Once we reached Fairbanks we decided to take a tour of the Arctic Circle. What a journey to get up there!!! We left Fairbanks at 5 am on a tour bus and traveled up the Daulton Highway. (This is the same highway the Ice Road Truckers take to get to Prudhoe Bay. Luckily in the dead of summer we didn't have to worry about snow and ice, but the bumpy gravel road is just as steep and treacherous.) This is also the only road that goes to the far north in Alaska and reaches the Arctic Ocean. It's sooooo far north that the tour guide points out the last electrical pole in the state and everyone who lives north of there is on a generator or uses solar power or so other form of energy. There were also numerous signs that said no food or gas for 185 miles. It amazed me at how remote this area was. Miles upon miles and acres upon acres of nothing but the Alaskan wilderness. It really put into perspective how big the state really is.
The terrain started as Taiga, but the further north we got the more it became the Alpine tundra. The highway parrelles the pipeline for the most part. 
During the trek up there we crossed the Yukon River. 
Once the terrain became more of Tundra like we stopped to walk around on it. Ott, E was excited to see the Permafrost Soil condition from the Gelisol soil order as now he has been on all 12 soil orders. (That's a Soil Scientist thing.) As we were walking around on the Tundra it felt a little squishy underneath. That was due to the soil still be frozen a couple of inches underneath the surface and the types of plants like Lichens that grow there have shallow roots. (For those of you who watch Ice Road Truckers we stopped near Beaver Slide to take this picture.)
Then after a good 190 miles and 7 hours on the tour bus we finally reached the Arctic Circle. They figure around 22,000 people a year visit this spot.
Then we hopped back on the bus and ventured another 60 miles to the town of Coldfoot, Alaska. This town had a gas station, motel, restaurant, visitors center and an airport. Here we got on a Piper Cub Airplane and flew back to Fairbanks. The ride only took one hour, and although it was a little cloudy we got a couple good shots.
What an adventure! We had such a great time in Alaska. Ott, E is already talking about what he wants to see and do next time. It is a beautiful state and we felt incredibly fortunate to see place so few have ever been to.
To see what we did on Day 4, click here.
5 comments:
I somehow missed this whole Alaska trip, so I am going to have to do some catching up! My neighbors just returned from a trip there, and I would love to get the Tall Guy to take me out there some day! Gotta get Tink to soccer practice! Dang! I can sure lose time doin' this blogging thing!
Looks like your having a great time!!!
My neighbors took a trip to Alaska & absolutely loved it!
So cool. When we went to Alaska (in March), half the group went and spent the night in tents at the Arctic Circle (where the sign is) while the rest of us went to a resort and rode snowmobiles and swam in hot springs. Not sure who had the neater experience - just know that I didn't have to sleep in a tent!
Makes me want to book a summer Alaskan vacation like we have always talked about doing! Love your updates.
Looks like you went to AK a month after we did! We didn't take any tours, though. Mostly we hiked and poked around near the coast. The farthest inland we went was Tolkeatna. It was fun. I stopped on over from the garden party.
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