Fairbanks, Alaska – the largest city in the interior region of Alaska, with a population of approximately 100,000 in the greater valley area, is second only to Anchorage.  While the European settlers came to the area around 1901 and established trading posts, there is evidence of native activity dating back 10,000 years!  Arrowheads excavated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks site matched similar items found in Asia, providing some of the first evidence that humans arrived in North America via the land bridge.  More recent settlement activity included trading posts and gold prospecting in the early 1900’s, the Ladd Army Airfield (now Fort Wainwright) beginning in 1939 and the construction of the Haines-Fairbanks 626 mile long petroleum products pipeline in the mid-50’s.

So – here we parked on the banks of the Chena River for 4 days and met up with friends, Linda and Jim to explore;-)  The drone was up again to give a birds-eye view – –

 

A drive to Chena Hot Springs, naturally hot water discovered by weary miners to soak their tired limbs, provided a full day’s worth of amusing pictures – –

 

Located just 196 driving miles south of the Arctic Circle, Fairbanks provided the ‘jumping off spot’ for us to fulfill another Bucket List item – going to the Arctic Circle – at the only spot where it is accessible in the United States.  The Arctic Circle is the northernmost point at which the noon sun is just visible on the December solstice and the southernmost point at which the midnight sun is just visible on the June solstice.  It is located at 66 degrees 33′ north of the equator.  And – at 7PM we were off – –

This was NOT just a trip to the Arctic Circle and back.  There was also a ‘brush’ with a little visited National Park – Gates of the Arctic NP – the northernmost NP in the US situated entirely north of the Arctic Circle.  It also provided views of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), which includes the trans-Alaska crude-oil pipeline, 11 pump stations, several hundred miles of feeder pipelines and the Valdez Marine Terminal.  The pipeline was built between 1974 and 1977 after the oil crises and utilized special construction techniques in order to deal with the permafrost.  The Dalton Highway was also created to transport supplies.

A visit to Wiseman was also on the agenda.  A small (population 17) former mining community along the Middle Fork Koyukuk River in the Brooks Range, Wiseman provided a close look at life ‘off the grid’ above the Arctic Circle.  No hot water, outhouses only and wood stove or solar heat sources.  Neither E nor G would ever make it here!

 

For a little humor between ‘Bucket List’ items, North Pole was visited.  (Actually – our campground was in North Pole!!)  Santa is here year round to talk to all good little girls and boys;-)

 

Back to the ‘Bucket List’.  The northernmost golf course in the United States is the North Star Golf Club in Fairbanks.  So – off the four of us went to give it a go and a really fun time was had by all – –

 

It has been a great four days with the Stinsons and fantastic that we have been able to accomplish two super ‘Bucket List’ items;-)  Now that VERY large mountain – Denali – is calling.  So, pack it up and head a little south to see what is in store.

E & G feeling very happy at having accomplished TWO ‘Bucket List’ items and seeing a little visited NP☺️👏