12th day ANCHORAGE to FAIRBANKS (train)

De-Icing ===Alaska style

Dan Seavey just in to Takotna-- takes his 24 hr. here

howling dog

Lots of snow in Takotna. Where's the truck?

Alaska Railroad train trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks called the red flag--only one in the country. Anyone along the route can red flag the train down for a ride and they do. We stopped along the way to let people off--to where I couldn't figure. Spoke to one of these fellows said he had a cabin down the way??? and was bringing some food supplies in. Said it was quiet and wonderful. He loved it!! OK!!

On Train ANC to Fairbanks- trees from ANC to Wasilla were covered with ice / sun on them!!

Sarah Palins' home town

Hank on the train

Denali

One of the few cabins along the way--lots of snow!

Animal tracks

Wind on the snow capped mountain

Front engine of our train

Train on Hurricane Gulch Bridge---in the shadow

Weather again beautiful and clear. Train FULL!! Three cars and a baggage car. Only one train a week so that is some of the reason. $150 each one way. Temp about minus 2 in Anchorage. From Anchorage to past Wasilla the trees were coated with snow and ice. Magical site with the sun on them. Then to Talkeetna where everyone gets off that is hiking, touring, skiing etc near Denalli --lots of people, even in winter. Can't drive in Denali so tours are the way to go. About 30 years ago Hank and I camped below Denali. Thats when you could drive in to the park. Woke up in the am and there was Denali in all her glory. Most times you can't see the top as it is hidden in the clouds or the weather.
Now, all along the way, we had spectacular views of Denali--crystal clear. Saw lots of moose, ptarmagins (certainly wrong spelling), lot of fresh tracks, magnificent snow covered mountains. They had a dining car and the food was ok--nothing special. Met, again, lot of nice people. This is a 12 hour trip but worth every minute. Didn't seem long. They commentated along the way and stopped for us to get pictures of Denali etc. That's why it takes so long. Got to Fairbanks at 8pm, shuttle to the hotel, Spring Hill Suites where we stayed last year. It is SOOOOO cold here!! Minus something about 20 I guess.
Walked to our favorite Tai restaurant, fell flat on my face in the middle of the road it is sooo slippery. Again, they don't plow the sidewalks or do much with the roads. Recovered to find THAT restaurant was closed!!@# Back to the hotel to eat as nothing else in town is open.
Bed again late but content.

11th day Alaska trip TAKOTNA TO MCGRATH TO ANCHORAGE

BEAUTIFUL day-sun and clear. We said goodbye to Dan, Dick and Doc all on their way to Nome.
Barnie came with his snowmobile to load up the sled and ride to his plane for the flight to McGrath.
The ride was spectacular--so clear. Lots of people there we spent time with in Takotna.
Nina, from Norway, sweet (sweet that is Nina!!!) and dear. She is a writer and following the Iditarod doing a story on times before the start of the Iditarod. Kent, from Wasilla, following the Iditarod as well.

Dallas Seavey left & second from left WINNER (to be) this year

Met up again with our friends from England. They are such fun and adventurous. After the Iditarod they will ski at Alyeska. Seems we are on the same schedule, will see them tomorrow on the train to Fairbanks.
Flight to Anchorage passing Denali with clear views of it all the way.
Rented a car in Anchorage as we had some chores to do. Back to the Native Hospital Shop to pick up our goods and collect more!! Many natives in there selling Karen, shop manager, their goods. They say if you can get them past Karen your work is GOOD! That's why we only buy ivory and native goods from here.Lunch at their cafeteria. Great selection and tasty!! Hank had to have blood drawn to see if his counts were ok at Providence Hospital. Beautiful facility, rather new and the people so nice there. Hank ok so off to the 4th ave. Outfitters for anything cold weather you can think of and all on sale at this time. Same fellow there from last year. Went to see the Univ of Alaska/Anchorage campus. A branch of the UofA in Fairbanks main campus where I went YEARS AGO!! To favorite Phyllis' for our last king crab legs and CLOSED!! Went Japanese instead. Good indeed.
Back to the Capt Cook Hotel, ready to leave on the train tomorrow for Fairbanks.
Snowing hard now and very cold minus 10!

9th day Alaska trip 2012 TAKOTNA

Takotna from the air

Today Barney from Mag Air-his own private service will take us to Takotna. Three seater plane so had another passenger-Doc Seyers! Now here is a character. He knew, somehow, that Hank was also a Doc so they bonded. He told me worst guy to marry is a doctor--ask my last three wives!! It went on from there.

 Barney's plane --getting ready for ride into Takotna--check next pic

Tibby on snowmobile with Alex--Hank and Doc in sled on back!!! with the bags!!!

