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Published: September 1st 2012
What another incredible week this has been!! Ten people including one guide (and me) traversed via van the entire Dalton Highway - yes, the highway upon which the Ice Road Truckers show is based - So much history, culture, and life that is not part of that show. It is another world and though Truckers rule the road, there is a domain on all sides of that road that is reigned by natural marvels! That is the Dalton Highway we saw and experienced though the truckers were informative and sometimes quite entertaining. Theirs is a culture all their own based on listening to the CB crackle with helpful news and friendly greetings. They are a caring bunch in spite of their grueling schedules. We stopped often; I met a ton of people, and we stayed in historical camps all still in use today. I’ll elaborate more when I get back to posting these days specifically. So just a quick list of some of the highlights…
* Fall colors permeate the countryside. Even the Tundra shows a multihued vibrance
* Dalton and Alaska Pipeline are constant companions.
* Crossed the Arctic Circle successfully - - and yes, the point
designated has been measure to be the correct coordinates; Ate Tundra Mud in celebration! (OK, so it was cake with cream but much more fun as tundra mud 😉
* Ranger presentation of the Arctic seasons and life cycles including humans which was extraordinary given by someone who lives it every year
* Met the last of the dog sled teams in Coldfoot. Many being replaced now with four-wheelers and snow machines
* Toured Wiseman (1907) and still home for some today
* Drove through Anatuvuk Pass at the height of which we were eye level with the Dall Sheep (literally)
* Observed moose, caribou, dall sheep, fox, muskoxen (really do look prehistoric even in person), snow owls, ptarmigan (bird), geese, swans, and at least 20 other bird types - all in the wild, on their own turf – absolutely fascinating
* Walked and picked blueberries from within the tundra
* Experienced construction even on the Dalton and waited with truckers and others for the road to open again surrounded by glorious mountains and scenery
* Toured the oil fields at Prudhoe Bay
* Waded in the Arctic Ocean
*
Yukon River E L Patton Bridge
2,295 Feet expanse; Pipeline is affixed to the other side to get across itFlew to Barrow, AK – furthest northern city in North America (not just furthest north for US); Met the Fire Chief; heard local stories; learned of the people
* Toured the Inupiaq Heritage Center – remarkable culture
* Learned of whaling – the cultural respect of the preparation for the hunt; the community of sharing the catch
There’s so much to tell of the trip. There was no rest per se though there wasn’t a lot of hiking so at least my muscles have calmed. Just another overall astonishing experience!
I’ll be joining the walking tour of Sitka now, already in progress. Then we’ll board the Admiralty which is a smaller cruise boat (75 person) and embark on an 8-day wildlife/glacier trip. It is not the huge cruise boat type experience – it’s the get up close and personal with the fjords and other natural phenomenon of this southeast Alaska region. It’s funny – one of the things I’m looking forward to most is to actually be in one place as in one room for seven nights in a row!! Obviously the boat will keep moving but at least I won’t be packing up and moving
Natural Aresian Well
We all filled up on water! every 1-3 nights. That alone should make it seem very restful 😊 I’ll be back in Sitka in a week so don’t expect any posting until next Saturday or Sunday. I’m safe on a boat tour – no worries and pray all of you are well too!
Just realized last night it is Labor Day Weekend so have a great one everyone and stay safe!!
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peggy wallace
non-member comment
love it
I am sooooo proud of you for doing this trip.