Hank back today late. Had an interesting time on the dog sled trip. He said it wasn't for the faint of heart. Hard work for some fun! When the dogs are ready to go, that's it they are READY and yelping to go even if Hank wasn't! They had good food, slept in tents. Warm inside for sleeping but cold outside for the potty.
Scenery was breathtaking and there wasn't room in the night sky for one more star. Hank's dogs, at one point, wanted to take their own path no matter what Hank tried to do and they ended up on ice and then water!! Not good in the cold. Finally the dogs went thru the water, with Hank, and everyone was wet by then. Oh well, the life of a musherman!
They had to stop to let a herd of caribou cross their path, then had a Mother and baby moose by their sleds. Those Moms are mean spirited with a baby around. Soon she went on her way not to cause any problems for the dogs and sleds. Moose are one of the greatest dangers when mushing. THey are very aggressive. Caribou and reindeer not so. Bear yes so, but they are still sleeping (they know how to get thru winter!)
All in all, it was a great experience for Hank.
Had a nice dinner at Bobby's Greek Restaurant. It was recommended by someone in Nome. Strange to have a Greek Rest in Fairbanks but had a very nice halibut dinner.
Then we drove up the highway about 15 miles away from the city lights to try to see the aurora.
YES, SAW THEM!! Green and white color coming in waves across the sky to the north. They appeared like a curtin then like bright lite from what resembled a tornado funnel. They were constantly changing. Watched them for about an hour. Magical, I still say. The sky here,as well, had no more room for one more star. They seemed to all be twinkling.....
The musherman was tired so back by 1:30 AM for bed! Dreaming of the aurora in all its splendor.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Facts about Fairbanks and Alaska
Population of Fairbanks: 30,500
State of Alaska: 670,000 with l.l people per sq mile. Alaska is 591,004 sq miles,
which is 2.21 times larger than Texas.
Shortest day of possible sunshine: Dec. 21 with 3hr 42 min
Longest day of possible sunshine: Jne 21 with 21hr 29min
The Arctic Circle is 152 miles fm FAIRBANKS BUT North Pole, AK is only 13 miles away. (for those kids that need to know).
NOTE: I was in school with Terry Miller, they live and run North Pole. Can you beat that!!!??
There are many hot springs around, Chena Hot Springs being the closest 28 miles.
As the pipeline from Prudhoe Bay comes past Fairbanks on its way to Valdez you can view the pipeline just outside town. There are no oil refineries in Alaska so the oil has to be "sent out".
Fairbanks is 400 miles from Anchorage and Denali Park is 121 miles. The Denali area is where Hank is doing his dog mushing!
State of Alaska: 670,000 with l.l people per sq mile. Alaska is 591,004 sq miles,
which is 2.21 times larger than Texas.
Shortest day of possible sunshine: Dec. 21 with 3hr 42 min
Longest day of possible sunshine: Jne 21 with 21hr 29min
The Arctic Circle is 152 miles fm FAIRBANKS BUT North Pole, AK is only 13 miles away. (for those kids that need to know).
NOTE: I was in school with Terry Miller, they live and run North Pole. Can you beat that!!!??
There are many hot springs around, Chena Hot Springs being the closest 28 miles.
As the pipeline from Prudhoe Bay comes past Fairbanks on its way to Valdez you can view the pipeline just outside town. There are no oil refineries in Alaska so the oil has to be "sent out".
Fairbanks is 400 miles from Anchorage and Denali Park is 121 miles. The Denali area is where Hank is doing his dog mushing!
FAIRBANKS day 5
Checking out a few of the shops in town. Big Ray's was first. A Carhart type store but jam packed with weather gear plus. Interesting shop. Took awhile to go through it.
On to Alaska Rag Company. With a name like that I HAD to check it out. RAG RUGS, that is. They had 5 looms some natives were working with. Making nice colorful rugs, mats, etc. Lovely shops, very nice people.
Next I HAD to go to an interesting looking shop, it said Museum (that I questioned) with fossils, artifacts, skins, ivory and on and on. The ladies at the Rag Co. said it will take awhile to go thru. Its a bit dusty and really PACKED with "stuff". THAT IT WAS. Difficult to get the man to stop talking and following me around to actually check it out. I managed but oh that was a shop!!! The museum part I think might have been a dream of theirs. Still trying to understand how so many people are selling mastedon bones---being 30,000 years old, how many of these babies can they find?