Doc and Dick

Takotna post office

Dog Team pulling in at Takotna

Aliy Zirkle --came into Nome Second

Dog team at checkpoint in Takotna

Weather great so we had a beautiful flight over, along the Iditarod trail. Saw moose. Got to Takotna, laughing all the way with the Doc--funny man! A snowmobile met us, piled all our bags, plus Hank and Doc, in a sled on the back of the machine. I rode on the machine with Alex, one of the many Norwegian staying in Takotna. Also coming down the run way was a huge CAT machine driven by Dick Newton, the man who arranged for us to stay here. We were introduced to him by Dan Seavey (his friend) last year in Nome. Dick is 81 years old and drives his  snowmobile from Takotna to Nome (3 day trip) with Doc Seyers and others. The Doc is 75!! Dick clears all the runways and appears to be quite mayoral in this town of 50! We got to  "the dorm" with snow white bags and Hank's ribs feeling all the bumps! This is one of Dick's places where he has many Norwegian kids staying here. They have come for a year to experience Alaska. Next week they are all going on a ski trip, three weeks, around the Brooks Range. They are a hearty bunch. We have a room with futons, no sheets or pillows at the moment but whatever! Also the pipes are frozen so no water--that also means no toilets!! The toilets are up the hill somewhere. Hey, its MINUS 15 degrees--gotta think of an alternative! Oh, forgot to mention no heat but a small propane heater in the hallway. Maybe there was some heat, couldn't really tell but we all kept our doors open to gather a smidgen of that heat if there really was some. Just dressed warmer, that's all!!
Down to the checkpoint--. Lovely spot, surrounded by beautiful mountains and on a lake (frozen now, of course).
VERY busy here. Most of the mushers are taking their 24 hour layover here as they have the best food and everyone treats them so well--they love it.Must have been about 20 teams in. Met the kitchen people--so wonderful to everyone. Misty, Barney the pilots wife (only married few months. I talked to them when they were on their honeymoon in Hawaii) Misty loves to cook so she helped with the meals. I also pitched in and spent the afternoon cutting veggies, making cheeseburgers and steak (only the mushers get the steak--what a hunk of meat!). They can also order ANYTHING they want and with a smile its made for them!! This place is also known for the pies. Jan, Dicks wife used to do most of the cooking but now has alszheimers so only visits. She's some tough bird! The mushers all sit, eat, rest and chat with all of us. They are a great bunch and fun to be around. Learn a lot about their strategies for the race ahead. Stayed till about midnite and then got a snowmobile ride back to the dorm. Got ready for bed, in a hurry as it was cold, and had a great sleep.
Snowing now. They have more snow here than McGrath. The pictures, if I ever get them in, will show you that.

8th day Alaska trip - MCGRATH

Nice they have a shuttle to and from the airport. Lots of snow here in Anchorage and in McGrath last nite but looking better today. FINALLY got on the 8:15am flight. Went with all the vets for the Iditarod. I had met some last year so we all had a fun flight.
Hank met me at the airport which is right at the B&B we will stay in--that's a better distance than Pok to NYC!! Busy here as the first mushers will be in within a few hours. We are staying in a house with 6 other people. One guy couldn't stand all the snoring upstairs so he slept in the kitchen on the floor. These Alaskans don't mind improvising. We had met three of the people last year in Unalakleet during the Iditarod. Went to the Checkpoint which, believe me, was some distance in the cold and snow covered streets. There is so much snow here. Hope I can get those photos here soon so you can see some of the depths. Snowmobile is the only mode of transportation.

At the McGrath checkpoint

At the checkpoint the volunteers were getting ready for the mushers, making tons of food, decorating the hall with pictures the 3rd and 4th graders drew and keeping track of the progress of the mushers.
I helped in the kitchen. Went to a native dinner in the museum. Many of the natives said they had never been to the museum. There is NOTHING else in town????
Variety of local dishes, moose and salmon jerky, platters of smoked salmon, cowboy beans??? nice pies--rhubarb, apple and blueberry, cheese cake, pudding. All the berries and rhubarb from here.
It was $25--much too high but so is everything in McGrath, especially during the Iditarod.
Then back to the checkpoint to watch the first musher in--Ally Zirkle. Lots of shouts and cheers. We could see the headlite of the mushers come over the frozen river, maybe a mile and a half away then up the road(they had lighted candles on the path) to the checkpoint. She was first to McGrath so she won the spirit award, I will picture that at some point as well.

Spirit Award Aliy Zirkle won--first to McGrath

At the checkpoint in McGrath Hall--mushers stop here for food,rest etc. walls decorated with drawings from the school kids in McGrath

Teams into McGrath checkpoint.

