Mile 5510 – Denali NP, AK

On Friday morning after leaving Talkeetna we stopped one more time to get a glimpse of Mt. McKinley.  Fortunately the sky had cleared up a bit and we were able to get little better picture (still a little over 60 miles away as the crow flies).

On Saturday we drove the park road as far as you are allowed to take your car.  This point is 13 miles into the park at the location of the Savage River.  There is a two mile hike along the river (one mile in and one mile out) which we decided to take.  The following pictures are a snowshoe hare (checkout the back feet), an ground squirrel and a couple of ptarmigan.  The story goes that the town of Chicken, AK is named after the ptarmigan.  The people naming the town couldn’t spell ptarmigan so the named the town Chicken.

Now for the bad news.  After crossing the small bridge over the river and with still a mile to go back to the car Doris tripped over a rock in the trail, fell and broke her right arm.  We first hiked the mile back to the car.  There are really no medical facilities to speak of in the park or anywhere nearby.  We drove to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital emergency room about 110 miles away where she was able to get really excellent care.  The break was near the end of the radius bone next to the wrist.  She now has a temporary splint which will need to be replaced with cast in a few days once the swelling stops and begins to go down.  Since Fairbanks may be the only location along our route back towards the lower 48 for the next 1000 to 1500 miles with an orthopedic specialist we will end up spending a few extra days in Fairbanks. 

As they say a picture is worth a thousand words.  The picture on the left is the wrist area before setting the fracture and the one on the right was taken through the temporary splint after setting the fracture.

On Tuesday we took the shuttle bus tour of Denali NP.  The weather had been cloudy and overcast for several days and we had no expectation of seeing Mt. McKinley and we didn’t.  At least we did have the great view from Talkeetna.

We were able to see brown bears, Dall sheep, a moose, a wolf and too many caribou to count.  The original purpose of creating Denali NP was to preserve the wildlife.  However the uniqueness of the park is really the geology associated with the Alaska Mountain Range and the creation of Mt. McKinley.

Below is one of the large male caribou along the tour.

We encountered the following strolling caribou road block which was eventually broken up by a bus coming from the opposite direction.

The next photo is of the very rare and seldom photographed Caribou Tree.

One of the more interesting encounters was a wolf walking along the road searching for a ground squirrel dinner.  Once he located the den he began digging for dinner which he eventually had.  (Our bus guide identified the animal as a wolf and it may be considering the long legs and  very large feet.  However we think the coloring very much resembles a coyote.)

The following was the best we could do for a moose shot.

And finally the wounded hiker.

Mile 5351 – Talkeetna, AK

We arrived in Talkeetna on Tuesday afternoon just in time for the parade.  Not sure why they have a paraded on Tuesdsay but they did.

Dogs are always welcome in Talkeetna but must be kept on a leash.  Exceptions to the rule are dogs wearing ties or dogs attending bluegrass concerts.

Below is a view of Mt. McKinley rising above the cloud cover as seen from Talkeetna a little over 60 miles away.

Things are just a little different in Talkeetna.  As an example, many of the characters featured in the TV series Northern Exposure are based on actual people and personalities of Talkeetna residents.

A second example, late Wednesday night we heard a loud thump on the RV.  We looked all around and found nothing.  Finally after looking on the roof I found a trout about 8 inches long.  Can only assume an eagle or something dropped its fish.

And finally the following morning at 6 am we were almost rocked out of bed by what we assumed was and earthquake.  That’s a first Doris and I.  We have been through several museums on the trip and at one I found a web site that listed all of the recent earthquakes in Alaska.  I turned on the computer and checked the web site and sure enough at 6 am we had a 5.34 magnitude earthquake.  The picture below was taken from the web site.  The big red square is the one near us.  You can see that most of the earthquakes occurred within the previous 24 hours.  I have check the site several times before and it’s always about the same, 2 to 4 within the last hour (red), about a dozen within the last 12 hours (orange) and another dozen within 24 hours (yellow).  Brings home the point that the tectonic plates are always moving and sliding against each other 24/7 everyday. 

