FLYING FRIDAY - MAR 15

FLYING FRIDAY - Mar 15

The trip basically concluded last night or rather this morning as we came back from a great show of the Northern Lights. I made a few errors in composition where I was sloppy about having wires in the photos, but most of them can be edited out. This was probably due to fatigue from the many long nights and early mornings.

Before I left Fairbanks I talked with George using FaceTime, the Apple answer to Skype. Then it was time for breakfast at the motel, and finish packing. I was off to the airport at about 1000. There was no waiting to get through security. As a matter of fact the area was wide open. Once done with that I enjoyed a mocha at the coffee stand, and started reading the last third of"Hell's Corner" by David Baldacci. It was a good thriller and a good read while at the airport or in the air.

The flights to Seattle went smoothly. There was some delay in departure in Seattle. The flight went smoothly, and we arrived in San Diego at 2350! This was ten minutes before they close the airport for the night. There was fog in the area which had effected flights the two nights before, but we got in. Thank goodness.

This was a great trip and adventure. The Northern Lights performed for us five out of the eight nights we were there. That is pretty good odds. We all enjoyed each other's company and worked well together without the planned leader.

I highly recommend that you get North to Alaska to see the Lights sometime. You do need about a week in order to be sure the weather cooperates. From what I understand the middle to late March is the best time of year. Then you just have to get away from the city lights so you can see them.

Thanks for following the adventure.

Alaskan Mountain Range

Glacier from the sky

THURSDAY - MARCH 14

Hi There,

Got to sleep in this morning, with rendezvousing at 1100. Got a bit more sleep as a result. Breakfast was at the Airport Way Family Restaurant where we have been to four times before. It has a diverse menu and will let you order from either the breakfast or lunch menu.

In the afternoon we had our date with Sun Dog Express for dog sledding. Elise has been very busy this year, and we were squeezed into the agenda. We had short, 5 min. rides. It was fun and very bumpy, but you did get out away from everything quite quickly. We had a bit of time to finish up the packing process for a couple  of the group who will be leaving first thing in the morning. We went to an early dinner at the Pump House, where I enjoyed reindeer tenderloins which were delicious.

Tonight was our last night of viewing the Northern Lights and they were out when we got to our site on Old Murphy Dome Road. There were some very nice displays, and some good choices for compositions. It was quite cold out there as there was a steady wind and the air temperature was about -6˚F. We persevered and stayed out until about 0145. This was about an hour later than planned, but the Lights were putting on a good show.

I finished most of my packing before going to bed. Tomorrow will be a long time at airports and in the air.

Alaskan Pipeline at night

Sundog Express Dog Sledding >>>>>

Happy Husky

Dog Sled Ride - Mark & Rafiq

Mark & Rafiq

Mike & Andrea out for a ride
 

WINDY WEDNESDAY

WINDY WEDNESDAY - March 13

Today was clear and windy most of the day. We got to sleep in and did not meet up for breakfast/brunch until 1100. I finally was able to connect with FaceTime to George and we had a great conversation face to face. (FaceTime is an Apple application similar to Skype but without having to log in with a password.) This was a first for us, and we will probably use it more in the future when I am traveling. The problem is coordinating our being on the computer at the same time.

After breakfast we were off to Chena Hot Springs Resort to find out what it was all about. It is quite the operation, with all sorts of activities, and resort amenities such as the Hot Springs, various massages, x-ctry skiing, dog sled rides, and lessons, etc. At night you can go to their summit for Northern Lights viewing and photography with their warming hut for a subject. It is a lovely setting, but it is a long drive back to town if you are not staying at the resort. The road conditions today were awful with most of the road being a sheet of ice. It is over 60 miles from Fairbanks. Our driver did
a fantastic job.

Back in Fairbanks we had an early dinner and then a break of about an hour and a half. We had to suit up for the evening as we were going to the Ice Sculpture Contest, and then straight out to view the Northern Lights. It was quite cold with winds blowing at 25-35 mph and the temperature below 0˚F. The winds are quite unusual for Fairbanks, but the cold is given. The Ice Sculptures were lovely, lit up with colored lights. We then proceeded out to our site for the Lights. Well, they never seemed to materialize so about 12 midnight we called it a night. However enroute back to Fairbanks we stopped
at the Alaskan Pipeline viewing area for some photos. Would have been more fun with Northern Lights, but that was not to be.

