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Alaska & the Yukon
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Alaska & the Yukon

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    The Interior
    Robertson River Bridge - 2nd highest river bridge in Alaska.Robertson River

    Alaska Highway - Tok to Delta Junction

    23 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    We leave Tok on the Alcan Hway. This road of 1500 miles was built in 9 months through the remote subarctic wilderness. The area had not been mapped. Just outside Tok, a section of the road is called the Purple Heart Trail. Every person who worked on this road received a Purple Heart, over 10,000 men in 7 regiments started in 7 places, mostly black Americans. Its concept was driven by the need to protect the northwest when the US entered WW2.

    At the Robertson River, we cross the 2nd highest river bridge in Alaska. The Robertson has a really wide bed for the braided river. The main channel is flowing swiftly.    Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    Rikka's Roadhouse
    1Abandoned hut on the propertyThis roof has got away!Glacial silt on the banks of the Tanana River.The road bridge and the pipeline's suspension bridge over the Tanana River.The Alaska Pipeline is suspended over the Tanana River.

    Delta Junction

    23 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Rikka's Roadhouse is now a state owned historical site. Rikka came by the roadhouse and farm for the sum of $5. Her husband who founded the business was more interested in hunting and frequently went away for long periods leaving Rikka in charge. After a 2 year absence, he sold the property to her and walked away. Rikka became a successful businesswoman and bequeathed the property to the State on her death.

    Adjoining the property is the Tanana River running very swiftly. There is a suspension bridge over the river carrying the Alaska Pipeline, one of only 2 such structures in the entire length of the pipeline.    Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    1
    Where else would Santa live?The street lights are candy canes.This is where Santa makes toys for all the native children.Santa's chair is waiting!1Lots of velvet still on the antlers.3

    North Pole

    23 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    What a surprise! We travel down Santa Claus Lane to Santa's House. The street lights are like candy canes.This is the place where Santa makes toys for the native children. The reindeer are feeding late in the afternoon.Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    Chena River from the River Walk. Church (left) was moved across the bridge.
    Monument to the Arctic pioneers.1Hanging baskets1Rhubarb growing in the streets.Plug your car in to stop it from freezing.

    Fairbanks, AK

    24 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    A quick morning walk around a few streets close to our hotel. Fairbanks is a military, tourism and oil town so there are lots of services and facilities here.

    One of the main streets here in town is Lacey Street which crosses the Chena River which flows through town. There are few historical buildings left from the early days of this town established in 1902 because of fire that burnt most of the town down.

    A short walk leads us to the Visitor Centre where the Yukon Quest starts and finishes each year. It's a 1,000 mile dog sled race.

    There are lots of beautiful flowers and gardens surrounding the buildings and colourful hanging baskets. We even find some of the fattest rhubarb we have ever seen growing in the streets. The river walk along the banks of the Chena highlights the colourful and varied history of this town - the Gold which established the city here; WW2 and the Military which have a continuing presence in the army warning system; and the oil pipeline.

    We notice that all the cars have small power leads protruding from their front grills. They must be plugged in during winter to stop the engines from freezing.    Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    1Set above ground where there is permafrost.The heat exchangers prevent the permafrost from thawing out.Pigs travel along the pipeline to keep it clean.Zig-zags allow for fluctuation of the pipe because of temperature changes and also seismic activity.

    Alaska Pipeline

    24 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    The Alaska Pipeline runs for 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay in the north to Valdez in the south. It crosses 3 mountain ranges and more than 500 rivers and swamps. The pipeline is 48 inches in diameter but it is surrounded with heavy insulation making it look much bigger than it actually is. Construction began in 1975 and was completed in 1977 at a cost of US$8 billion. Companies using the pipeline are required to pay for the privilege and the monies are divided among all permanent Alaskan residents annually.

    There are 12 pumping stations along its length. Pigs (scraping machines) are sent in at each pumping station to keep the pipeline free from congestion. Oil coming out of the ground is at 120 degrees but it quickly cools off. Where there is permafrost, the pipeline is above ground. Throughout its length, there are measures to prevent its rupture caused by earthquakes and seismic shifts.    Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    Boarding the Discovery IIIFloat plane takes offAll kinds of "toys" at this place.

    Discovery III Cruise on the Chena River

    24 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ 🌫 17 °C

    Arriving at the visitors centre, we go to the 40 below room and experience how cold -40 degrees really is. Thank goodness we are only in there for 30 secs.

