Sled Dogs and a Gutsy Lifestyle

Trip Start Jun 18, 2005

Trip End Jan 01, 2006

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Flag of United States Fairbanks, Alaska
Sunday, June 19, 2005

I never, ever considered going to Alaska in the wintertime. Until I stopped in Fairbanks. The sun was setting after 10 PM and rising about 3 AM when I was there on June 19, and yes, everyone was enjoying all that daylight. But, get them started talking, and they talk about WINTERTIME.

They'll tell you what it's like to ski in the moonlight. "Plenty of light reflecting off the snow," they assure you. "And awesome silence." They'll tell you what it's like to sit in your hot tub overlooking the Chena River, when the temperature is 55 below zero and the Aurora Borealis is flashing crazy colors above your head. They'll tell you what it's like when the river is frozen and you can travel back and forth on your dog sled, or your snowmobile, no need to worry with a bridge.

"There is a freedom," they try to explain, with a wistful look in their eyes. And you believe it.

It was raining when I finally got to Fairbanks, and raining even harder when I left. Nevertheless, I did not fail to see the attraction to this small-town small town, in the middle of our biggest state, where the trees are short, and the sled dogs are legend.

I'm going back in the winter. Got to see those northern lights for myself.

Slideshow

Pictures

046 Fairbanks Airport touts ATV	047 First polar bear sighting	048 I settled for a hatchback	049 Dinner with Felix
050 Closeup of Felix and cohorts	051 Authentic gold rush register	052 Too many gadgets	053 Checking out in the rain
054 A familiar sight	055 Farthermost north Mickey D's	056 University of Alaska entrance	057 Second polar bear sighting
058 One of many modern hilltop buildings	059 Maybe I'll stay here next time	060 In the Riverboat Gift Shop	061 Sled with Susan Butcher
062 Was this Susan's idea	063 Gift shop humor	064 A real paddlewheeler	065 Steamboat Landing
066 Bush pilot demo	067 Life on the Chena	068 Pumphouse on a rainy day	069 Measure of a man's worth
070 Know a place by the books it sells	071 Susan Butcher's Place	072 David showing the pups	073 Pens at Trail Breaker Kennels
074 Doggie gym	075 Pick me! Pick me!	076 Splaining the training	077 More splaining
078 Getting ready to pull	079 Splaining the run	080 They're off	081 They're back
082 We are so fast	083 Now we'll run loose and yelp	084 First we need a drink	085 Which boat? Which boat?
086 Back to cruising	087 Coming up on the caribou	088 Caribou zoo	089 Caribou are reindeer?
090 Please, I'm eating.	091 Next stop Chena Indian Village	092 Fish slicing demonstration	093 Braving the rain with a live mike!
094 Drying rack and smokehouse	095 Sod roof all nice and green	096 Nicely plotted, w petunias	097 Alaskan cabbages
098 Onboard fashion show	099 Beautiful detail work	100 Now there's a dog on board	101 Everybody look
102 We love the dog	103 Petting the dog	104 Please pose for pictures	105 Ashore we visit the dogs
106 David Monson is telling us more	107 Me happy dog	108 Us happy dogs	109 Drying rack in pouring rain
110 Drying fish and drenching tourists	111 Little house in the forest	112 Hansel and Gretel where are you	113 Fish wheel on the Tanana River
114 Chena and Tanana meet	115 This homeowner runs for governor	116 Tires on roof	117 Campaign sign
118 Up close	119 Log cabin and not	120 Contrasting styles	121 More Chena River dwellings
122 More dwellings, close	123 And still more	124 Ronnie and Nancy slept here	125 Governor's home, close
126 Describing the construction process	127 Big log home	128 Blankety blank tour buses everywhere	129 South on Parks Highway
130 Same view sans wiper