River’s Edge RV Park Fairbanks, Alaska Day 2

Today was a great day!  Not too many people get to do what we did today.  It was 84 degrees and gorgeous.  We traveled north and east on the Steese Highway.  The White Mountains were to the north and the Tanana Hills were to the south.  The Chatanika River ran parallel to the highway.  We only saw about 20 cars all day.

Our first stop was at the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline Viewpoint.  I still cannot imagine that people are allowed to be this close to the pipeline!

The pipeline is an engineering marvel.  Dr. James Maple had many things to consider when the pipeline was designed.  In the areas where the ground is permafrost, the pipeline had to be insulated, raised and suspended.  The pipeline has areas where it is submerged below the ground to allow animals to cross or in areas where avalanches and rock-slides might be a risk.  If the warm oil passed through the ground it would cause the permafrost to thaw which causes heaving.  The suspension system that the pipeline sits in allows for changing seasons and for earthquakes.  The pipeline is also designed in a zigzag pattern so the the whole system can flex from side to side as well as up and down.  There is also a passive refrigeration/heat pipe system that allows heat to be transferred away from the pipeline.

We went off-road to see an old gold dredge.

Breakfast was beside the Chatanika River.

The McCay Creek Trail is designated for dog sleds, hiking, and 4 wheel drive vehicles.  Although we did not see this wolf…the track was fresh.. he was in there with us somewhere!

We didn’t see this moose either.

We took an access road down into the valley.  Lunch was beside this river.

This may also be a wolf print although it doesn’t match the book as clearly as the first print did.  The track was bigger than my phone.  It is not a lynx, nor a wolverine, nor a fox, nor a coyote…and definitely not a bear.

In the White Mountain National Recreation Area, US Creek Road is a gravel road that goes 3.5 miles to the summit and then another 3.5 miles to the next junction.

The views are spectacular.

Blueberries growing but not ripe for another month or so.

There you can travel another 12 miles on the gravel road in the remote wilderness to the Ophir Creek Campground.  Just past the campground, there is a boat put-in at Beaver Creek National Wild River.  If you choose to put you boat in here…it will be 360 miles before you are at a road accessible take-out.  You can arrange to have a bush pilot meet you on a gravel bar somewhere in the river.  If you need help, you may have to hike 15 or more difficult miles to get to someone.  Too bad we aren’t going back that way!  An adventure for another day…or another couple!  Would you do it?

If you are looking for adventure, Alaska doesn’t disappoint!!!