Smiths in Alaska 2009

For The Time Being...

2010-03-10T19:40:00.000-08:00

The Smith Family is still glowing from our visit to Alaska in June 2009. If you are new to this blog, PLEASE be sure to click on the "Older Posts" link at the bottom of this page to read about the beginning of the trip.

At present, I make irregular posts at backWORDS, a blog about word roots and relationships - trust me, it's more interesting than it sounds here.

So, stay in touch, drop me a line, eat what you like.

Be of good cheer.

A Look Back

2009-07-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

We digested our trip into about 100 pictures.

To these images, please add the sweetest smelling air, the pungent aroma of sourdough, the thrilling taste of incredibly brisk mountain streams, the awe of grand vistas - one folding on top of another, the soothing feel of moss, the hilarious laughter of ferns, the clicking of a camera shutter, the steadfast pursuit of reindeer sausage, the dispassion of moose being photographed, the daring boasts of city-slickers, the tears of old friends well met, the panic of confused reservations, the changing of much money, the adoration of human artistry, the taste of salmon bathing in smoke, the elusive nature of long hidden gold, the sound of rocks crashing against one another in a watery bath, the shout of parents for boys "lost" in the woods, the boredom only tarmac can bring, the shattering bark of glaciers, the joy of discovery, and the healing of one human heart - too long gone from home.

Closing Thoughts

2009-06-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

I will make one last post here in a few days (read: weeks) that will point to a photo album of large format images from our trip. It will take a while to sort through everything and create the album.

Upon our return to Flatland, we often been asked what was our favorite part of the trip. For everyone, the train ride was nothing short of epic. If I can get them to send up one more post, I'd like to have each family member to share a memory / experience.

For me, it's so extremely difficult. The train ride was sensational and a definite highlight. It was also very important to me to see my old neighborhood and walk along the paths I trod as a child. As I have said, reconnecting with Craig B, a classmate 39 years ago, a dear friend today. That is a huge experience that will impact me for years to come.

My Apology

2009-06-28T06:01:00.000-07:00

A few of you are aware of another blog by your host in which I wax dire and desperate about our Plan A world and fantasize - more than a little - about my Plan B solutions to all things which stand to unravel.

In a recent post over there I commented on the near-nefarious actions of the Transportation Safety Administration. I stand by that post, but I must now also add this: on the whole I appreciate the job TSA is obliged to perform.

For example, how would you feel if the pudgy, balding Kansan (the one with the red shirt and swollen feet) trying to board Alaskan Airlines Flight 138 from Anchorage to Chicago was carrying not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR knives in his backpack??

Now mind you well, IF something like this were to happen (as extraordinarily hypothetical as it sounds) it would all be the result of a perfectly innocent souvenir orgy in the waning hours of his once-in-four-decades visit to the mightiest state in the Union. But such explanation, if it were offered to Federal Authorities, would still lack any persuasive force.

So, again still speaking hypothetically, I would like to thank TSA's Officer Schnickel for her grace and gentle certainty as she ushered me out of the screening area, returning my weapons to me only after I had crossed the Line of Demarcation separating bad passengers who may not fly from those good passengers who may. And then, from there, I'm gushing with gratitude to dear Ula (a name which looks and sounds a lot like "ulu" - a knife favored by Native Alaskans and tourists alike - which lies at the heart of the problem) of Alaska Airlines who resolved my peril by checking an additional bag and waving the customary $50 extortion fee for said overage.

So, in the theatre of my mind where only such extravagances are allowed to percolate, I am brimming with gratitude to the good men and women of the TSA who nip calamities in the bud and to the agents of AK AIR who help idiots work around their idiotry.

Thanks America, I heart you.

How to Kill An Hour at The Airport

2009-06-27T23:21:00.000-07:00

We're waiting to board for Chicago flight. Lyse is taking a picture... of a stuffed racoon (that a patient gave her a week or so before our trip - Lyse decided to bring the rat along with us to Alaska). She has taken its picture in front of glaciers, moose boats, planes... well, everywhere we have been. Now the rat gets to sit on the boading gate counter at gate C4 in Ted Stevens Airport. Nice goin', Rat!

