Escape Pod Rambles

Sunday, July 17, 2022

The North Pole

July 17, North Pole, Alaska

Crossing the Tanana River

Fireweed is everywhere in the north - especially where the soil has been disturbed or the has been a fire

This is only a slight exaggeration

Job announcement for Alaskan Highway - 3 all Black engineering regiments from the Army were among those who worked to in 1942 to make this connection to the lower 48. It was done in 8 months.

First view of the Alaskan Pipeline

Mount Hayes, Hess Mountain, and Mount Deborah

Stopped in the North Pole tourist area.

A slightly creepy Santa greets folks.

Kitsch is everywhere, including street names: Snowman Lane, , Mistletoe, Blitzen, Donner, Saint Nicholas Drive, North Star Drive.

I don't know how this poor thing sees anything

Saturday, July 16, 2022

Crossing into Alaska and Chicken

July 15 & 16, Crossing into Alaska and Chicken

Went for a short hike up the hill to the cairn near the border. Again I am amazed at where flowers will bloom

Panorama from the cairn

Poker Creek border crossing - not very big. Only saw one female agent working it first thing in the morning

Sign on one of the two log cabin residences for Border Patrol agents

Former Roadhouse

Hiked the aptly named Mosquito Fork Dredge Trail

Everything grows big in Alaska (note quarter)

Old mining dredge

Close up of bear paws in sand by dredge

Arrived in Chicken Alaska, so named because the miners couldn't spell ptarmigan. Home to every chicken related pun available

Giant chicken made by high schoolers from old lockers

Spent two free nights camping here - ate yummy homemade food and pie and had some good beer. Great place to spend our 34th wedding anniversary

Matthew's reindeer brat

Bar ceiling with hats from around the world - and tattered undies shot from the panty canon

On site outhouses - chicken has no running water or electricity. Water is trucked in and electricity is by generators for the 7 permanent residents and couple dozen summer residents.