Today we saw “The Mountain ” to the top from a distance. It is usually covered in clouds. The pics were distant as that’s where we were at. Will try for some closer later. The Mountain was named Mt McKinley by a legislator in a so called honor to a man that never saw or had the fortitude to see it, president McKinley. This state calls it Denali which is a Athabascan Indian name meaning “Great One”   which is for sure what it should be. The State has been trying to get it changed but the state of Ohio (the birthplace of McKinley) stops it. Very sad and greedy. 20,237 ft and 3″ tall. 

A couple more photos of the drive.  

Yesterday morning we headed down the much heralded (by Tom) Denali Highway. The only way to  

 describe it is breathtaking. We camped last night at the Brushkana BLM Campground. Tom was hoping for site number 4 and we were lucky enough to find it open. We were right along the river and slept with the sound of the rushing water.  What a beautiful place!

Today we crossed the mighty Susitna River, viewed several glaciers in the Alaska range, were awed by countless lakes, and visited the home and kennels of Iditarod runner Zoya DeNure. We are now camped at Paxson Lake BLM Campground. Tomorrow we plan to head back across the Denali Highway. Who knows. We’re following our noses. 

This evening we find ourselves camped near the entrance to Denali National Park. We are headed for the Denali Highway, which is 145 miles of mostly gravel. There is a huge fire south of here in Willow that has the Park Highway closed north of Anchorage. It is the main artery between Fairbanks and Anchorage. The fire has consumed 6,500 acres and 45 structures, with many more in danger. From time to time a pilot car had been leading vehicles through the smoke on the highway.

This morning we cruised on the Paddleboat Discovery for three hours. The weather was ideal. We experienced beautiful views and lovely homes along the shoreline of the Chena River. We learned about the Fairbanks area and Athabascan Indian culture. We also viewed Iditarod champion Susan Butcher’s kennels from the stopped boat. She died in 2006 from lukemia but her legacy lives on with her husband and daughters. We also met and talked to Laura Allaway who ran the Iditarod this year. There was a bush pilot who took off and landed on the river. It was a very good tour and over too fast.

Chena Hot Springs resort is also home to the Aurora Ice Museum. The first version of the Aurora Ice Hotel was erected in 2004. It has an ice bar offering appletinis in ice glasses. Chandeliers carved in ice crystals that change colors every six seconds, a huge chess set, life size jousting knights, and an ice fireplace. It is possible to spend the night there for $600.00. I don’t know if that is double occupancy. The architects are Steve Brice, 15 time World Ice Champion and his wife Heather, a six time World Ice Champion. Oh, there is also a chapel where an average of 20 weddings a year are performed. The overall effect is otherworldly and incredibly beautiful. We got to take our glasses home, where we enjoyed another adult beverage before they melted. The last photo shows the workshop where all of the lovely ice sculptures are created.

Chena Hot Springs is a resort 56 miles north of Fairbanks. The resort grows their own vegetables year round and generates their own power using geothermal energy. The grounds are beautiful with spring flowers.  

We took a day off to kick back and rest and have a great barber come in to trim the bristles. By the way the shinny thing is  called Mt Baldy. 

Yesterday we visited the Large Animal Research Station which is operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. We had the opportunity to view muskox up close and learn about these animals who can survive and thrive in the arctic. Although muskox were native to Alaska they had disappeared from here by the 1920’s. The only remaining herds were in Eastern Greenland and arctic Canada. In 1930 34 animals were brought to Fairbanks and later relocated in various parts of Alaska to form new herds. By 2000 the descendants of the original muskox numbered almost 4000.

Linda half in the Yukon and half in Alaska   The musher. And the pipeline which we will be seeing a lot of. 

Fun to go in a room that’s 52 below to see how it feels. The nose freezes up in two breaths.