Multimedia message

2009-06-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

Thats how we roll in alaska. Joshua

Heading South

2009-06-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

We've visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center - saw some musk ox and bears. Now its time for us to grab a bite at Chair 5 in Girdwood before concluding our activities in Anchorage.

I don't hear so well in noisy joint - which this is - but all of a sudden, everyone in the Smith family got a big smile on their faces. Turns out there was a song playing... "Going To Kansas City". Wow, couldn't have planned that. In 12 hours we'll be going there and in 24 hours we'll be there. But for these last few hours "we're not in Kansas anymore". And in my heart, I may never be again.

Everyone Is Happy

2009-06-26T23:37:00.000-07:00

Even the forest has a sense of humor. This natural spruce tree knot is about six feet across...and uniquely adorned.

The Final Countdown

2009-06-26T22:43:00.000-07:00

24 short hours from right now, we'll be sitting on a plane on a taxi-way in Anchorage and we'll wake up from this panoramic dream.

The picture above explains this day in full - why I married this gal and why I had to come back to Alaska.

Up, UP on Glacier Creek

2009-06-26T22:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary to us.

Webcams in Portage and Whittier

2009-06-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry again, didn't get these posted until after our cruise. The weather started out cold and gray, but by the time we were 30 minutes into the cruise, nothing but blue skies as the photos below show. Here are cams for the (land) areas we passed through.

link to our a cruise in Prince William Sound.

We drive by Portage Glacier before entering the Anton Anderson tunnel to arrive in Whittier.
Cam 1

Popping out the tunnel on the other side, here's Whittier.
Cam 1

Fish Finish

2009-06-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

After seeing seals, sea lions, otters, salmon, bald eagles, and dolphins - the grand finale before making our last turn to home were four humpback whales.

May We Recommend...

2009-06-26T19:04:00.000-07:00

When in Whittier, after you ride the Prince William Sound Cruises Wilderness Explorer AND THEN eat what you've cruising over at Varly's Swiftwater Seafood Cafe. Seafood is fresh and fantastic. Two twenty-six anniversary thumbs up.

Anniversery in parkas! Woot! Happy 26th.

2009-06-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

-Noah

Basking in the Noon Day Sun

2009-06-26T18:02:00.000-07:00

Right in the middle of this picture are several Harbor Seals warming themselves on ice chunks calving off the Surprise Glacier. They were a little anxious to see us. There are many more seals snorkeling behind other chunks of ice waiting for us to pass before re-applying their PABA-free sun screen.

Wow! Who's Cooler?

2009-06-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

Lysie or the Surprise Glacier?

Surprise Glacier

2009-06-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

This area has about 200 glaciers in it. I'm not quite sure how this particular one was a surprise to anyone. But it sure is lovely.

How Interesting

2009-06-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

We're sitting on the west side of the Anderson Tunnel that gets us into Whittier. I believe this is the longest two-mode (cars + train) tunnel in the world / continent / solar system / state... I don't know - it's unique, ok? And it is all one way at a time. The west bound cars just came through, then the train comes out. Then we (cars) go east followed by the train. It takes an hour to cycle all modes all directions. Whittier is immediately on the other side of the tunnel.

So be glad we don't have more lay-overs like this or else all my posts would be long, tedious posts of great scholastic insight and little real popular interest.

June 26

2009-06-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

I married this little girl 26 years ago today... and now she's eating sourdough pancakes at The Bake Shop in Girdwood AK.
Happy AKniversary, Baby!!!

Multimedia message

2009-06-26T01:46:00.000-07:00

With a knockdown early in first round, my score card reads Gideon-8 Bathtub-10. -Teddy Atlas

Goodnight from Glorious Girdwood

2009-06-25T23:56:00.000-07:00

looking east

Goodnight from Glorious Girdwood

2009-06-25T23:54:00.001-07:00

looking west

Goodnight from Glorious Girdwood

2009-06-25T23:54:00.000-07:00

looking north

Kids These Days...

2009-06-25T23:44:00.000-07:00

All they think about is getting high... up a mountain!! Noah and Gid just topped this peak above Girdwood. It's 10:30pm so I hope they get home in the next couple hours before it gets dark. And they'd better bring some of that glacier ice down with them as proof.

