Fairbanks, Alaska

On the last day of my Alaska adventure we drove to Fairbanks.

This is the view from the George Parks Monument. The Alaska Range is in the distance and the Tanana River in the valley. In Fairbanks, we took a ride on the Riverboat Discovery.

One of the stops was at the sled dog training center operated by a daughter of Susan Butcher.

Another stop was at a display of the Athabascan people.

A couple of the mountains in the Alaska Range from Fairbanks, with the Tanana River in the foreground.

Talkeetna, Alaska

One rainy day in Alaska we drove to Talkeetna to do the tourist thing. It has quite a history, beginning with gold miners. You can read about it's history here. 

It is the town south of Denali where climbers check in with the National Park office to get permits and have their equipment inspected. We went to the museum and were treated to a virtual climb of Mt. McKinley.

We ate at the Roadhouse, a hundred years old. It is a family style restaurant so you wander around until you find enough seats for your group. You meet some interesting people that way!

Of course, on the road between Denali and Talkeetna is the famous igloo. It has certainly seen better days.

Tonglen Lake, Alaska

This is another beautiful lake near my brother-in-law's cabin.

Horseshoe Lake, Denali National Park

My sister and I took the short hike to Horseshoe Lake.

The trail head is next to the rail road track about a mile into the park.

A long beaver dam formed the north side of the lake.

On the hike we caught a glimpse of Denali Village and some of the many lodges along the George Parks Highway.

Alaska Range from 10,000 Feet Part 3

This is the last collection of photos from 10,000 feet over the Alaska Range.

I hope you have gotten a sense of the overwhelming feeling of seeing mountain after mountain.

Any wonder my brother-in-law loves to fly in Alaska? (In the summer, that is!)

Alaska Range from 10,000 Feet Part 2

I have limited myself to blogging only twenty one of the scores of photos I took during this part of our flight.

If you have sensory overload, you know how I felt.

Imagine experiencing these mountain peaks up close and personal for two hours.

Glaciers too.

Alaska Range from 10,000 Feet Part 1

We took off from Wood River and gradually climbed to 10,000 feet.

Mt brother-in-law began to roam over the Alaska Range.

There were mountains as far as I could see.

I was being reminded of why he likes to fly in Alaska.

I was suffering from beauty overload.

Alaska Super Cub Flight Wood River

We took off and headed northeast.

Our next stop would be by the Wood River.

My brother-in-law had many tales to tell. He pointed out where a friend crashed.

He told of losing a horse on such and such a pass.

We approached the hunting lodge for which he flew for years, landing on a gravel strip next to the river.

The lodge was once a premiere one in Alaska.

It has been abandoned for several years.

It was eerie to go into the cabins as it looked like someone had just left and would be back any moment.

Here is the trusted super cub on location at the Wood River.

Alaska Super Cub Flight Yanert River

I climbed in my brother-in-law's super cub and he took off east.

Some might consider that an act of faith since he has had a few accidents over the years.

We were heading to the Yanert River.

He aimed at a gravel strip next to the river.

Below is another perspective of the airstrip next to the tent building (near the center of the image).

Safe landing.

The view in the valley is incredible.