The good, the bad, and the muddy
Picnic on the road
We are in Fairbanks now and will be flying out at 4 p.m. Alaska time, or 8 p.m. east coast time. We transfer in Seattle and have a red eye to Nashville arriving at 5:01 a.m. Consequently, I do not plan on working the day we return. I see naps in our future.
I haven’t posted like I normally do when we travel. After leaving Talkeetna we have had little or no internet and minor cell service for the past 4 days. You’ll have enough cell service to use maps, read texts and emails, and search for information. But once you leave Alaska route 3, the main road, it goes to zero.
I haven’t posted like I normally do when we travel. After leaving Talkeetna we have had little or no internet and minor cell service for the past 4 days. You’ll have enough cell service to use maps, read texts and emails, and search for information. But once you leave Alaska route 3, the main road, it goes to zero.
Gas is NOT cheap
The “high speed wi-fi” at our cabin had speeds of 3megs down and 2 megs up. It dropped signal constantly and couldn’t play a facebook reel without stopping in the middle and buffering. While we were able to check texts and such, the chances of uploading a hundred megs of photos was not even a consideration.
The trip from Talkeetna was a 3-4 hour trip, to Healy at the entrance of the Denali National Park. We checked into our cabin, bought a few groceries at the local supermarket called 3 Bears, and sought out dinner. We had a nice dinner at the Black Diamond Grill in Healy and did a bit of side road exploring.
The trip from Talkeetna was a 3-4 hour trip, to Healy at the entrance of the Denali National Park. We checked into our cabin, bought a few groceries at the local supermarket called 3 Bears, and sought out dinner. We had a nice dinner at the Black Diamond Grill in Healy and did a bit of side road exploring.
Scenery along the way
We discovered a few good views, including the local cemetery. It was up on a hill overlooking the valley with lovely views. The girls occupied themselves with plant identification apps on their phones, discovering all matters of new plants and trees. They do this at most stops and it is an interest that Laurie and Judy share.
The next day we rose, and I cooked a breakfast of sausages, scrambled eggs, and english muffins. I’m actually a good cook and the food was quite well received. We have been sleeping somewhat late as the constant light seems to be messing with everyone’s sleep patterns.
The next day we rose, and I cooked a breakfast of sausages, scrambled eggs, and english muffins. I’m actually a good cook and the food was quite well received. We have been sleeping somewhat late as the constant light seems to be messing with everyone’s sleep patterns.
Caribou
After a slow start to the morning we head to Denali National Park. I have the “old farts” national park pass, which I purchased a few years ago. It was $80 and it allows you and all occupants of your car into national parks for free. With the $15 dollar entrance fee for Denali, this saved us $45! It’s a pretty good deal and if you’re over 62, you should get one.
We paid for the buses that go into the park. You’re not allowed to drive into the park and the only way to get into the park is on a green school bus run by Aramark Corporation, a private vendor to the National Parks. They run the lodges, catering, restaurants, transportation, and any other way they can make a buck.
We paid for the buses that go into the park. You’re not allowed to drive into the park and the only way to get into the park is on a green school bus run by Aramark Corporation, a private vendor to the National Parks. They run the lodges, catering, restaurants, transportation, and any other way they can make a buck.
Out in the wild on our own! Much more fun!
We get on the bus with the intent of riding in, and doing a hop on hop off thing. The bus was totally full, crowded, noisy, with little visibility of the things outside. We watched them turn away multiple people who had got off the buses inside of the park to hike as most of the buses were full. After seeing how difficult a time the people hiking had, we decided not to leave the bus.
We were told in many areas that if we wanted to hike we were only allowed to hike along the road and not venture into the tundra. Everything was highly controlled and not at all flexible. It was 86 miles round trip, trapped on a bus full of screaming children, people standing up so everyone couldn’t see out of the bus, it was hot, and they made us keep the windows up. It was by far the low point of our trip.
We were told in many areas that if we wanted to hike we were only allowed to hike along the road and not venture into the tundra. Everything was highly controlled and not at all flexible. It was 86 miles round trip, trapped on a bus full of screaming children, people standing up so everyone couldn’t see out of the bus, it was hot, and they made us keep the windows up. It was by far the low point of our trip.