Then it was time to pick up a rental car from the airport. Got a ride out there and now am partnered with a blue Pontiac Vibe, strange looking but ok. So much easier to get around now.
Back to town to the Visitors Center. The Museum (THIS was a museum) was quite interesting. It was small but well done. There was a well done movie of the seasonal changes in the North. Wonderful movie of the aurora. Seems there is so much info on the aurora as this is in the northern band of activity and many come here to view it. Still looking. It is a 3 tonight out of 7 so maybe...
Went to the Fairbanks Curling Club to meet my new Curling friends!! Four adult games going on and my new friends loved explaining it to me. I am fascinated. Two hours a game, mostly men, a game of stragedy.
Then they had a dinner for $5. Tons of shrimp with veggies on rice, great salad, dessert and fortune cookies (don't know how those fit in). Delicious. Sat with members of the teams, fun and full of energy. They had a meeting and gave out prizes as this is nearing the end of the season. Championship games now.
Then I drove up to the University where I could stroll around more leisurely as I had a car. Waited till it was dark---10:30! Then I roamed around trying to find the darkest area to look for the aurora.
After sitting for about an hour I thought I spotted light coming up from the horizon. Not much more.
Went higher and darker and there right in front of me THE AURORA!!! Green and white in color and wavy. It seemed to form a cone
above the horizon. It was more brillant on one end and as it '"coned out" it got lighter and more like a fan. I watched it for about 45 min. It changed many times and the color got brillant and then faded. Oh, it was magical!!! Worth getting lost all the way back to town.
Till tomorrow.
On to Alaska Rag Company. With a name like that I HAD to check it out. RAG RUGS, that is. They had 5 looms some natives were working with. Making nice colorful rugs, mats, etc. Lovely shops, very nice people.
Next I HAD to go to an interesting looking shop, it said Museum (that I questioned) with fossils, artifacts, skins, ivory and on and on. The ladies at the Rag Co. said it will take awhile to go thru. Its a bit dusty and really PACKED with "stuff". THAT IT WAS. Difficult to get the man to stop talking and following me around to actually check it out. I managed but oh that was a shop!!! The museum part I think might have been a dream of theirs. Still trying to understand how so many people are selling mastedon bones---being 30,000 years old, how many of these babies can they find?
Then it was time to pick up a rental car from the airport. Got a ride out there and now am partnered with a blue Pontiac Vibe, strange looking but ok. So much easier to get around now.
Back to town to the Visitors Center. The Museum (THIS was a museum) was quite interesting. It was small but well done. There was a well done movie of the seasonal changes in the North. Wonderful movie of the aurora. Seems there is so much info on the aurora as this is in the northern band of activity and many come here to view it. Still looking. It is a 3 tonight out of 7 so maybe...
Went to the Fairbanks Curling Club to meet my new Curling friends!! Four adult games going on and my new friends loved explaining it to me. I am fascinated. Two hours a game, mostly men, a game of stragedy.
Then they had a dinner for $5. Tons of shrimp with veggies on rice, great salad, dessert and fortune cookies (don't know how those fit in). Delicious. Sat with members of the teams, fun and full of energy. They had a meeting and gave out prizes as this is nearing the end of the season. Championship games now.
Then I drove up to the University where I could stroll around more leisurely as I had a car. Waited till it was dark---10:30! Then I roamed around trying to find the darkest area to look for the aurora.
After sitting for about an hour I thought I spotted light coming up from the horizon. Not much more.
Went higher and darker and there right in front of me THE AURORA!!! Green and white in color and wavy. It seemed to form a cone
above the horizon. It was more brillant on one end and as it '"coned out" it got lighter and more like a fan. I watched it for about 45 min. It changed many times and the color got brillant and then faded. Oh, it was magical!!! Worth getting lost all the way back to town.
Till tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
FAIRBANKS day 4
I spent most of today at the University of Alaska where the Museum of the North is located.
I was told it would be approx $20 EACH WAY to the University by taxi OR walk a few blocks to the bus and go for $1.50--what would you do?? The bus depot was closer than I thought and it was NOT $1.50 but FREE for we Senior Citizens!! Great ride thru Fairbanks and outskirts.Quite a distance, 45 min ride.
