We werent well versed on all thinks Fairbanks, so we were open to anything interesting in Fairbanks, our last stop in Alaska. What a nice surprise. The city is pretty sleepy, but we found amazing crepe and Thai restaurants. We find out the Fairbanks has over 40 Thai restaurants - go figure! The museum is interesting and impressive, showing how locals survive the weather, and teaching about the local animals. The amount of outdoor activities and parks was impressive. And we enjoyed the large population of young people who love living in Fairbanks, even though it is considered the coldest city in the US with average low in January of -16. Interestingly, the weather got warmer and warmer the further north we went. And of course the sun stayed in the sky longer and longer.
 |
| offical Fairbanks photo. |
 |
| 6 mins daylight gained a DAY |
 |
| the antler arch in central park |
 |
| plug your engine heater on when its below 20! |
 |
| dont ignore the moose! |
.jpg) |
| Yup- went to the Town of North Pole |
 |
| you can guess what it was like |
 |
| Santa every day! |
 |
| Xmas trees every day! |
 |
| of course, Reindeer (domesticated caribou) |
Our BIG excursion from Fairbanks was flying to Coldfoot, north of the Arctic Circle, 2 hours each way. We got home at 1am, but it was still light out sooooo....
 |
| our flying Arctic chariot |
 |
| nervous Turk |
 |
| Yukon River and tundra |
 |
| Vastness of Alaska finally hit me |
 |
| Alaska pipeline on right, Dalton Hwy on left |
 |
| Made it! |
 |
| dirty, grimey, basic. Despite the pipeline, gas is super expensive. Cant use the pipeline crude. |
 |
| Frozen Foot Saloon - northern most bar in US |
 |
| Lots of communications at bar |
 |
| truckers have priority |
 |
| someone rode from where? stays in tent |
 |
| Alaska pipeline from Prudhome Bay |
 |
| standing in middle of 'busy' Dalton Highway, Mt. Sukakpak |
 |
| perspective of how large pipeline is |
The Alaska pipeline is pervasive here because the road, the town, were created to support it. Antennas atop the pipeline posts detect warm air and signal the posts deep in the ground to release a coolant to maintain frozen permafrost. Pipeline is built on top of the permafrost layer and if it melts (which it is), the pipeline will collapse.
This tundra was once under the ocean and so, is limestone (like Florida). Oil sits in pockets of limestone. Over pumping of crude will cause collapses which will destroy the structures. So pumped crude volume currently is low from this pipeline. New pipeline is started.
We visited the 'town' of Wiseman with 15 residents.
 |
| original Wiseman post office |
 |
| former resident's cabin (he died) |
 |
| Always need an antler sign |
 |
| walls sealed with whatever they have |
 |
| more empty cabins |
 |
| equipment stays, forever. and signs! |
 |
| after midnight in Fairbanks |
Our last excursion was to relax in Chena Hot Springs up the road from Fairbanks. Enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. Nice way to end our Alaska adventures.
 |
| signs on the drive to Chena |
 |
| we ALWAYS saw bullet holes |
 |
| An Apache helicopter headed straight for us! Army base is nearby |
 |
| Mark loving the HOT springs |
 |
| beautiful grounds |
 |
| volcanos + hot springs! |
 |
| springs bubbling up all over - but this is for ducks, moose! |
 |
| cooler water sprays into this particular pool-still really hot! |
 |
| one must have a dragon! must be what keeps water hot. |
 |
| CBD glacier water from Alaska |
 |
| 'harvesting' glaciers to help save the planet |
.jpg)