Long and Winding Road

2009-06-25T22:47:00.000-07:00

The Alaska Rail Road is an utterly remarkable experience. It cuts through the most rugged territory in North America and still, there is scarcely a ten-mile stretch in which we did not see a cabin tucked into some hillside with it's own million dollar view. It was the best 12 hours I've nearly ever spent... if I could think of something that comes in above it, I'd say so.

We arrived in Anchorage just in time for some fresh caught salmon and crab and thirty minutes of souveniring. Our hotel was a fiasco in a variety of ways - all resolved now and fading fast in the distance as we are ensconced in our last lodging, Bud & Carol's B&B in Girdwood. Oh my goodness, this place is perfect for weary travelers and for energetic explorers - both of which we a little bit are.

I've posted up some more of Noah's fabulous pictures above. Be sure to click on them to enlarge and get a peek at the majestic scenes we devoured with glee yesterday. (You've figured out we've run about two days behind in posting up good pictures. Once we settle back in at home, we'll put together a better album of all photos to share and enjoy.)

Our persistent conversation after going this long and this far into Alaska is when do we move up here and what shall we do to earn our cabin on the hills over-looking salmon-laden streams, moose-parading meadows, beaver-engineered lagoons, and eagle-soaring skies. I'm sure we'll think of something.

Greetings from Girdwood Base Camp

2009-06-25T22:02:00.000-07:00

Alyse and I are walking down to Glacier Creek, a pretty big "creek" that flows from the glaciers high above. The boys? Well, they are about halfway between the top of Alyse's head and the ridge of the mountain straight above her.

Joshua took his bear knife with him so we're not worried.

What?!

2009-06-25T21:32:00.000-07:00

-noah

The Younger Three

2009-06-25T17:04:00.000-07:00

...love exploring.

Considering His Options

2009-06-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

Ansel Adams Jr explores the waterfall.

Ready, Action

2009-06-25T16:44:00.000-07:00

Noah is setting up for a family photo at McHugh Creek on the Seward Hwy on the way to Girdwood.

Not A Bad View

2009-06-25T15:36:00.000-07:00

Flying between the Chugach and Kenai mountain ranges.

Trains, Autos, ... And that other one...

2009-06-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

Doesn't seem right not to fly in a float plane in a land where as many people fly as drive. Our float plane gets airborne.

Highly Recommended

2009-06-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

When you come to Anchorage, and I know you will, you simply must stop at Gwennies on Spenard for the BEST SOURDOUGH PANCAKES in Alaska!!!!

Plan B

2009-06-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

Always have a Plan B for everything - EVERYTHING!! If your motor fails you *after* landing in a lake: row, row, row your plane...

This IS Alaska!!

2009-06-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

A float plane tied up to a log cabin.

Nice Landing

2009-06-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

Gideon oversees the landing of a float plane.

Webcams - Anchorage and Girdwood Area

2009-06-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

Thursday we wander around the Anchorage area.

Here are several links to webcams in the Anchorage area. Be sure to check in occasionally and hit F5 to refresh the image.

Cam 1 looking southeast
Cam 2 looking north across Turnagain Arm toward Wasilla
Cam 3 looking east
Cam 4 another southeast view
Cam 5 looking north from downtown toward Mt McKinley
Cam 6 looking down 4th Ave where we'll be doing some souvenir shopping
Cam 7 looking over Lake Hood just east of the airport - world's busiest float plane "airport"

After goofing around in Anchorage for a while, we're off to our Bed & Breakfast in Girdwood at the base of the Alyeska Mountain Ski Resort (no skiing, though). Here are a couple cams with different vistas of Girdwood.

Cam 1 four miles south of Anchorage on the Seward Hwy leading to Girdwood. Watch for us!
Cam 2 base of the Alyeska tramway
Cam 3 further, much further up the tramway.

Of course, all this time, we'll be keeping our eye out to the west - across Turnagain Arm - at the smoldering Mt Redoubt volcano.
Cam 1
Cam 2
Cam 3 not sure when this one will come back up - it was knocked out by an eruption in the Spring

Webcams on the route from Fairbanks to Anchorage

2009-06-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I forgot to post this up yesterday.

