After a rainy day in Fairbanks and a unfortunate search for a suitable mosquito-net, I wanted to see the Yukon river. So we decided to take the highway to Circle. The first inhabitants here believed to be at the polar circle, but it is 80km further north. Still the name stayed. The Highway lead us over two small passes to the end of the road at the Yukon. Pretty disappointed we looked at the muddy, unspectacular river. The town was similar unimpressive.
On our way back we stopped on one of the passes for a short hike. At this point the sun will not set at summer solstice, the hight makes it possible.
Some kilometers further we fount a place to stay out of the cold wind and made our dinner on the fire. We enjoyed a frosty evening with sunshine and far away from all the mosquitos.
Soon we were back in Fairbanks. I took a ride on my bike on the trail up at the University. And again we tried to find a mosquito-net, but of corse the kind we were looking for were still sold out.
Next morning we left the city for Denali National Park. At a stopp in Nenana we learned about the Nenana Ice Classic. A public bet at which everyone tries to predict at which exact date and time the ice on the river will break. The Jackpot is over 200’000$, cost for the bet 2.50$ (half of it goes to the jackpot, the other half is for the community and scholarships).
After a scenic ride we arrived in Denali. Luckily we could get a Ticket for a bus tour on the next day. The 90 mile long road into the park is closed to private vehicles and the park busses are the only way in.
Around the visitor center area we enjoyed the sled dog demonstration. The sled dogs keep working during winter and transport research material, trash and building materials through the park. The park has over 30 sled dogs and can do most of the work with them instead of using motorized transportation.
Early in the morning we got on the tour bus. From the first minute we got a lot of information about the park facts and history. Our driver and guide tried hard not only to focus on the road and give information but also to spot the animals along the way. Soon we found Dall Sheep, Caribou, and a Grizzly. The Grizzly was really far away and you could hardly see it with the naked eye. So we were really pleased to see a Grizzly-mommy with her two cubs 100 meters besides the road. We stopped for a long time and were able to see the cubs happily play and fight.
But at one point we had to say goodbye to the bears. We would love to say goodbye to the mosquitos. We can not always stay above the tree line to avoid them and a mosquito net we haven’t found so far 🙁
written by Nick