    We board the Discovery III river boat to cruise the Chena River.

    A float plane takes off and lands in the river beside us. We pass by million dollar homes along the river with every imaginable adventure "toy" on hand - from planes, boats, jet skis, hot tubs, ATVs - you name it, they've got it. We cruise down to where the Chena meets the Tanana River and there on the silt marsh is a bald eagle sitting in a tree.    Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    Husky puppies are socialised for at least a year before they begin to work.
    11Off goes the main team, mushing around the lake at top speed.Then they are unhitched and head for the water to cool off.1

    Dog Sled Training

    24 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ 🌫 17 °C

    Along the river is the late Susan Butcher's dog training facility. Susan is an Iditarod legend. She died several years ago but her husband maintains the facility and trains and breeds mushing dogs. We are captivated by the puppies' antics; and the strength and speed of the main teamLeia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    The fishing camp
    Drying the salmonThe trapper's cabinHunting houses1Making clothing with furs.

    Athabaskan Village

    24 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We rotate around 4 aspects of life in an Athabaskan Village.
    The fishing camp shows us how they set the fish trap then dried and smoked the salmon.
    The trapper's cabin shows us the various animals they hunted and how they used each part of the animal.
    The hunting camp shows us 3 types of dwelling depending on the permanence of the site. Snowshoes, canoes, and baskets made from animal products are on display.
    The fur cabin shows us how they made clothing from animal hides.
    All of the narration is done by young Athabaskan students who do a fabulous job.    Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    1Our seats for the train ride.
    1Upper deck seating on the Wilderness Express.2Blueberry pancakes with Birch syrup and bacon; Denali Scramble was 3 eggs, reindeer sausage & cheeseThe line as we leave Fairbanks.River crossing rail bridgeThis tripod is placed in the freezing river to determine the thaw.Barges ferry supplies to bush villages.Denali from the train. We are almost 100 miles away.Hikers cabin

    Wilderness Express to Denali

    25 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    We have boarded the Wilderness Express in Fairbanks bound this morning for Denali. This is a luxury train and we have a whole carriage to ourselves- a glass domed upper deck with bar and a dining car downstairs. Our carriage is the last so we have access to the back deck.

    Breakfast in the dining car is silver service as we travel through the taiga (little forest).We come to Nenana where 2 rivers meet; one flowing N-S and the other E-W. There are barges on the river and they supply the bush villages.

    We see Denali (Mt McKinley) from the distance. The highest mountain in North America, it is really clear. This is unusual as it is normally shrouded in cloud. It's more than 20,000 feet high.

    The train continues onwards the mountains past a coal mining area where there are visible scars on the landscape.    Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    The train snakes around the canyon walls.
    1White water raftingRoad bridge over the canyon21Looking back on the canyon rail lineDenali Village DepotDisembarking our Wilderness Express Carriage.

    Canyons on the Wilderness Express

    25 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    The canyon rail track is perilously close to the edge and has recently been stabilised costing more than US$70 million. White water rafting is happening on the river. There is so much glacial silt coming down this river that it does not support fish life.Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    Denali Village from the train
    Denali Visitor CentreDall sheep display at Denali Visitor Centre3Part of Main StreetMost of the buildings in town are hotels

    Denali Village

    25 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We stop at the Denali Visitors Centre. Here we choose to watch the movie on the park, wander around the displays and have lunch.

    Later when you come to the village. In mid Sept, it becomes car-free and access is by dog sled and snow vehicles only.Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    Cast of the show
    It's Christmas Day in Denali so the decorations are up.Ross becomes part of the actThe Musher rock formation

    Cabin Night Dinner/Denali Park Village

    25 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Tonight's dinner was a family style ribs and salmon evening with a poetry and music show throughout. It was very entertaining. Our friend, Ross Brazier from Brisbane, played a great part in one of the skits.

    This morning we have a late start and just walk along the banks of the Nenana River. It's flowing swiftly. On a rocky crag nearby is a rock formation called "the musher" because it looks like a dog sled team.    Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    Denali peaks out from behind the clouds.
    Braided rivers1Eielson Visitor's Centre1The roadway around the mountains.Panorama

    Denali National Park - the Landscape

    26 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    We begin the Wilderness Tundra Tour at 1 pm and don't finish till after 9pm. A wonderful experience with Joe the guide getting up close and personal with the park.