We say goodbye to Fairbanks today as we board the Alaska Railroad train to travel from Fairbanks to Anchorage through Denali / Mt McKinley. We depart Fairbanks at 8:15 - no sourdough pancakes today!

Here are links to webcams that will give you a glimpse of the area we are passing through and what the weather is like. Tune in often and hot F5 to refresh the image.

A view of parking for McKinley Park (passing by here around 12noon). Train tracks on left - watch for us! Same location, looking south. A view of the Alaska Range from Summit (the village, not the top of the mountain!) (passing by here around 1pm).

A view of McKinley from the south across famed Wonder Lake.

A view of the Mt McKinley from Talkeetna (passing by here around 4pm).

Here is a cool webpage that gives you webcams all along the passage from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Click on "Camera" near the top of the page. Then click on any of the small blue cam icons to see current road conditions. The train route parallels the Parks Highway all the way.
Finally, we arrive for our stay in Anchorage around 8pm. A view of Anchorage looking southeast toward the Chugach Mountains.

She loves trains.

2009-06-24T23:25:00.000-07:00

-Noah

A Good Start

2009-06-24T22:38:00.000-07:00

My tummy says "hello Anchorage" with some fresh salmon and king crab.

Comment...

2009-06-24T20:13:00.000-07:00

Best comment wins a prize.
-Noah

Wasilla to Anchorage

2009-06-24T20:01:00.000-07:00

Last leg is almost over. There has not been a 10 mile section that has not been breath taking! CHS

Triple-header

2009-06-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

You can't see them, but in this marsh we saw a moose, a beaver, and two swans with their signets (not "goslings" as our fauna-challenged announcer said).
[Yes, I'm terribly sorry for offending the spelling sensibilities of my world-wide readership. I've gotten 5 hours of sleep each night for a week and on a 12 hour train ride I missed spelling CYGNET correctly. Again, I'm sorry if this made you lose a spelling bee in Karmina Burana or wherever they challenge people to know the difference between the homonyms "cygnet" (a baby swan) and "signet" (an object with an identifying symbol - a sign - on it, such as a signet ring). I am doubly embarrassed by my mistake because I am shopping for land in Kansas in the area of the Marais Des Cygne River (Marsh of the Swans). Good grief.]

dad and his state!

2009-06-24T17:46:00.000-07:00

Glee Ride

2009-06-24T14:45:00.000-07:00

A day on the train means all the junk food you (Joshua and Gideon in this case) can eat. A good day.

Me Ride

2009-06-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

I picked up almost all the memories I left in Fairbanks 40 and 50 years ago. Now we're all off to make new memories together at the southern end of the line.

Free Ride!

2009-06-24T12:51:00.000-07:00

Alaska and Alyse both turn 50 this year - so she (Alyse) gets free passage to Anchorage on the Alaska Railroad. And no one loves trains more than Alyse.

She Ride

2009-06-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

Noah's body is here, but I think his heart is 4000 miles away in Texas. I hope Noah get to bring his special lady to the special land someday.

One More Memory

2009-06-24T11:44:00.000-07:00

All three 'big' boys shared driving chores on the trip to Chena Hot Springs. That left Gid out. We remedied that situation at rainy midnight.

In the picture above, the vehicle on the distant right is Mr Gid getting his Andretti on in an empty parking lot. I wonder if he'll remeber where and when he learned to drive??? CHS

He Ride

2009-06-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

Looks like IceMan is chronicling his journey the old fashioned way.

Train!

2009-06-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

-Noah

See You Later

2009-06-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

A popular ending to stories (other than 'they lived happily ever after') is 'and they walked home in the rain'. It captures a dark, brooding mood. Tho not dark, I'm definitely brooding over leaving Fairbanks and for the first time during our visit, we've got solid rain.

Craig B came to see us off - what a champ. A great friend I never knew I had. Of course we arrive, brimming with enthusiasm, only to discover we have no reservations. Oh snap!! Wait, here they are - for Friday... What's today? Wednesday. Oh boy.

All is well, they've shifted us to today and we're moving right now.

And we trained away in the rain.