Reaching the top of the hill where the UofA is located (great view, long vistas), you are struck by this unusual building, architecturally. Built as a new wing to the "old" museum you can see how this architecture evokes images of alpine ridges, glaciers and a diving whale's tale. It is an architectural icon and a major cultural landmark. Jason, you would like the diversity of this "artists" plan. What a treasure of a museum and quite "doable". Just the right size so it isn't overwhelming and you feel you can see everything. Exhibits focused on the cultures, wildlife, geography and history of each of Alaska's five major geographic regions. Few highlites were Blue Babe, the world's only mummified Ice Age steppe bison mummy, 36,000 years old! I am fascinated with the Aurora and the UofA is the center for studies related to this phenomonen.
They offered the DYNAMIC AURORA,WINTER. This is a movie describing and showing the aurora in all its glory. A very powerful electric field. When the pipeline was built the aurora had to be considered.
Another experience in the museum is titled THE PLACE WHERE YOU GO TO LISTEN. There is a constant sound, we are unable to hear, emitted from the earth. The sun, moon, earthquakes and the aurora effect the changes in the sounds. They displayed this with these sounds and different muted color and is ever changing as it is driven by these earth forces.
There is a room devoted to historical paintings from the late 1800's to mid-1900, including works by Alaskan masters.
There are many computer stations in these galleries going into more detailed explanations of what you are viewing.
I was surprised to see the donors for the museum were Bill Gates and the Usibelli's (mining family and one of my classmates so many years ago). Guess he "made it" as those donations were $1 Million and more. Don't know Bill Gates interest in the Museum or the University.
The Alaska Territorial Legislature included a museum in the charter for the UofA in 1917, making the UofA Museum of the North a part of the university system from the very beginning. The first exhibits were in 1929.
I then took the University shuttle bus (again free, this is my free day!!) to see the changes they have made since 1961 when I was a student here. My dorm, Hess Hall, is now Hess Commons but Wickersham Hall is still there as is Eielson, Nerland, Stuart and Walsh. That is it!! The rest of the buildings appear to be new with architecture similar to the Museum Building. Can't find the deserted road that went to the Large Animal Research Station (that is still there--they have muskox, caribou and reindeer). I would walk up this deserted road and the sky just seemed endless. When the aurora was visible I would feel like I could touch it. The sound was "electrifying" and the waves of color, magical!! Good memories.
The University offers 201 degrees and certificates in 126 disciplines. When I was here there were 1,000 students and now there are more than 5,500 with students from 49 states and 42 foreign countries. They offer the only doctoral-degree program in Alaska and the school mascot is the NANOOK, or polar bear.
They, and scientists from around the world, use supercomputers (not Watson but..) to solve some of the
world's most pressing problems. They said the high performance computing resources include petabyte ( ok!) scale data storage facilities and supercomputers that can perform trillions of arithmetic calculations per second. Well, at least I know where to go when I need some quick numbers!!
Back to town on the free bus. As I didn't eat lunch, when I passed the Thai House on my way back to the Hotel, it lured me in!! Hank and I ate here the first night and enjoyed it. Another tasty meal tonight.
Back to the hotel into the pool. Met a lady, originally from Manhattan!! Now she (graduated from Columbia), her husband (graduated from Harvard and is a scientist) and their two children live in "the woods" not the big city of Fairbanks but the woods!!! Quite a leap--Manhattan to "the woods" of Alaska! They homeschool their two kids, 9 and 13. They got out of "the woods" and spent the weekend here at the hotel so the kids could swim and enjoy THE CITY!!
Will pick up a rental car tomorrow. The roads here have so many black ice spots that I must be very careful. Apparently in November there was a 3 day rain storm . Then the snow and cold came, the ice got packed down with the snow and they don't plow or sand the roads or sidewalks. You're on your own there. Yesterday a young girl and two in her car were killed, on their way to the Ice Park, hit black ice and rolled over. I have heard of 3 other accidents there. VERY icy road but still they don't sand it.
Till tomorrow.
I was told it would be approx $20 EACH WAY to the University by taxi OR walk a few blocks to the bus and go for $1.50--what would you do?? The bus depot was closer than I thought and it was NOT $1.50 but FREE for we Senior Citizens!! Great ride thru Fairbanks and outskirts.Quite a distance, 45 min ride.