    Denali NP is 6.2 million acres. It is a wilderness area with only 7 miles of highway and 1 park road which is a dead end.

    We go 62.5 miles into the park right into the Tundra zone. The landscape is staggeringly beautiful. Denali itself is shrouded in the cloud because there is intermittent rain. Fortunately, we get a quick look at its peak.    Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    Right-Left: Mt. Denali, Mt. Hunter & Mt. Foraker from Anchorage.
    Hurricane Gulch - highest road bridge in Alaska.The snow capped peak of Denali can be just seen through the cloud.The postcard of what it should look like!

    Across the Continental Divide

    27 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    Leaving Denali, we travel over Broad Pass which is the highest point we go over on the continental divide. Up to now all the rivers we have crossed flow north; once over the divide, they flow south. We go over the highest road bridge in Alaska at Hurricane Gulch at 350 feet.

    We stop at Mary Carey's diner which has an unobstructed view of Mt McKinley. Unfortunately, it's shrouded in cloud and not visible today....so I take a pic of a postcard. It's a fact that Denali is almost always obscured and only visible on a handful of days each year.    Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    Iditerod Visitor's Centre1Husky puppies are heavily socialised before they begin their working lives.Dogs are worked throughout the year pulling sleds.This one growled and squirmed.Just been for a run!Transportation for the dogs.

    The Iditerod

    27 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    The official start of this race is on 4th Ave, Anchorage. The race is held in early March each year. Snow is piled on the streets of Anchorage for 6 miles. The mushing teams are then packed up and relocated for a new start at Willow.

    Willow is 1,049 miles from Nome where the race finishes. Willow is the dog mushing capital of Alaska.

    We make a stop at the Iditerod headquarters at Wasilla. A dog sled team is working n the grounds. We get a cuddle with the puppies.    Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    Turnagain Arm
    Black ski-runsMotorised winter sports areaLake KenaiEntering SewardFishing boats at Seward

    To Seward via Kenai Peninsula

    27 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Once again following Turnaround Arm to the end of the valley, we enter new territory as we cross the Kenai Peninsula. The road rises to 1,200 feet over Turnagain Pass.

    We travel through avalanche country (in the winter) where black snow runs are on the left and motorised snow sports are on the right of the highway. We go through Moose Pass and along Lake Kenai as the road flattens out toward the coast.

    Seward sits at the top of Resurrection Bay.    Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    The Wilderness Express (blue and yellow) in the Depot; and the Zaandam at the dock.
    Cruise Ship MS ZaandamSewardLeaving SewardTowards the Gulf of AlaskaThe pilot boat now has us in deep water.Leaving Seward as evening falls.

    Seward Embarkation

    27 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    The Seward departure point for the ship is adjacent to the rail depot where the Wilderness Express is waiting.

    Seward is largely a fishing port and entry point to Alaska from the sea. Set in a fjord, the waterway is surrounded by rugged high mountains that come down to the sea.

    Boarding is simple and uncomplicated. Finding our way around is more so. We depart around 8:15 pm and the weather ahead doesn't look great. The pilot boat pushes us out then we are on our way.    Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    1A porthole view from our cabin.

    Gulf of Alaska

    28 de agosto de 2017, Gulf of Alaska ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Not a lot happening. The weather is socked in. It's cold, raining, foggy with 5 metre swells. The sea has got rougher today and we were just up on deck 5 for the show and it's very rocky. We have been to the gala dinner and had a great 4 course meal. Back in our cabin it's a lot smoother ride.Leia mais

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  • Lacey TravelsAlaska & the YukonViajante
    Early morning as we enter Glacier Bay.
    The orange haze is created by the extensive wildfires to the south.The wake of the ship.The pilot boat with Parks officers comes close behind the ship.Mountain goatsSea Otters1Bears feasting on salmon from the river.

    Entering Glacier Bay

    29 de agosto de 2017, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    We have just entered Glacier Bay. The wind has calmed and the sea is just choppy. The land rises straight up and the higher peaks have a dusting of snow from the past few days.

    Big black bears are hunting for salmon by a stream; sea otters float among the kelp beds; birds constantly follow the ship; and there are white mountain goats high on the steep slopes,

    A pilot boat brings representatives from Parks onto the ship. They climb a rope ladder at the stern of the ship and are on board for commentary all day.    Leia mais

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