Bless Be The Ties That Bind

2009-06-23T23:18:00.000-07:00

Dinner tonight at the Whisenhants. Jim and Elizabeth Whisenhant were great family friends of our in the 50s and 60s and my mom has stayed in touch with them through the years. Jim (Whizzy) died about several years ago - much to early for a man so brimming with life, courage, and joy. Everyone misses him.

Tonight we dined with the Whisenhant family, including Greg who is my age, as well as other luminaries from my childhood, the Butlers and the Schillings. There are very few of our readers who would understand and appreciate the value of renewing those old relationships so I'll keep this brief. For me, it was a chance for an all-grown-up little boy to sit as an adult with the people that I admired as a squirrely little kid. Elizabeth told the grown ups to sit at one table and for the kids to sit at another. What a delight it was to be able to sit at the same table with the Whisenhants, Schillings, and Butlers. Time flies... and I'm not at the kids' table anymore.

And with that, our visit to Fairbanks comes to a close - and our discovery of the rest of this magnificent place begins. Good night.

Scenes from the Chena

2009-06-23T23:06:00.000-07:00

Here are some gorgeous shots of our trips up Chena Hot Springs Road. Classic Alaska!!!

A Good Day

2009-06-23T18:49:00.000-07:00

We headed off to chena hot springs today. We rented some mountain bikes around the village. There was a huge hill/mountain that Isaac, Noah, and Joshua went up but i stayed behind and goofed around in the freezing chena river. Back at the resort (village) we got some lunch and made a dash for the hot pool. On the way there and home we saw a total of about 6 moose which was very cool and we saw several more on the way back. Mom, dad, Joshua, and I got out and blew up some fire crackers and threw some at each other, just the usual for us. At 6 were headed off to some of my dads friends house. Gid

Alaska is ALIVE!!

2009-06-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

We've been out of signal today because of the remote location of Chena Hot Springs.

We weren't 5 miles out of Fairbanks before we started seeing moose - and lots of them. Probably saw over a dozen altogether - bulls, cow, and calves (that's daddies, mommies, and babies to you non-natives). At one place we saw a lake a beaver made with a dam, we saw the beaver, and enjoying the fresh green shoots of grass in the lake was a moose mom and toddler.

It was a pefect day up river. We biked, hiked, swam, and by the grace of God we shot off some fireworks!!!

Great Day!!!! Now we head to dinner with old family friends and then pack for our 12 hour train ride tomorrow.

Another Perfect Day

2009-06-22T23:26:00.000-07:00

After fretting a couple times that the weather might fail us, I can say now that the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce's must be paid in full in the meteorological heavens. I don't think we could have scripted better weather for being out and about in Alaska.

The days started, as you know, with us at the Midnight Sun ballgame that ended perfectly and in perfect light. We caught a few hours of shut-eye, behind our heavy opaque curtains, before rolling out for another day in Alaska's interior.

We wrapped up sightseeing and souvenir shopping downtown, got some much coveted smoked salmon strips (know lovingly by all as "squaw candy") and Noah even got some Alaskan roasted coffee beans - which he swears are qualitatively different from those roasted anywhere else in the world Whatevuh.

We made a quick run through UAF (that's the University of Alaska / Fairbanks, to y'all outsiders). I was quite surprised that we were able to see south to the Alaska Range and based on map legend laid out before us, we enjoyed the rare privilege of seeing Mt McKinley in the far distance due south.

Then off on the Riverboat Discovery. It's one of those touristy things that are part of any true Alaskan heritage or visit - and we're very glad we did.

We wrapped up the day with dinner at Craig & Cathy B's home (along with Ryan, and Chris, and Joey, of course). Craig and I were classmates for 6 year until I moved to "the states" in 1970 and that's where our friendship rested until I tracked him down last summer. How can I say this, Craig is as good a friend as I could expect if we have lived in the same town all these years. He (and his family) are generous, loving, and have an incredible gift of making strangers feel like they belonged in their home. I am deeply moved by the way love is made known.

All that was enough, quite enough, for a good day, but we squeezed in a quick run on down the Richardson Highway to see the US armament at Eielson Air Force Base. Wow. We're in good shape folks. On the way back, we picked up a little armament of our own - a few fireworks to shoot off on our trip to Chena Hot Springs tomorrow.