Reaching the top of the hill where the UofA is located (great view, long vistas), you are struck by this unusual building, architecturally. Built as a new wing to the "old" museum you can see how this architecture evokes images of alpine ridges, glaciers and a diving whale's tale. It is an architectural icon and a major cultural landmark. Jason, you would like the diversity of this "artists" plan. What a treasure of a museum and quite "doable". Just the right size so it isn't overwhelming and you feel you can see everything. Exhibits focused on the cultures, wildlife, geography and history of each of Alaska's five major geographic regions. Few highlites were Blue Babe, the world's only mummified Ice Age steppe bison mummy, 36,000 years old! I am fascinated with the Aurora and the UofA is the center for studies related to this phenomonen.
They offered the DYNAMIC AURORA,WINTER. This is a movie describing and showing the aurora in all its glory. A very powerful electric field. When the pipeline was built the aurora had to be considered.
Another experience in the museum is titled THE PLACE WHERE YOU GO TO LISTEN. There is a constant sound, we are unable to hear, emitted from the earth. The sun, moon, earthquakes and the aurora effect the changes in the sounds. They displayed this with these sounds and different muted color and is ever changing as it is driven by these earth forces.
There is a room devoted to historical paintings from the late 1800's to mid-1900, including works by Alaskan masters.
There are many computer stations in these galleries going into more detailed explanations of what you are viewing.
I was surprised to see the donors for the museum were Bill Gates and the Usibelli's (mining family and one of my classmates so many years ago). Guess he "made it" as those donations were $1 Million and more. Don't know Bill Gates interest in the Museum or the University.
The Alaska Territorial Legislature included a museum in the charter for the UofA in 1917, making the UofA Museum of the North a part of the university system from the very beginning. The first exhibits were in 1929.
I then took the University shuttle bus (again free, this is my free day!!) to see the changes they have made since 1961 when I was a student here. My dorm, Hess Hall, is now Hess Commons but Wickersham Hall is still there as is Eielson, Nerland, Stuart and Walsh. That is it!! The rest of the buildings appear to be new with architecture similar to the Museum Building. Can't find the deserted road that went to the Large Animal Research Station (that is still there--they have muskox, caribou and reindeer). I would walk up this deserted road and the sky just seemed endless. When the aurora was visible I would feel like I could touch it. The sound was "electrifying" and the waves of color, magical!! Good memories.
The University offers 201 degrees and certificates in 126 disciplines. When I was here there were 1,000 students and now there are more than 5,500 with students from 49 states and 42 foreign countries. They offer the only doctoral-degree program in Alaska and the school mascot is the NANOOK, or polar bear.
They, and scientists from around the world, use supercomputers (not Watson but..) to solve some of the
world's most pressing problems. They said the high performance computing resources include petabyte ( ok!) scale data storage facilities and supercomputers that can perform trillions of arithmetic calculations per second. Well, at least I know where to go when I need some quick numbers!!
Back to town on the free bus. As I didn't eat lunch, when I passed the Thai House on my way back to the Hotel, it lured me in!! Hank and I ate here the first night and enjoyed it. Another tasty meal tonight.
Back to the hotel into the pool. Met a lady, originally from Manhattan!! Now she (graduated from Columbia), her husband (graduated from Harvard and is a scientist) and their two children live in "the woods" not the big city of Fairbanks but the woods!!! Quite a leap--Manhattan to "the woods" of Alaska! They homeschool their two kids, 9 and 13. They got out of "the woods" and spent the weekend here at the hotel so the kids could swim and enjoy THE CITY!!
Will pick up a rental car tomorrow. The roads here have so many black ice spots that I must be very careful. Apparently in November there was a 3 day rain storm . Then the snow and cold came, the ice got packed down with the snow and they don't plow or sand the roads or sidewalks. You're on your own there. Yesterday a young girl and two in her car were killed, on their way to the Ice Park, hit black ice and rolled over. I have heard of 3 other accidents there. VERY icy road but still they don't sand it.
Till tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
FOR LIZ'S CLASS
Hi from Alaska:
Just a little information about the Iditarod before you follow it on the computer.
The Iditarod is a dog sled race that was started in the early 1970's. They fashioned this race on the famous
"Serum Run" many years back when there was a diptheria epidemic in Nome. In order to get the serum to Nome to help stop this epidemic the only transportation was by dog sled as it was winter and the land was frozen. They mushed north by dog sled, carrying the serum, each team carrying it from one team to the next all the way to Nome. With this serum they were able to help the people.
