Alaska 2004  --  Days 10-11

Day 10, Tuesday June 8 ~  Denali to Fairbanks

We left the Backcountry Lodge in a gray bus very early (6:15 a.m.) in rain and fog with low hanging clouds.  Little was to be seen as the mud and rain quickly covered the bus and its windows.  We did see one moose and a rabbit (snowshoe hare).  After retrieving our vans at the Denali Cabins we went to the Denali National Park Visitor Center where we had lunch.  After lunch we took a short, but somewhat mosquito infested, walk on the Horseshoe Lake Trail.  Then we drove to Fairbanks arriving at 5:15.

In the morning we went to the University of Alaska Museum which had a variety of exhibits about Alaska.  We also enjoyed a program about traditional native games.  After a stop at a Fred Meyers supermarket for provisions and lunch, we went to Pioneer Park, formerly Alaska Land.  In the afternoon we visited the Alyeska Pipeline.  Later in the afternoon, a small group went to the Creamery Wildlife Refuge to see Sandhill Cranes and Canada Geese.  This visit was cut short by the arrival of a stormy weather front. After an exasperatingly slow dinner eight of us went to the nearby town of Ester to see an entertaining show at the Malamut Saloon.

The Village at Pioneer Park	Waiting
Alyeska Pipeline	The gang
Sandhill Cranes at the Creamery Wildlife Refuge	Approaching storm

Last updated: July 18, 2004