Now, along the way, I stopped by a small, roadside lake just to soak up a little more local flavor. Alyse, Isaac, Noah, Gideon, and I all got out, stretched our legs, skipped a few rocks and headed back to the van. Joshua was missing. Alyse said, "I chewed him out for running through the woods with his knife out." (see posts on that topic below) WHAT?? I jumped out of the van and started yelling and whistling for him. You can imagine the thoughts that were going through my mind. He eventually sounded out and eventually (later) drug himself out of the woods about a quarter of a mile from where the rest of us had walked around, announcing, "I'm gonna kill something!" He used to be so mellow.

Good night.

Great

2009-06-22T15:18:00.000-07:00

We're on the Riverboat Discovery and this little float plane just took off next to us.

The Valley

2009-06-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

Looking west over the Tanana Valley from Chena Ridge Road.

On A Clear Day...

2009-06-22T13:49:00.000-07:00

...You can see forever - or in this case, Mt Mckinley!

We're up on College Hill at UAF. It's a rare day when the visibility allows you to see to Mt McKinley - today is one of those days. We'll have better pictures to post up later, but this is our live moment to share with you. CHS

Smoked salmon. More please.

2009-06-22T12:35:00.000-07:00

Alaska violent? No...

2009-06-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

-Noah

Midnight... I'm sitting in the car.

2009-06-22T01:23:00.000-07:00

-Noah

Multimedia message

2009-06-22T01:21:00.000-07:00

Midnight sun, i plan on starting this grand tradition back in kansas with a slightly different lighting arangement. Joshua.

As The Sun Sets (Pt 2)

2009-06-21T22:39:00.000-07:00

(See prior post below)
The first base side of the "stadium" is much more sparsely populated at the same time. Why? Apparently the west facing first base side is far less desirable at the Midnight Sun baseball game because (as Craig B just warned me) THE SUN GETS IN YOUR EYES AS IT SET AROUND 1AM. Who knew??

As The Sun Sets (Pt 1)

2009-06-21T22:33:00.000-07:00

This is one section of bleachers - on the third base side - at the Midnight Sun ball game. This side is jam packed. (See next post (above).

Joshua @ food

2009-06-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

-Noah

The Way Noah Sees It (Pt 1)

2009-06-21T18:46:00.000-07:00

a few views of Alaska on day 1 (click to enlarge)

Fairbanks gift store

2009-06-21T18:31:00.000-07:00

(It's Father's Day and this father is sorry for the PG13 nature of this post.)

That's Odd

2009-06-21T17:50:00.000-07:00

I don't remember belly dancing as an indigenous native cultural expression.

Seriously?

2009-06-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

No bear, so Joshua settles for a funnel cake.

Beautiful Day

2009-06-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

Its great to see downtown Fairbanks bustling.

More fairbanks store

2009-06-21T17:05:00.000-07:00

-Noah

Resting at the midnight sun festival

2009-06-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

I Was Glad When They Said Unto Me...

2009-06-21T12:32:00.000-07:00

...Let us go into the house of the Lord.

On this Father's Day I have brought my bride and four sons to the Lord's House where my father brought me in my youth.

Wow!

Webcams - Fairbanks

2009-06-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

Here are several webcam sites of The Golden Heart City. Tune in often and hit F5 to refresh.

A view just across the Chena River looking back south toward downtown. The church on the left is St Joseph's Catholic Church. Clark was born in the hospital sponsored by the church just off-screen to the left (that's where the ground got kissed).

A view from 1st Street looking north across the Chena.

A view from University Hill looking out south over the vast Tanana Valley.

A view of the "finish house" on the Birch Hill cross country ski area. In the 60s, the Smith family spent hundreds of Saturday afternoon sledding down rugged Birch Hill. Now, thanks to the wonderful efforts of family friend - the Whisenhants, Birch Hill is a competition ski area and a focus of much winter activity.

A view of the University of Alaska museum.

Taking Alaska As It Comes

2009-06-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

It's 5:30am (still on the "ish" scale) and I guess 7 hours is all the sleep I'm going to get. No complaints. I look outside and see the Chamber of Commerce's worst nightmare - rain.