Today it is a race from Anchorage, where it is the ceremonial start for the people to see and then they restart the race (for real) in Willow, Alaska. The race is 1,049 miles. (really is 979 miles but 1,000 sounds better and Alaska is the 49th state in the union). Not many people know that fact. This year there were 62 teams with 47 teams finishing the race in Nome. They run for approximately 8-12 days. There are two stops they must take one for 8 hours and one just before the end of the race in White Mountain for 24 hours so they will be a little more rested for the end. There are many rest stops along the way called checkpoints. The dogs wear booties to protect their feet from the uneven, rough ground and cold. The dogs are also checked by a vet at each checkpoint in the race. One of the checkpoints is in Unalakleet where I was. You can see some pictures of that. When the musher comes into a check point the dogs are checked and the musher only takes care of the dogs right away--feeds them and puts straw down for them to sleep on. They rest first then the musher can go into the checkpoint, warm up, dry their clothes, get some food and drink, maybe rest for awhile and then get back on the trail.
The main concern is for the dogs. They are very well taken care of and there are prizes at the end for those who take the best care of their dogs. If anyone does not treat their dogs well they are taken out of the race.
You can either WITHDRAW from the race (the officials tell you can't go on) or SCRATCH from the race (the musher realizes he and and dogs can't go on for many different reasons, someone gets hurt, they are too tired or many other reasons).
The mushers and their teams prepare a long time and go on many "runs" before the race so everyone will be used to the long distances, get stronger and be in good shape when the race starts in the beginning of March each year.
The winner gets money and a truck and lots of praise and photos. The next ten mushers get money and again lots of praise and photos. The remaining teams get prizes as well. The very last person is called the
RED LANTERN. This person blows the lantern out when they arrive in Nome signaling the end of the race.
Everyone that runs in this race is a winner to me!! There is a big banquet for all the mushers and followers where prizes are given out and everyone celebrate with a delicious dinner.
Just a little information about the Iditarod before you follow it on the computer.
The Iditarod is a dog sled race that was started in the early 1970's. They fashioned this race on the famous
"Serum Run" many years back when there was a diptheria epidemic in Nome. In order to get the serum to Nome to help stop this epidemic the only transportation was by dog sled as it was winter and the land was frozen. They mushed north by dog sled, carrying the serum, each team carrying it from one team to the next all the way to Nome. With this serum they were able to help the people.
Today it is a race from Anchorage, where it is the ceremonial start for the people to see and then they restart the race (for real) in Willow, Alaska. The race is 1,049 miles. (really is 979 miles but 1,000 sounds better and Alaska is the 49th state in the union). Not many people know that fact. This year there were 62 teams with 47 teams finishing the race in Nome. They run for approximately 8-12 days. There are two stops they must take one for 8 hours and one just before the end of the race in White Mountain for 24 hours so they will be a little more rested for the end. There are many rest stops along the way called checkpoints. The dogs wear booties to protect their feet from the uneven, rough ground and cold. The dogs are also checked by a vet at each checkpoint in the race. One of the checkpoints is in Unalakleet where I was. You can see some pictures of that. When the musher comes into a check point the dogs are checked and the musher only takes care of the dogs right away--feeds them and puts straw down for them to sleep on. They rest first then the musher can go into the checkpoint, warm up, dry their clothes, get some food and drink, maybe rest for awhile and then get back on the trail.
The main concern is for the dogs. They are very well taken care of and there are prizes at the end for those who take the best care of their dogs. If anyone does not treat their dogs well they are taken out of the race.
You can either WITHDRAW from the race (the officials tell you can't go on) or SCRATCH from the race (the musher realizes he and and dogs can't go on for many different reasons, someone gets hurt, they are too tired or many other reasons).
The mushers and their teams prepare a long time and go on many "runs" before the race so everyone will be used to the long distances, get stronger and be in good shape when the race starts in the beginning of March each year.
The winner gets money and a truck and lots of praise and photos. The next ten mushers get money and again lots of praise and photos. The remaining teams get prizes as well. The very last person is called the
RED LANTERN. This person blows the lantern out when they arrive in Nome signaling the end of the race.
Everyone that runs in this race is a winner to me!! There is a big banquet for all the mushers and followers where prizes are given out and everyone celebrate with a delicious dinner.
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