Back at the Motel, I peeled off five layers of clothing below the waist, and eight layers above. I was quite comfortable except I have yet to solve the neck and lower face areas. The balaclava works but it can cause one's glasses to fog up pretty much. My fingers were OK but if we had been photographing and standing about it would have meant a few more stops in the warm car to warm up.

Over all it was a good day, and I really have to reiterate that our member, Mark (Igor), did a fantastic job once again in driving us about and keeping us safe on the winter roads.

Wednesday morning Northern Lights

At Chena Hot Springs Resort>>>>

At Alaskan Pipeline View Area >>>>

Alaskan Pipeline

Alaskan Pipeline looking South toward Fairbanks

TUESDAY AROUND TOWN - MARCH 12

We had a late morning rendezvous with breakfast to follow . After breakfast three of the group went off on their own to visit North Pole, and explore Fairbanks. The other four and myself went in quest of new sites for photography. We checked out a tailings site, and then several places on the Old Murphy Dome Road. We went off to far on the side and quickly got stuck up to the running board. Luckily a local came along with a big diesel and had two chains so he was able to pull us out in a very timely manner.

We went on up the Dome road and eventually found a site where we can park on a side road, and there was a snowmobile track  on the North side. We used that walk out a ways and found a fairly good area to set up. We may still have issues with the lights below us, but they can be cloned out, and we have a nice birch tree to use for a foreground. We will be going there tonight.

Dinner tonight was at BIG DADDY's BarBQ, Northern most Southern B-B-Q! It was very good and we all enjoyed it. It was the usual decor and all of the various dishes were delicious. I had the pulled-pork sandwich and a house salad. Plenty to eat, and not too filling. Will be well fortified for tonight's photography.

Here are some from Tuesday evening -

It was a very good show. Hope you enjoy.

DENALI PARK AND NORTHERN LIGHTS

MONDAY, MARCH 11:

DENALI PARK AND NORTHERN LIGHTS

HI ALL,    

This morning dawned with snow falling. It was beautiful as always, especially when you do not need to do the shoveling. Sunrise had not yet occurred as we gathered to go to breakfast. Well our plans changed  due to  no sunrise photo ops, so we were off to visit the Denali N.P. Dog Sled dogs. These are the only dogsled dogs used within the National Park System. The Park uses the dogs to patrol the various trails within the National Park. Afterwards we turned in the snow shoes we had used yesterday. '

Then it was off to Rosie's Cafe in Healy. It was right next door to our motel, The Nord Haven Inn. I had had breakfast here two years ago on a LightChase

Photo Tour. We had a very good breakfast here, and one of our members, Rafiq, has now joined the gluttony club, which includes consuming the 1 pound burger, and potato salad. It was fun making contact with Rosie once again. I am not sure that she truly remembered us, but the food was still very good.

After breakfast we went back to the Nord Haven Motel to check out. This was a 4* establishment, with very nice rooms, clean, and a very helpful clerk on duty in the evening. Basically it was an honor system for checking in as there was no one there. Our keys were on the front desk with instructions to call a certain number to complete the process. They had coffee, tea, and hot chocolate for you to enjoy while there.

After checking out we were off to explore the Park area South to almost Cantrell. We stopped many times for photo ops as the weather started to clear. We were photographing the northern edge of the Alaskan Range, but Denali was interior to the Highway. There are five of us who are really here for photography and nature, and we thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Back in Fairbanks the weather had cleared and the skies were clear. We had dinner at a very good Italian Restaurant downtown, before suiting up for the evening shoot and viewing of the Northern Lights. This time we went along the Old Murphy Dome Road to an area we had scoped out a couple of days ago. Of course things looked different in the dark but we lived up to the challenge. Of course, there were several times that I went down to my knees in a soft area, which has become pretty s.o.p. We had an elevated view and it was quite clear, but there were lights below which are in the photos from various homes, and probably one business. We could occasionally see lights from the Elliot Parkway and hear some of the BIG trucks using their air brakes or struggling up the hill.

We got home about 0200. I had intentions of writing this then but a doctored hot chocolate, and getting warm relaxed me. So I did not fight it; I went off to bed.

Denali N. P. >>> 

The Morning Commute

NPS Dog Team Member

Important Data

Raven Maven at Denali

Breakfast at Rose's Cafe, Healy, AK.

Taking the Challenge to eat it ALL at Rose's Cafe, and he did eat it all!

My Breakfast at Rose's Cafe, Healy, AK

 Along the Parks Highway back to Fairbanks>>>>

What are we photographing? Two Views >>

 Monday Night at Murphy Dome Site #3 >>>>