Last night I camped at the Sourdough State Park near Gakona. This morning, after spending some time looking at a really cool 1978 VW camper for sale, I drove up to Fairbanks along the Richardson Highway (AK 4 & 2).

Fairbanks is not much to look at. I’m not really sure what would draw people here. It is a sprawled out city without much to offer. Plus, during the winter, it gets down to -60 degF! People have heaters on their engine blocks, oil pans, and trannys just to start up in the winter. Everyone’s grill, from fancy new mercedes to old clunkers, have an array of cords hanging out, usually stuck into a bunch of splitters. It resembles Clark Griswalds Nat’l Lampoon Christmas tree.
Tomorrow I’ll leave here and head for Anchorage. Expect more pictures soon.

I’ve got a few days off from work, so I’m roaming around Alaska (finally!). Tuesday and Wednesday I ran our SeaArk up river from the Million Dollar Bridge to Chitina, stopping at Baird Camp and Canyon Creek camp along the way.


McCarthy is about 65 miles up a dead-end road.

The only public access to the town is over a foot bridge, and either a mile walk or a paid shuttle bus from there. Friday night I walked into town and had a few beers at the local bar. I camped along the river near the footbridge. Saturday morning after a simple breakfast, the pups and I made the 4.5 mile walk up to the abondoned town of Kennicott. This area was purchased by the National Park Service in the mid 90s, and so far they have done very little with it except for closing up the buildings.

It was a nice walk though. The day was perfectly sunny and warm.