Then we waited the rest of the evening for 15  more mushers to come by. They have a mandatory 24 hour stop usually here, Takotna or Orphir. These first ones just went on thru, back on the frozen river and out. Early in the evening I looked up and yes, NORTHERN LIGHTS. Beautiful. Waves of green dancing across the sky. Lasted quite some time. Then we walked back to the B&B to bed.

7th day Alaska trip ANCHORAGE and MCGRATH

At the airport at 6:45AM as I am on the waitlist for the Pen Air flight to McGrath. Hanks flight is confirmed and ready at 8:15am. Hank off. I waited until noon with conflicting opinions as to my flight status. By noon the flight was cancelled due to weather--now its really snowing. Went to the Millinneum Hotel with all the cancellettees. I now have a room, huge, for $89. Hank is in McGrath in a single small room, bath down the hall for $200. A double is $400. NOTHING in McGrath should be that price.
As the Millinneum Hotel is the headquarters for the Iditarod I spent the rest of the day with them. Finally got my volunteer badges etc. for the trip north. Met a girl and guy that ran the race last year and would be sitting out for this one. VERY interesting observations from them.
Not such an exciting day but will hope tomorrow the weather is better and I get to McGrath.

6th day ANCHORAGE and hopefully MCGRATH

Banners all over Anchorage

Last years winner--John Baker

In Willow, Alaska  sooo much snow

Up at 5:30 AM (that's NOT  my thing!@#) for Hanks flight at 8:15 and I am still on the waitlist to go to McGrath.  Hank was ok but I waited till noon and then all flights cancelled due to heavy snow. Did meet some nice folks though. Two women who ran the Iditarod last year, and a few of the Vets we met in Nome and Unalakleet. So that passed some time. As the final flight was cancelled we all went to the Millinneum Hotel, Iditarod Headquarters and close to the airport. Got a room, had lunch, hung out. Hank got to McGrath. Snowing hard there as well. Spent time with the Iditarod group and helped at the desk etc. Fun hotel. Lots of activity. They have the latest updates on the race and I helped with computer updates (you'd be proud Henry!) Will try tomorrow for an early flight to McGrath!

5th day Alaska trip 2012 ANCHORAGE/WASILLA/WILLOW

In Willow,Alaska  the OFFICIAL start of the Iditarod

Up early to drive to Wasilla, home of Sarah Palin, to get a school bus for the trip to Willow to see the start of the Iditarod. This was suggested as there was so much snow in Willow that the parking was limited and the traffic would be "snarled"!! Went from Wasilla High School--slow trip to Willow as there is only one road there--sounds like Long Island!!!@#
Arrived in bright sun, quite cold and a ton of snow everywhere. In the community center they sold native goods, Iditarod pins, shirts etc and had a big hall for eating with displays around--paintings, herbs, jelly, teas etc. to purchase. VERY crowded.

In Willow, spectators at the craft fair

A COLD spectator

The start of the race is around Willow Lake, frozen now of course. There was a staging area for the dogs and a chute for them to pass thru towards the START line. Just like a Giants game, they had the Jr. ROTC color guards and a girl from the high school sang The National Anthem. One by one, again two minutes apart, the mushers and their dogs were introduced and the countdown began--off to NOME amid cheers, flags and barking. Then a DJ on the loud speaker plays "Who let the dogs out". Well, I thought it was funny, maybe you had to be there. Next to last was Dan Seavey. I spoke of him before. He is an oldtimer at 71 years, winner of the Iditarod many years ago and BACK AGAIN. When the countdown began they said "Dan, just leave when you're ready"!! Loved it, and he did!

At the Iditarod start--clear skies

He left amid lots of cheers.
There was talk of the difficulties in the race this year. There has been so much snow and the temperatures are low. The moose are quite a hazard as they are having trouble foraging thru the deep snow and realize a nice snowmobile packed trail is easier to walk on. At times they meet the dogs and can do great deal of damage. Also, the Bering Sea has some boulders and very rough ice due to the storms this winter. They will try to have the teams go more to the side of the Sea as opposed to straight across. Every year they change direction for the race. This year it is the northern route which may bring more severe weather that has plagued the area this winter. We'll see and hope for the best.
Back on the bus, dinner and get ready for our trip to McGrath tomorrow. We have to be at the airport at 6:30am as Hank has a ticket but I don't--still on the waitlist. I may have to stay in a hotel here another nite and send Hank on to McGrath.
PS  On our drive back from Wasilla the sun was setting over the snow capped peaks. What a site. We also saw 5 moose on our way. More than on Fox Run!!