I was thinking of signing up for a tour to the Arctic Circle before my trip started. But thought I could entertain myself for 2 days in Fairbanks...I should have signed up (oh well).
I'm heading back towards the North Pole (actually just past) to the Chena River Recreation Area. I'm hoping to do at least a little walking.
The recreation area was created when the Army Corps of Engineers created at 7.1 mile earthen dam in response to the 1967 Chena River floods. The dam controls around 1500 miles of watershed that if uncontrolled would flow into Fairbanks.
There are 2 distinct areas: The Lake Park and the River Park and I plan on going to both.
When I arrive the dam is not hard to miss. I drive right alongside it.
At the park gate, there is a sign indicating a bear has been recently sighted in the area (wonderful!)
At two points along the road, there is parking and steps to the top of the dam (over 50 steps to the top). I'm expecting water when I get to the top; instead it's a huge green meadow.
I search for animals but do not see any.
If it were sunny, this looks like at great place for bflys - lots of Iris and white and yellow flowers blooming.
I head to the Visitors Center to look at the other side of the dam (this is also where the second set of steps to the top is).
When done, I head to the River Park. I explore a bit around here. I see Gulls, this duck
and a Yellow Warbler.
Nobody around the water but I do here folks at the campgrounds.
I walk along the river for a bit but the trail heads back into the woods so I go back. (This isn't an official trail anyway.)
I go one parking lot over and find the trails. I take the 2 mile Nature Trail. Surprisingly the mosquitoes aren't too bad yet.
This trail too doesn't spend much time along the river but I know why. The bank has undercut erosion and could drop in at any time. (There's a warning sign and some of the trail is re-routed.)
Birch and lots of green vegetation on the forest floor.
Seeing/hearing many robins and see my first red squirrel.
I do find moose tracks on the trail but they are heading the opposite direction.
I come across one noisy woodpecker along the trail. He must have been protecting his area.
On the remaining trail, many more mosquitoes flying. It's also a little more boggy environment.
A nice little walk.
I head over to the Lake Park and when I park along the lake there's a sign indicating a Grizzly has been seen here. I walk to a little picnic table to check out the view before leaving. (There was no other people around.)
Time to head back to Fairbanks.
It's too early to go back to town, so I head up to a stop where the Pipeline is visible. The stop is just north the Chena Hot Springs turnoff.
This is the 2nd time I've seen the Pipeline!
On display are the devices that are used to clean the pipeline (called pigs). They have one of the original ones
And a new one.
Then I head north on the Streese Hwy towards the Arctic Circle. It's about 170 miles there but I'm not going that far. I'm just going about 30 miles just to see if the landscape changes.
I climb one big mountain and head back down and things all look the same. Time to head back to Fairbanks.
I make one last stop at the Creamer's Field and see a Sandhill Crane. If I heard a local correctly, soon this field will be filled with them.
Time to end my day and rest up for the "official" part of the trip starting tomorrow.
Denali here I come!!
No comments:
Post a Comment