Alaska #1: Anchorage to Fairbanks

Fairbanks aurora

For a variety of reasons, we chose to fly round-trip to Anchorage for this trip to Alaska, but we actually scheduled very little time there. Instead, we flew in, spent the night and then headed up to Fairbanks for three days, with a brief stop in Denali National Park and Preserve (DNPP) on the way.

Since Anchorage wasn't really a destination this time (we've been there before), there isn't much to report, except that there is a dearth of late(ish) night restaurants and, even if you have few choices, never chose Fridays. 'Nuff said.

The morning after we arrived, we headed north in our rented Jeep Cherokee (nice car, but windshield is small for sightseeing). It's about a six-hour drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks, past some beautiful mountains ...

Taken in 2015

... lakes ...

Taken in 2015

... rivers ...

Trumpeter Swans

... and marshes ...

Potter's Marsh

Before we reached Fairbanks, we stopped at the South Denali viewpoint on the George Parks Highway to see if we could see the mountain. We had a beautiful view of some of the fore-mountains, but not of "The Great One."

Such a pretty view

I spent some time there photographing the view plus some Hover Flies and flowers -- cuz that's what I do.

Hover flies

By the time we actually reached the entrance to DNPP, the sky had cleared enough to actually see the mountain (Denali, which recently got its original name back after being called Mount McKinley for 98 years). The story is that, because of weather, you can see Denali only about 30 percent of the time.

Denali

However, my experience has been better than that. I think global warming is opening up the skies more, increasing the odds of seeing this spectacular 20,320-foot mountain. Of course, the price we pay for better views is melting glaciers, deteriorating permafrost and interruption of the lifecycles of many animal species.

I am going to talk more about Denali later because we spent several days there later in the trip, but I must mention that we did drive into the Park on the way to Fairbanks.

Map: NPS

DNPP has only one road, that goes about 90 miles into the Park, making the majority of the 9,492-square-mile accessible only by hiking. To top it off, except for a very brief time at the end of the season in September, you can drive on only 15 miles of the Park Road; the rest must be accessed via Park-sanctioned bus. 

We drove those first few miles just to get a quick look at the Park and to see if we could encounter any wildlife.

We didn't see a lot -- and not the Moose we hoped to see in that front area where Moose generally gather for the rut (later!) -- but, we did see a very impressive Caribou.

2018

Ironically, he was in almost the exact same place where our family saw our first Caribou back in 2001 (maybe the first one is the great grandfather!)

2001

When we booked our trip, we decided to stay three nights just outside of Fairbanks. Not because there is a lot to do there, but because we wanted plenty of options to photograph the Aurora Borealis -- Northern Lights. We stayed at the Aurora Borealis Lodge, northeast of the city. We had a huge room with a full kitchen and a huge window looking north ...

Our room

... and several very nice decks from which to photograph ...

Our decks

Everything was perfect -- EXCEPT we had overcast and rain. Fortunately, we had a small window with partially clear skies below the ever-thickening clouds. I captured a small Aurora display before the sun completely set and, shortly afterwards, the clouds closed in again.

Aurora!

Of course, we were very early in the aurora season. I think the Aurora Borealis Lodge would be a great place to stay in February, where your odds of Northern Lights are much better. That is, if you could make it there -- the route is a windy and slightly steep road out of Fairbanks followed by a steep dirt road. Four-wheel drive would be necessary.

Trip date: August 17-September 4, 2018