ALASKA - FAIRBANKS

This is a trip that has been on my bucket list for quite a while and it feels good to be doing it now.  We flew from Toronto to Fairbanks via Chicago on June 21 (very long trip) for a thirteen day stay - 6 days land and 7 days cruising and arrived on the Summer Solstice - Alaska's 24 hour daylight......and it was warm.  Great start to the trip!  Alaska is four hours behind Eastern time and it was the wee hours of the morning by the time we got to bed.

We were scheduled for an all day tour on Friday consisting of two parts.  The morning was aboard a Riverboat and unfortunately, the day (weather-wise) was nothing like the day before...it was raining and cool.  Putting on a brave face, we boarded the Sternwheeler III and set sail along the Cheena river.  This is a really slick operation where the narrator/commentator speaks to the participants ashore or on the river.  All of the conversations are audible for us to hear.

Ready to board the Sternwheeler III.

We were given a demonstration of a seaplane taking off and landing.  This is really neat to observe first hand.

Our next encounter was with the owner/trainer/racer of dogs in the Iditarod.  Tekla Monson is the daughter of the late Susan Butcher, a multi-champion of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Races.  Tekla raises and trains the dogs.  The motor has been removed from an ATV and the ATV is hooked up to the dogs for training.  Tekla gave a demonstration by steering the ATV while the dogs were pulling it.  It was amazing to see how fast they were.  When they were unhooked, they ran into the very cold river to cool off.

Unhooking the dogs from the motionless ATV.

The dogs frolicking in the river after their run.

Tekla and her crew with some of the puppies.

Along the way, we were fortunate to see a few Caribou grazing.

Next, we saw and heard a young lady from the Athabascan Native Indians preparing lesser quality salmon as food for dogs.  The heads of the salmon are cut off, the salmon is filleted and air dried before being put in the smokehouse.  Every part of the salmon and any other animals killed is used by the Athabascans, either as food, clothing or fodder for dogs.  Better quality salmon is soaked in a brine before being smoked.  The heads of the better quality salmon are used to make fish soup for the elders.

Salmon about to be filleted.

Salmon fillets being air-dried.

Fishing wheel used to catch fish.

We then stopped at a 'museum village' where we learned about the Athabascans' way of life.  The next few pictures are from that village.

The cabin has a type of weed planted on the roof to help 'seal' it.

This cabin is built on stilts to hide things of value and keep them off the ground.

Skins of animals being dried.

This is a 'princess' outfit made from animal skins.

Back of the outfit.

One of the nicer homes along the Cheena river.

In the afternoon, we visited the Trans Alaska Pipeline and a gold dredge.  The Pipeline is about 800 miles long - roughly half built above ground and half below.  Aleyska company is contracted to maintain the Pipeline.  Sixty-five percent of the Alaska government's revenue comes from the Pipeline.  The government pays an annual dividend to the residents ranging from a low of $300 to a high of $2,200. This year's dividend has been established at $1,600 per resident.

The Pipeline is built to withstand permafrost and survive earthquakes.

Finally, we took a replica railway to Goldstream Dredge No. 8 where we saw some of the old equipment used and had the opportunity to pan for gold.

The front of the Dredge.

The back of the dredge.

A 'volunteer' operating a piece of the equipment.

Panning for gold.....yes, I did find a few flecks, as did my friend.

Some pelts for sale in one of the souvenir shops.

And so we came to the end of our full, tiring day in Fairbanks, a bit more knowledgeable about some of Alaska's history.