Monday, June 18, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Tour
We chose to take the Major Marine Tour which cruised the Prince William Sound. A Chugach Forest ranger along with the ship’s captain helped us spot wildlife and told us interesting facts about the area. The highlight of the trip with seeing and hearing the massive glaciers groan, crack and calve.
Whittier, AK
After driving through a one way tunnel that is shared with the railroad, we drove into a small, delightful fishing village, Whittier, located on Prince William Sound, southeast of Anchorage. One of the quaint shops has pet caribou that the tourists can feed.
Mt. McKinley
We saw it! The Athabascan Indians of the region called called it Denali, “the High One,“ referring to Mt. McKinley. It is North America’s highest mountain (20,320 feet) and summer’s often overcast or rainy weather frequently obscures the mountain, allowing visitors only about a 30 to 40% chance of seeing it.
Names
The name boards hanging above the counter are of dogs that have been retired from work at the park. Karen is the Park Ranger in charge of the dogs.
Dogs
The sled dog demonstration at the Park Headquarters was entertaining and educational. Sled dogs need to have a bushy tail and longer legs to help cope with the cold and deep snow conditions.
Denali
While we were in this National Park, we went on the “Tundra Bus Tour,” which was most informative. One thing we learned was that the sun rises and sets in the north and there is a 10 week period of 24 hours of daylight up here.
Tamarack
The tamarack has needles and cones like an evergreen, but like a deciduous tree, it sheds its foliage every fall.
Tomatoes
The 20 plus hours of daylight here in Alaska help in the growing of tomatoes in this green house in the Chena Hot Springs.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Chena Hot Springs
Chena Hot Springs, east of Fairbanks, is a natural mineral hot springs that is open all year. It has the only year-round ice museum, seasonal recreational activities, trail rides, massage therapy, landing strip, and camping. We enjoyed the hot springs and had a nice walk around the grounds.
Plugs
Since winters in Alaska can get to 80 below, the parking lots around the town have these posts which allow the cars to be connected while the drivers are at work, school, or shopping. The cars around here with an Alaska license plate have these plugs hanging out the front.
Fairbanks
Dan is studying the map of bike trails in Fairbanks. Our 13 mile ride was partly along the Chena River.
First Frost
Michio Hoshino, the famous photographer, took this picture. It is displayed in this wonderful museum in Fairbanks.
Blue Foam
Blue Foam is useful in Alaska in the winter.
Outhouses. & outhouses1
In some rural places in Alaska an outhouse is used where there is no indoor plumbing.
Museum of the North
While we were in Fairbanks, we went to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum. We heard about adaptations to life in the cold and the activities that sustain Alaskans through winter into spring. Objects made and used by Alaska Natives and objects representing Alaska’s history were displayed.
Tow
We were thankful that we were in a large parking lot in Fairbanks and not on the road or in some remote campground here in Alaska. Alaska RV Center is where we were towed and we spent several days here while Gene, the mechanic, repaired our RV.
Pipeline
This was our first glimpse of the pipeline suspended across the Tanana River, taken while driving on the Big Delta Bridge.
Hitchhikers
This young couple was in the Haines Library when we first saw them. Several days later they were on the highway hoping for a ride, since the Canadian Bus system was on strike and they had no transportation. They rode with us to Tok, AK.
Mosquito
They grow them big here in Alaska! This burl art was in front of the Knotty Shop in the Chena Lakes Recreation Area.
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