Today is a BIG DAY is Fairbanks - the Summer Solstice - a celebration of The Midnight Sun. We hear people greeting each other. "Happy Solstice". It's a big deal (and, to be honest, it's why we are here at this time). The town crackles with enthusiasm for all the visitors and activities. There was a huge 10k Fun Run yesterday that ended at midnight to begin the day of the Midnight Sun. And of course, as I have chronicled elsewhere on this page, the day ends with the 103rd Annual Midnight Sun Baseball Game which starts at 10:30pm and continues through midnight - all with no artificial stadium light. (The sun skirts just below the horizon, "setting" at about 12:45am and rising again after a nap shorter than I usually take.) In the meantime, there are activities everywhere celebrating the spectacle of this far northern site. As always, the beauty of the earth is the main story here, humans just get to participate occasionally. And that means if it rains on Fairbanks' big day, so be it. This grand old town has seen much tougher conditions than a day of drizzle!

And the Smith Family will enjoy it as well. We'll enjoy another Alaskan breakfast somewhere, then visit University Baptist Church where I'll give a brief accounting for what I've been up to for 40 years, then off to lunch at Pike's Landing and the Midnight Sun Festival downtown this afternoon. Rain or shine, it's a beautiful thing to spend another day in Fairbanks.

A Day That Will Live In 'Famy (you know what I mean)

2009-06-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

Just landing in Fairbanks took my breath away. Maybe that was because we hadn't slept in 24 hours or maybe it was because the place you grow up gets under your skin in a way you never realize.

Here's a REAL quick sketch of the day - and for once - I'm not exaggerating. (And I think most of this is documented in real time below.) Mostly I'm documenting this for my memory's sake. I don't know if I'd believe it.

All times are "ish".

5:30a board plane in Anchorage
6:00a head north
6:30a spot Mt McKinley
7:ooa land in Fairbanks
7:30a check into hotel
8:30a walk to breakfast (the long way - sorry)
10:00a Joshua, Noah, Isaac head back to hotel / Gid, Lyse, and I walk downtown to get rental car. (I kiss the ground I was born on.) Walked down city streets that flood (literally and figuratively) with memories. Gid spotted a beaver dam, for real, right in the middle of the city. That's why they get props for being eager! In the first 24hrs we've seen moose, raven, sled dogs, moose poop (I just said poop), and plenty of other evidence that this isn't Kansas anymore.
11:00a clean up and go see "Aunt" Ethyl - the greatest blessing of the whole trip. WOW
12:00n drive to childhood elementary school (Nordale) and the walk to my old house in Hamilton Acres (all this walking / hiking / gold panning explain the reason for the picture of my knee below)
1:00p greeted back at Nordale by a truly great new / old friend Craig B
1:30p buy gold pan and shovel and head north to Fox to find our share of Alaska's gold
2:00p drink deep from Fox's fresh spring water - alas no gold, YET
2:30p head half-way up Elliot Hwy toward Livengood ('cuz we are!). Slow goin' and we don't make it all the way, but dang, the land is gorgeous - all the boys were impressed. We got out and got up on the Alaska pipeline (really, pictures to come).
5:00p back at hotel, clean up, go to Alaskan Salmon Bake (as discussed below)
8:00p souvenir shop in Pioneer Park (aka: A67 / Alaskaland)
9:00p go to WalMart to get what we lost or forgot - short trip, then poolside to wrap up an incredible FIRST day in Alaska.
10:00p well, that's now. It's bright as day outside but our little peepers have been open so long, I think we could sleep now or noonday. Lyse is already conked out. The boys are next door exaggerating to each other what they could do if they really want to.

I think the six of us laughed more with each other and at each other than we have altogether in years. I cried like a baby at seeing Ethyl. That's just exactly the kind of day it has been. And trust me, both sides of that ecstatic emotional coin make it all worthwhile. Thanks for checking in. Oh, believe me - MORE TOMORROW!!

On second thought....

2009-06-20T22:49:00.000-07:00

This just seconds later when Joshua realized how ridiculous killing a grizzly would be.....it wouldn't even fit in his luggage!!