Check out the web site at:  http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/recent/sub/index.html

Mile 5225 – Anchorage, AK

Not exactly a highlight of our trip.  Rained tree days.  Got the dog trimmed, bought groceries, etc.  Had the RV front end aligned and tires rotated.  However we were parked between two very nice families.  One from Minnesota (Dutch Star in the shop due to lightning strike) visiting daughter living in Fairbanks and another family from Georgia.  The Georgia couple had two white female schnauzer sisters that even our grouchy schnauzer Max took a shine to.  Very strange.

Mile 5065 – Kasilof, AK

We have moved up the road a ways, 70 miles, to Kasilof RV Park.  Not much here other than plenty of piece and quite.  We have been traveling pretty regular lately and a few days in a relaxing setting is welcomed.  Temps range from mid 50’s at night to low 70’s at mid-afternoon.  Sky…see below.

On Thursday we drove south to the village of Ninilchik dating from the 1840’s  located on the shore of Cook Inlet.  The Ninilchik River runs through the village.  See below.

This Russian Orthodox church is located on a bluff overlooking the village and Cook Inlet.

If you have a hard time telling one salmon from the other here’s a clue.

Mile 4995 – Homer, AK

We landed on the ‘Spit’ in Homer on Friday for a few days.  The `Spit’ is a thin strip of land only about 300 to 400 yards wide and protrudes from the town of Homer into Kachemak (catch a mack) Bay approximately 4 miles.  Within the bay there is a huge tidal variation, 20+ ft.

View from the front window.

On Saturday we took a drive along the west bank of the bay and yes there are igloos in Alaska.
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Monday we took a guided tour of the Carl E. Winn Nature Center.  It is remarkable how interesting a knowledgeable guide can make a simple walk through grass lands and forest.  Below is a flower meadow along the trail.  It was impossible to look across this field of flowers without thinking of our late friend Dean Kennedy and his always ready camera.

We also made the obligatory stop at the Salty Dawy watering hole before leaving Homer.

Mile 4827 – Seward, AK

Spent 5 days in Seward at Stoney Creek RV Park.  Nice park located about 5 miles north or town.  See below for view from park.

Toured the Sea Life Aquarium located in Seward which was probably the best we have seen.  All of the displays were extremely realistic.  Puffins from the Aquarium

On Wednesday I went Halibut and Salmon fishing.  There were 9 people on the trip and all caught the legal limit of a 5 fish each (2 halibut + 3 salmon).  The largest halibut was 125 lbs (I didn't catch it).  Actually who caught that fish is a little interesting.  Since the limit of Halibut is 2 fish when you catch your second fish you are normally done.  However the crew allowed everyone to continue fishing after catching the limit and then hand the rod to someone who did not have the limit when there was bit and a fish on.  That’s what happened with the largest fish.  Of coarse the fellow who brought the fish in was thrilled.  Not so much for the fellow who hooked the fish.

Also on Wednesday morning the BBQ grill was attacked by a grizzly.  I should have known better than to leave it on the picnic table.  The bear cracked the cast aluminum lid and licked it clean.

We hiked to Exit Glacier on Thursday with Lois and Jim.  All that ice is always a sight to behold.

We also visited Bear Creek Weir located on one of the many Salmon streams.  As the fish jump the water fall they end up in a fish trap.  Once trapped the wild life biologist inoculate and tag the females.  Only the inoculated fish are allow to continue to Bear Lake to spawn.  The eggs of the treated females are disease free. 

Fish starting to make the jump.

Tagged females (small red tags, double click to enlarge)

Mile 4671 – Palmer, AK

Spent a couple of days in Palmer.  One day for groceries, haircuts, etc. and another day for fun.  We toured the Iditarod Headquarters.  Lots of interesting items, race history, etc.  Best of all were the sled dogs in particular the sled dog puppies.  Also met and talked with some of the mushers that have participated in the race in years past.

Double click pictures to enlarge.

Next we took in the Musk Ox farm which was also interesting.  Finished up the tourist traps with a visit to the reindeer Farm.  Learned that reindeer and Caribou are the same thing.  Assume everyone else knew that but I didn’t.  While at the reindeer farm I had an opportunity to kiss a moose.

Late evening we took a ride along the very scenic Hatcher Pass road.  By the way Palmer is the place where they grow the giant vegetables.