Today we made our way from Fairbanks to Denali. It was a lovely ride through mountains and along ridges that overlooked equally breathtaking valleys, arriving at McKinley Chalet Resort about midday. Holland America and Princess Cruises have quite a monopoly  on the hotels and restaurants that make up their packages, but this really is a fun little spot. We have a nice little suite room with a separate sitting area, complete with a comfy rocking chair and an outside balcony over looking the mountains. 

 
After a quick lunch we headed to the National Park. Dog sleds are a vital part of the culture here. Roads are limited and often the most reliable way to transport something is via bush plane or dog sled. Due to the wilderness designation of much of the Denali area, the only way to maintain the area is by dog sled in the winter. The Park’s sled dog kennel is made up of all Alaskan huskies, strong dogs not for racing but for working and hauling 50 – 100 pounds per dog of supplies loaded on the sled. We had a fascinating tour of the kennels along with a demonstration about the work they do here in the park pulling the sleds. Of course part of that involved choosing 5 of the dogs to be hitched to the sled to do a short demo run.  When the dogs suddenly realized that we were at the part of the talk where the dogs would be chosen they became unbelievably excited, jumping up and down and barking like mad to say “pick me! Pick me!!” They LOVE to run and pull the sled!

   
 Heading back after the demo, we decided to hike the Rocky Creek trail instead of returning on the shuttle. It was a lovely 3 mile hike through spruce and white birch trees, peppered with many varieties of wildflowers and always the majestic mountains in the background. 

 
This is a magnificent land. I don’t know how I would handle the long days of little sun in the winter. I think that would be much harder for me than the cold temperatures. But I do believe that those who live here feel they are privileged to be a part of this magnificent land. I agree.

Monday was the official start of our Holland America trip. We transferred without incident to Fairbanks and met up with our friends for lunch. After lunch we took the Airlink Shuttle Service to the University of Alaska Fairbnks’ Museum of the North. Amazing and informative exhibits of Alaska’s history, native cultures and wildlife. We got back to the hotel about 6PM, but still fighting jet lag we had an early quiet evening.

The weather has been amazing so far and we have enjoyed sunshine and blue blue skies yet again. Our two main excursions were the Steamboat River cruise and then heading up to Gold Dredge 8 to view part of the Alaskan pipeline and try our hand at panning for a little gold.

Both tours were family run businesses with so many nice informative touches. I really enjoyed the stroll around the Athabascan native village where we viewed some of the amazing beautiful parkas and clothing that allows them to adapt to the harsh winter conditions. But the place and story that really pulled at my heart strings was of Susan Butcher and her champion Iditarod dogs and her lead dog Granite. Her love for her dogs, particularly Granite, who was the runt of the litter, but with her love and attention realized his full potential and led 4 champion teams. The steamboat went by Traibreaker Kennels where today her family continues the tradition of training the  dogs (Susan died of leukemia in 2006).

There were constant stories, from bus drivers, tour guides, guitar players on the train ride to Gold Dredge 8. Free little snacks and a miners stew lunch. We did learn how to pan for gold and ended up with $21. that was mounted onto a little magnet. 

But most special of all is the friendliness of the people. They love their adopted land and the harshness of the climate only brings the closer together. EVERYBODY had a friendly wave for you. As we traveled the length of the Chena River on the steamboat so many of the people who lived along the River came out to wave at us as we passed their homes – all ages from grandparents to 2 year olds. And then again, as we left the gold dredge, all the employees came out to wave and send us on our way. Such an amazing land and wonderful people. 

Our first full day in Alaska and we were off on our adventure. I was struck by how similar the climate is to Nova Scotia. Many of the same plants, lupines by every roadside, wild pink roses, sea grass with their purple-blue sweet pea flowers along with other plants I recognized but couldn’t name. The same brilliant sunshine and blue blue skies, but cool air that needed a jacket near the water. And weather so changeable you really can’t predict it. We were supposed to have rain in the morning, clearing to overcast skies in the afternoon and finally becoming clearer in he evening. Instead we had brilliant blue skies and sunshine all day and drove into the rain as we headed back to Anchorage. They even have a tidal bore schedule here although not as significant as our Bay of Fundy.

At home we have our resident bald eagle that you often see around the lakes or along the hiway. But,  here you see them everywhere and usually 2 or 3 at a time covorting in the sky. Still, what makes Alaska so amazing are the HUGE snow-capped mountains that surround you everywhere you look. Majestic in every way. 

We started the day at the Aviation Museum. In preparing for the trip we had read Mitchner’s book Alaska, and a central figure was a bush pilot. So much of Alaskan life depends on these pilots that carried supplies to far off villages and mining camps. Our hosts here at the BnB are both pilots and Lake Hood, just down the road is the largest seaplane base in the world with 800 flights a day in the summer. The museum was full of old sea planes and their various landing gear, wonderful videos of the true Alaskan frontiersmen that the characters in Mitcheners book seemed patterned after and an outstanding video on Alaska’s role in WWII and how that shaped the development of Alaska by finally making it important to the US government. 

Most fun of the day: trying our beer samplers at lunch at Midnight Sun Brewery with names like Modern Romance, mudflats, pleasuretown, fallen angel, nitro, and panty peeler!

Most awe-inspiring: the drive along Alaska route 1 and seeing the mountains and walking back for an up front view of the Byron Glacier. 

Majesty worship His Majesty!