More out on our own
Not wanting to repeat the mistakes of the day prior, we decided that the next day’s ventures would be different. I had read about the Old Denali Highway between Cantwell and Paxson. 135 miles of of pure wilderness with pretty much nothing out there. Someone on the bus mentioned how much nicer it was so the choice had been made.
The Old Denali Highway was everything the bus ride into Denali National Park was not. It was pleasant. It was not crowded. We stopped wherever we wanted whenever we wanted. In 78 miles we could count the number of other vehicles on one hand. We were able to get off the road and do some hiking. We met two women who were camping and had a very nice conversation with them about traveling.
The Old Denali Highway was everything the bus ride into Denali National Park was not. It was pleasant. It was not crowded. We stopped wherever we wanted whenever we wanted. In 78 miles we could count the number of other vehicles on one hand. We were able to get off the road and do some hiking. We met two women who were camping and had a very nice conversation with them about traveling.
On the Old Denali Highway
We did not make it all the way to Paxson. At mile 78 we decided we should head back so we wouldn’t be so late getting back to the cabin. We saw caribou, arctic ground squirrels, moose tracks, and sweeping vistas. For the first time, I saw a porcupine in the wild. They are kind of hilarious to watch, waddling along through the bushes.
We get back into Healy and have a very nice dinner at a local brewery/restaurant. Then we headed back to the cabin to assemble everything and pack. We hung out for a while, talked, and finally headed off to bed.
We get back into Healy and have a very nice dinner at a local brewery/restaurant. Then we headed back to the cabin to assemble everything and pack. We hung out for a while, talked, and finally headed off to bed.
Cool gift shop near Clear, AK
We woke the next day, and had a really nice breakfast at Rose’s Diner in Healy. It isn’t cheap here and a simple breakfast for 3 was around $75. Dinners were usually well over $100 for three of us and Judy and Laurie usually split something as the portions were so huge.
I wanted to take the girls on the side roads in hopes of seeing more animals. I didn’t have a topo map so I did the best I could with electronic maps. This was an error on my part as I had no extraction gear in the rental car like I would in my truck. We went across a section of the road that looked solid, but turned out to be a moss matt over mud.
I wanted to take the girls on the side roads in hopes of seeing more animals. I didn’t have a topo map so I did the best I could with electronic maps. This was an error on my part as I had no extraction gear in the rental car like I would in my truck. We went across a section of the road that looked solid, but turned out to be a moss matt over mud.
The sticks did not help
When we’re out here with little or no internet and we’re sticking to our schedule, it really doesn’t register what day of the week it is. I found out it was Saturday when the towing company informed me it would be weekend rates of $600 for a full extraction.
After a good description from me of the situation and that it wasn’t a difficult extraction, the tow truck guy said “that sounds easy enough. Do you have any cash on you or would it be credit card?” I told him I had $160 buck cash and he said “sounds like I don’t have to get the wrecker and all of the extraction gear out. I’ll come pull you out with my pickup for that.”
After a good description from me of the situation and that it wasn’t a difficult extraction, the tow truck guy said “that sounds easy enough. Do you have any cash on you or would it be credit card?” I told him I had $160 buck cash and he said “sounds like I don’t have to get the wrecker and all of the extraction gear out. I’ll come pull you out with my pickup for that.”
Extraction
The wrecker guy and one of his buddies showed up in about a half hour and had us out in about 15 minutes. Nice guys and I was happy they came. LCS Towing and Recovery in Clear, Alaska are top notch in my book. They made sure we got back to solid ground before leaving. They were awesome. I told Judy that getting the car stuck and getting it out was still more fun than the bus through Denali.
We arrived in Fairbanks and had a very good dinner at a Moldovan restaurant (yeah…..we at at a Moldovan restaurant in Alaska!). We took a short walk and decided we would call it an evening. We’re in a lovely hotel and while the internet isn’t great here, it is much better than what we’ve had for the last 4 days.
We arrived in Fairbanks and had a very good dinner at a Moldovan restaurant (yeah…..we at at a Moldovan restaurant in Alaska!). We took a short walk and decided we would call it an evening. We’re in a lovely hotel and while the internet isn’t great here, it is much better than what we’ve had for the last 4 days.
Weather on AK route 3
We’re off to the airport. I’ll be posting some of Laurie’s thoughts in the next post, which will probably be from home.
