditarod champion. It was a very informative prevention, and we got to mingle with the dogs. Interestingly, we thought the sled dogs were the typical Siberian Husky. We learned any dog who pulls a sled is a husky, and the sled dogs are Alaskan Huskies. Mixed feelings about the whole operation. The dogs are well cared for, but live on a five foot chain, and probably get less than an hour a day if that, of any human interaction - kind of sad. We spent the rest of the day roaming around Denali National park.
Today we visited Husky Homestead which is a sled dog compound owned by Jeff King who is an Iditarod champion. It was a very informative prevention, and we got to mingle with the dogs. Interestingly, we thought the sled dogs were the typical Siberian Husky. We learned any dog who pulls a sled is a husky, and the sled dogs are Alaskan Huskies. Mixed feelings about the whole operation. The dogs are well cared for, but live on a five foot chain, and probably get less than an hour a day if that, of any human interaction - kind of sad. We spent the rest of the day roaming around Denali National park.
Tues. 8/30/2022 Lakefront Hotel Anchorage
We left Denali yesterday and and a very leisurely drive to Anchorage and arrived around 5:00 PM. We stopped in Talkeetna on way which was a fun little town. We also stopped at a birch syrup processing operation. It was
interesting to learn all about the harvesting and processing of the syrup. We wondered why the syrup was so expensive, and learned that it takes about 100 gallons of birch sap to make one gallon of syrup. We enjoyed our last evening at the hotel watching float planes take off and Landing. Overall impressions of Alaska….. the weather was a bit of deterrent to our activity level due to the rain almost every day, it did not deter us still having fun. Life for locals outside of the cities is not easy, it takes a lot of planning for supplies, and both mental and physical tenacity to survive the long and dark winters. There is really not a lot of “touristy” things to see, and Alaska is really geared to activity, hiking, kayaking, plane site seeing, fishing, hunting and rafting. Everywhere we stayed was understaffed, I guess it really is a problem everywhere. We felt a bit out of practice with traveling since it has been so long, this trip got us back in the groove, and hopefully our next big trip will be to Morocco in Feb.
We left Denali yesterday and and a very leisurely drive to Anchorage and arrived around 5:00 PM. We stopped in Talkeetna on way which was a fun little town. We also stopped at a birch syrup processing operation. It was
interesting to learn all about the harvesting and processing of the syrup. We wondered why the syrup was so expensive, and learned that it takes about 100 gallons of birch sap to make one gallon of syrup. We enjoyed our last evening at the hotel watching float planes take off and Landing. Overall impressions of Alaska….. the weather was a bit of deterrent to our activity level due to the rain almost every day, it did not deter us still having fun. Life for locals outside of the cities is not easy, it takes a lot of planning for supplies, and both mental and physical tenacity to survive the long and dark winters. There is really not a lot of “touristy” things to see, and Alaska is really geared to activity, hiking, kayaking, plane site seeing, fishing, hunting and rafting. Everywhere we stayed was understaffed, I guess it really is a problem everywhere. We felt a bit out of practice with traveling since it has been so long, this trip got us back in the groove, and hopefully our next big trip will be to Morocco in Feb.