"I'm going on a bear hunt!"

2009-06-20T22:48:00.000-07:00

This was Joshua right after he and Gideon bought their souvenier Alaska-made bowie knife. Joshua was heading off to the woods to conquer his REAL souvenier- an Alaskan GRIZZLY!!

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2009-06-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

I've dubbed it: smokey, after the bear im gonna kill with it

A little after dinner entertainment

2009-06-20T20:16:00.000-07:00

-Noah

You're Kidding Right?

2009-06-20T19:39:00.000-07:00

It's all-you-can-eat salmon and prime rib - and what does Gideon get???

That's right, Hot Dogs.

Oh wait, good call Gid. More salrib for me

CHS

Let the 2009 Goldrush begin;with Gideon!

2009-06-20T16:02:00.000-07:00

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2009-06-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

Dad's packing heat in his person. Joshua (Cap'n Awesome)

North Fairbanks

2009-06-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

I asked her to wave but she isn't very friendly. Everything looks a bit sideways. -Noah

As Good As I Hoped

2009-06-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

First objective: sourdough pancakes. Yummay!
CHS

The Top of the World

2009-06-20T10:08:00.000-07:00

With clouds predicted much. Of the week, this might be our only peek at THE PEAK - Mt McKinley. This was around 6am on our way to Fairbanks.
Happily it is a bright.sunny day in the Heart of Alaska.

Four Fine Young Men...

2009-06-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

Discovery Dad's world. 8am on the way to breakfast. Stay tuned!

Home

2009-06-20T08:10:00.000-07:00

A little overwhelmed as our wheels touch down in Fairbanks.

Its Tougher in Alaska

2009-06-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

Alaska is a rugged place for rugged people. The idea of luxury travel is a foreign concept. We're boarding our plane from ANC to FAI via the runway apron. I shot this image of the front of the plane - "first class" in the Lower 48 means "stand up and hold on" here in this rugged land. Why? Because its tougher in Alaska.

Getting charged up for the last leg!!

2009-06-20T01:21:00.000-07:00

Good Morning

2009-06-20T01:14:00.000-07:00

The clock at the airport just chimed midnight. This is the view.

NeverLand of the Midnight Sun!

2009-06-20T01:06:00.000-07:00

Seriously, it's either never take off or never land. This is the sun at 40000 ft at midnight. We missed our last plane to Fairbanks by 20 stinkin minutes so we've now got 6 hours to stare at each other in Anchorage before jumpin a tramp steamer up-river to FBKS in the morning. Should arrive by Tuesday afternoon.

Not really. We'll be 'home' early Saturday morn. Should pick up our perfectly planned itinerary from there.

Infligt entertainment

2009-06-19T16:09:00.000-07:00

Clean Flight

2009-06-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

Our big styrofoam to-go boxes from Chilis were too big for onboard disposal so Lowell, our flight attendant, opened the rear door and threw them out - somewhere over Saskatchewan I guess. Sorry about that Canadia.

Road Food??

2009-06-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

At 30000 ft! Chilis To Go, literally. Had 15 minutes to get thru OHare and grab chow too.

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2009-06-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

Attendant just asked if there is a doctor on board. Thats never good but i suppose it could be worse...is there an entamologist on board? A coroner? A paratrooper? A snake charmer? A plumber?

Slow Start

2009-06-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

Well, it's 2:30. I had hoped that by now we'd be on a train headed to downtown Chicago from OHare to grab some local deep dish pizza pie at Ricobene's. Instead we're sitting on the tarmac (that's airport speak for asphalt) in Kansas City and our 6 hour layover in ChiTown has diminshed to about 2 hours.
(As I write this, we just caught another delay. We're sitting in the airplane for another hour and arrive with 1 short hour in OHare to make our flight to Alaska - if it is not delayed.)

At this rate, the only pizza we're gonna get is at Sbarro in the OHare food court. The irony is, Sbarra started in Chicago... So I'll guess we'll be "eating local" anyway.

The picture is of my bride catching a few winks... and dreaming of real Chicago pizza.

Ready to go!!!

2009-06-19T07:04:00.000-07:00