Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Temp: 43 degrees

States Today: Alaska

Saying for the day: When God wants you to grow, he makes you uncomfortable.

An exciting day in store for us today, we head to the Arctic Circle; we will fly up and be driven back. At 12:30 the airport van picks us up and takes us to the small airplane part of the Int'l Alaska Airport. We got checked in with the others going too and took off in a twin engine, 9 seater Piper plane. Our hour and 15 minute flight turned into 1 hour due to a nice tailwind. The mountains and forests, the rivers, lakes and tundra were a sight to behold from the air and so many shades of green. We landed at Coldfoot and had a 20 minute stop for a drink and the restrooms, at the Yukon Trucker’s Café. This is a restaurant the truckers from the show "Ice Road Truckers" will stop to eat. Then we met, Ryan, our group leader and hopped on the van for the return trip to Fairbanks, a MUCH longer trip than flying. Something that made this driving part of the trip real nice was that there was only one other couple with us, so we were all able to talk and enjoy that end of it. They were a lovely, outgoing couple from PA, where we both grew up! Small world once again.

We had many, many stops along the way: The first stop was to the newly opened, in fact just that day, of the Visitors Center. We were there for about 40 minutes and could look around at some lovely items on display, including pelts of wolf, coyote, wolverine and bear. And got to see a snowshoe hare close up. We’ve seen so many of them. We were also able to talk to the folks there, including one of the rangers who came in shortly before we left for our next leg.

We had various stops along the way for viewing with a stop where we could walk out onto the Tundra where Ryan dug into the earth; wet, wet earth til he came onto what seemed to be a hard rock – not at all, it was the PermaFrost. We all got to put our hands down into the hole and feel the PermaFrost. We could only walk in this one spot on the tundra and if we didn’t walk on the clumps of grasses we would sink into the wet earth. This was a very interesting point in the trip.

An interesting aspect of the trip was that we would have some rain sprinkles, maybe some showers, then it would clear and be a little sunny, then it would be overcast and then some rain again. This is Alaska weather.

Next stop at Grayling Lake where we were so fortunate to see a pair of Trumpet Swans! We also saw a White Crowned Sparrow, noticeable by the very bold black and white stripes on the head, and her empty nest. Momma was not happy with us for taking pictures.

Just a note – we saw no moose, elk, or caribou and Ryan, our guide, told us they just don’t come near the highway.

Next stop, Gobbler’s Knob, Roller Coaster, and Connection Rock. With the building of the road, these were names added to the maps, in regards to the folks who traversed the Yukon River and the forests. Many pump stations in the distance.

Finally to the “ARCTIC CIRCLE” and pictures and the red carpet and names on the wall, lots of wind, and our certification for crossing the Arctic Circle. (Where we landed in Coldfoot was 60 miles N. of the Arctic Circle). It was all right to put our names on the back of the sign as it’s “expected” and the Parks Service repaints every year.

Next stop to a “rock upheaval”, Finger Rock. The varying temperatures cause the rocks to just split from the ground and make piles of rocks, that eventually become Granite. One rock is like a beacon for aircraft; if they see that finger rock they know where they are.

Finally, we arrive the Yukon River, it’s COLD! Yukon River Camp for our supper. I had a FABULOUS salmon soup and Will had a cheeseburger and fries. All of it was delicious! Great folks, really friendly people. And everything waiting for us when we arrived. Gas for sale too at $5/gallon. Then we met “Yukon Jeremy and his Mom Dorothy who have a little shed (store) on the property and they sell gifts that they make from local birch and willow and spruce, as well as badger, coyote, wolf, and bear hats. AND some bear’s tooth necklaces. A bit too pricey though. They live two miles upriver the Yukon in a house that the two of them built themselves and commute on the river as there are no roads to their home.

And now, the pipeline, which has followed us along the road all the way. It runs from Dead Horse to Valdez where it is then loaded onto oil tankers. (Exxon Valdez). 799 miles of pipeline, 4’ in diameter, 12 pumping stations.

Last stop the Wildwood General Store, that was started many, many years ago when the trucker’s were really up and down the new Dalton Hwy. The children started a lemonade stand for the truckers and became famous because they kept the lemonade in cylinders in the ground, on top of the Perma Frost, to keep it ice cold. Thus, a supply store began and grew into what it is today. This was at 11 pm, so everything was closed up for the night.

When we were dropped off at the airport, it was as dark as it was going to get at 12:40 a.m. And it wasn’t very dark at all.

How long staying: Two more days