14th day Alaska trip Fairbanks to CHENA HOT SPRINGS RESORT

Dean Corkins this is for you!! 

The Mushing Group Hank went with last year for 6 days--with his own dog team!!

They even have Pleasant Valley in Alaska

In the yurt at Paws for Adventure- Hank taking to his leader from last year.

Made it to Chena Hot Springs

Drove north last nite to look for the aurora and saw faint colors--green--nothing more. Watched until 2am.
Monday and the shops and restaurants are all OPEN!! Went to the Yukon Quest Headquarters across the street from the hotel. Met Abbie West --from Pleasant Valley ALASKA last year. She is a musher and ran the Quest this year--finished but not in the top ten. The Quest is different from the Iditarod. They start from Fairbanks and go to Dawson City--a cold route and difficult--shorter than the Iditarod. There are approx 25 teams that race as opposed to 66 in the Iditarod. They think of it as a more "home town" race than the Iditarod with all the media and hoopla. Many of the mushers from the Iditarod run the Quest as well. This year Dallas Seavey won and will go on to win the Iditarod this year. He is young, in his 20's and has lots of stamina. He is known to pull out all the stops at the end and run faster than the pack.
We then went to the Tai House, closed when we got here. Its a favorite--they boast the furthest north Tai restaurant in the country. Then back to the Ice Sculptures for a day time visit. Still so cold!!! Saw the fellow that cuts the ice blocks, some job. Don't know if I mentioned they have 6 days to complete their work. When you see the pictures (patience) you wonder how they could do this in such a short time.
Then out on the road to Chena Hot Springs where we will be for 3 days. On the way we stopped at Paws for Adventure to see Leslie. Hank went with them, last year, mushing with his own team for 6 days.
Then on to Chena. One road, ok now that its plowed. Last week I believe it wasn't passable. Saw moose along the way. What a beautiful drive. Went thru Pleasant Valley,AK and stopped at the general store!! Then on to Angel Lodge where the Leslie will stop tomorrow with her mushing group.
Through Two Rivers where many of the Iditarod mushers are from and into Chena Hot Springs. It was bustling with people energy, mostly Japanese. There are so many Japanese that visit here, as I said before, the believe the aurora is linked with fertility--I'm safe here!! Most of the signs, menu's and instructions given in Japanese, oh well. Booked a trip up the mountain tonight to watch for the aurora. THAT and the hot springs are the main draw here. Nice room, close to everything and big window overlooking the facility. Went to dinner here, no choice, only restaurant. Good but not great. Wonderful setting in the restaurant. Burrel and also marble tables, lots of Alaska animals, sleds, memorabelia etc. Very cozy.
THEN ,bundled up, we got in the snowcat with 10 others and went for a half hours BUMPY (like being on a roller coaster for 1/2 an hour WITH BUMPS!!) ride. Went up the mountain to a propane heated yurt. We went outside to watch for the aurora and what a show we saw. We saw the "curtins", the dancing, such movement, all in brillant green--no red tonight (unusual to see that color). It was really magical but incredibly COLD!! Great to have the yurt to escape to with hot noodle soup, hot chocolate and coffee. We watched, took pictures and all oooed and aaahed until 3am!!
Back down the bumpy cat ride and to bed!! Great nite.