Fairbanks - Day Two

6/25/13

One of the main motivators for my trip to Alaska was to see where my father spent his “formative years” as an Army Air Corps crew chief between 1942-46 at Ladd AAF, Fairbanks.  He and my Mom met as he transited Watertown, SD AAF during those years flying back and forth to Alaska.

I was able to access Ft. Wainwright today for a few hours though photographs were not permitted due to this being an active-duty military installation.  The original large hanger, four barracks, base chapel, the mess hall, and the commanding officers house are all that way still standing, as they were at the time my dad arrived here.  I did a short walking tour around that small area on the northeastern side of the base.

During the war Ladd AAF was the transfer point for more than 8,000 aircraft to the Soviet Union.  My dad was assigned to the Cold Weather Test Detachment that I found is still active here today.  Harsh winter weather had to be mastered by pilots and mechanics to maintain war-readiness.  About 800 Soviet soldiers were based here at the time working to transfer aircraft desperately needed to fit Germany on the Eastern Front.  The “forgotten war” was also fought here on Attu Island in the Aleutian Chain when the Japanese landed and occupied the only North American soil of the War.  What a change my dad must have felt coming from Texas to a very cold, dark (6 months of the year) and foreign place!

Joy rejoined me for lunch at the Elf’s Den in North Pole made famous by a visit from Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives TV Show.  And no trip to the North Pole would be complete without a visit at Santa’s House.

Barrow, Alaska - Part II

6/27/13

We were up early in Barrow for a lovely breakfast at Sam & Lee’s Restaurant and a short walk to the airport terminal.  By morning the Inupiat fishermen had the whale “dismantled” preparing parts for each of the boat crews that landed it.  Then each boat crew cuts up portions for their families.  A celebration was scheduled for the next day with all Barrow residents invited.

Our non-stop flight back to Fairbanks was routine (if any flight across 550 miles of frozen tundra can be).  Joy did some laundry today as we relax a bit after the last 48 hours.  We remain in Fairbanks until Monday as we visit more sites and plan our next adventure.

The north end of North America - Point Barrow

Cold War DEW LINE station

Land of the Midnight Sun

Barrow's answer to the St. Louis Arch

Frozen tundra

Barrow, Alaska

6/26/13

We departed Fairbanks this morning bound for Barrow, Alaska (the northern-most) city in American and North America, some 330 miles north of the Arctic Circle.  Alaska Airlines 737 took us to Anchorage, then Prudhoe Bay, and finally Barrow.  We arrived under brilliant sunshine and mid-40’s temperatures.

Across the street we checked-in to our hotel – The King Eider Hotel.  Because of the tundra, mud, and dirt a no-shoes-inside policy is in effect.  Kind of nice, actually.

We arranged for a private tour of Barrow and Point Barrow by a 40-year resident.  A small town with apparent poverty, high salaries, government support mechanisms everywhere, and ancient traditions carried on today by the Inupiat Indians.  It was a banner day here as the first whale of the hunting season was caught.  Five boats towed what we were told was a 54 foot, 200 year old hammerhead whale to shore late in the evening.  Facebook spread the word around town a hundreds of the 4,800 residents came to the beach to see the first catch.  The native Inupiat are the only ones authorized to hunt whales, as no commercial hunting is lawful.  We drove to near the end of the peninsula at Point Barrow (considered a holy site by the Inupiat).  Gasoline is $ 6.20 gallon, milk is $ 8.00 gallon, and alcohol almost non-existent.

Top of Mt. McKinley

Go to the link below on YouTube to watch Joy and Sharon in the Arctic Ocean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elaod9m6QO8

Fairbanks - Day One

6/24/13

Began our tour of Fairbanks today with a trip to the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus overlooking the city.  Beautiful museum of Alaskan culture, art galleries, and botanical gardens were enjoyed today under a high temperature of 92 degrees eclipsing a record of 91 for this date here.  Alaskans love the 20 hours of sunshine now but are complaining about the heat.

We enjoyed a late lunch today at the Cookie Jar.  This restaurant was featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives TV a while back.  We made some arrangements for our kids to travel on the Alaskan Railroad in a few weeks and did some grocery shopping.

End of the Alaska Highway - All 1,422 miles of it

6/23/13

Left Tok, AK continuing up the Alaska Highway to Delta Junction where the road officially ends.  Took a photo op there as you see below before continuing to Fairbanks.  Arrived safely here and set up at the Riverview RV Park in North Pole, AK.  We will begin touring tomorrow here in Fairbanks for about a week.  I look forward to seeing what I can at Ft. Wainwright Army Base formerly know during WWII as Ladd Army Airfield where my dad was stations from early 1943 to late 1946 as part of the Army Air Force’s Cold Weather Test Detachment (this unit is still active today).

RV Report:

We completed the entire Alaska Highway today.  None of you contemplating this trip should fear driving this road.  Scenery is terrific all the way.  Yes you have to be careful in spots, fuel and services are available along the way.  From small travel trailers, 5th wheels, Class A, B, and C.  We saw them all.  Everyone was having a wonderful time.

Fuel:  $ 4.52 gallon for diesel and $ 4.12 for gasoline today in Fairbanks, Alaska.

PS - yes, there are mosquitos up here.  We have been fortunate in that they are not really a problem now - know its not always that way.  We attach a picture of the "State Bird" below:

Kluane Lake to Tok, Alaska

6/22/13

Today we continued our trip on the Alaska Highway toward Fairbanks, AK.  Up until today the road had been better than expected.  Today that changed.  From Kluane Lake to the US Border the road lived up to its expectations.  Reaching the US border it was night and day for about 20 miles before it returned to frost heaves, bumps, and gravel road.  The last pictures show the US/Canadian Border location through thick forest.  We are stopped tonight in Tok, AK at the Tok RV Park.  Reached 81 degrees today.  We arrive in Fairbanks tomorrow where we will stay about a week.  Sorry the wifi updates have been spotty but we’re just having too much fun to update every day.

RV Report:

The Alaska Highway finally showed us the road surface we had expected much earlier from Kluane Lake, Yukon up to the US Border.  Frost heaves, cracks, gravel sections, and some road construction we evident almost every mile.  Generally areas in poor repair were marked and the Yukon road crews work in an orderly fashion normally with a guide car to follow.  This section plagued the military from the beginning due to the frozen tundra (perma-frost) formations.  Nevertheless, we slowed to 20-30 MPH in many places with overall speed about 35 MPH for the trip today.  Drivers can do this road, you just need to be alert and on top of conditions immediately ahead you at all times.  Inattention or being lulled by a few miles of good road surface can be painful.

Fuel:  $ 4.42 gallon for diesel and $ 4.15 gallon for gasoline in Tok, AK.

Skagway to Kluane Lake

6/21/13

Today we packed up departing Skagway for the trip up over White Pass to Carcross and Whitehorse, Yukon.   Rejoined the Alaska Highway continuing through Haines Junction today stopping at Congdon Creek Yukon Provincial Park in the “boonies”.  Fantastic views of Kluane Lake.

 Yesterday was Summer Solstice.  We note that because it was almost dark from 12:15 AM to about 3:45 AM.  Then it was daylight again.

RV Report:

The Alaska Highway continued to be fairly good surface conditions today through Haines Junction.  The road from there to Kluane Lake deteriorated in spots slowing us to about 45-50 MPH most of the way.

Fuel:  $ 4.55 gallon for diesel and $ 4.22 gallon for gasoline in Haines Junction.