Wednesday, April 18th - The arrival of Spring and a pre-season trip to Denali Park

Sorry for the long delay in making an entry. The warm weather has been almost intoxicating, and we've been spending as much time outdoors as we can. Steve and I have started walking Sedona around the block each evening. It's only a mile, but it's something. We enjoy this quiet time to ourselves, and we usually do it after dinner so our food digests better. I look forward to getting into a regular walking routine (with or without Steve), and I've mapped out a route through my neighborhood which is about 5 miles. My friend Karen has also talked about walking a couple of miles together during the week, and I'm game for that too (anytime you're ready, Karen!).

I've been working on getting my new gallery together. It's not uploaded yet, but I think I'm almost through with the wildlife portion. There are a lot more photos in that section now which will be available for purchase - in sizes up to 20x30 in some cases. Most will be available up to 16x20. I still have to work on landscapes, skyscapes, and a few other categories. I'll let you know when it's up and running.

Google Maps has a neat tool in which you can make your own map and save it, link to it, and bookmark it. You can plot points of interest as well as include text and photos to show those points.

I made one for Fairbanks using some of my photos.

CLICK HERE to check it out. By zooming in tighter, you'll be able to see the individual markers much easier. I've included markers for Murphy Dome (the highest elevation in the Fairbanks area), Chatanika (where the outhouse races are held), and Chena Hot springs. There's also a marker for the Santa Claus House in North Pole. All of these markers are a distance from the downtown Fairbanks area, so you'll have to be zoomed out to see them.

I think it's a neat feature, and it will give you a general idea of the layout of Fairbanks and where the places are that I like to visit.

On April 12th, my father would have turned 73 years old if he were still walking on this earth. I missed him a lot that day and I shed many tears. While I tend to concentrate more on the happy memories of my dad throughout the year, on his birthday and the anniversary of his death, I always feel so sad and emotional. It was really tough this year; perhaps because I no longer have him or my mother. The only thing that brings me any comfort is knowing they are together again. And knowing that I will see them both again someday.

We've finalized almost all of our plans for when Donna comes to town in June. I did hear back from Emerald Air, and they're booked solid for June (and most of July), so there won't be a bear viewing trip on our itinerary. But that's OK - we've got lots of other stuff planned. We'll be visiting Independence Mine at Hatcher Pass, then spending a few days in Seward were we'll take a wildlife cruise and check out Exit Glacier. Then we'll head to Denali for a few days, and take the shuttle bus into Wonder Lake, before heading back to Fairbanks. I've got us booked for the Riverboat Discovery and Eldorado Gold Mine on her final two days in town. There will be time to do some shopping, driving around Fairbanks, and relaxing too. I'm really looking forward to her visit and the opportunity to show her some of my favorite things in Alaska.

This past Saturday, Steve was in 'lazy' mode and I wasn't. I wanted to get out in the beautiful sunshine and breathe in the fresh air. Steve wanted to lay back on the sofa and watch the hockey game. So I grabbed my camera, put on my hiking shoes, and gathered up Sedona's leash, and she and I took off for Chena Lakes Rec Area. The last time I was there, the roads were still snow covered and slick, and the ice houses were still out on the lake for the fisherman. But this time, the roads were totally clear (except for in the park), and the ice houses were pulled back to shore. There were fisherman, but they were sitting in chairs around the perimeter of the lake and not out in the middle. Sedona and I took off walking along the shoreline.

After walking about a mile, we went back to the car and drove down the road a little further to the riverview area. There's a campground and some walking paths that parallel the Chena River. We saw evidence of moose (moose nuggets) but no wildlife whatsoever. It was a beautiful walk, however, and I savored the cool breeze and the silence of the woods.

Pleasantly tired, Sedona and I got back into the car and headed for home. I decided to stop at the footbridge in North Pole to get a photograph of it now that the snow is mostly gone. It looks a lot different than it did in the winter. Remember the photo I took of it in January? (You can see it by clicking here.) It will change again once summer is upon us. The leafless bushes and trees will be lush and green, and the little bit of remaining snow will be gone. I shall have to go back again and take a 'summer' photo.

While at the little city park, Sedona and I followed the footpath for a short distance. There are a few benches and a platform about 20 yards down the path. They overlook the creek where ducks will swim in the summer months. The path continues onward, into the woods, but it was still too swampy and and full of puddles to follow. I'll go back in a few months for some photos. The spruce sap has begun running, and all of the trees glistened in the sunlight with drips of thick yellow fluid. Life is coming back to the forest, and I like it! I also had my first glimpse of a butterfly. A Green Comma flit around both of us, taunting us by coming close and then flying high, until finally she came to light on the side of a birch tree. She remained there long enough for me to put on my zoom lens and snap a few photos.

Always the procrastinator, I didn't file my income taxes until the 15th. Steve and I usually owe the IRS each year (which is our plan - why should the government have our money all year long?), but this year we actually got a refund because of the deployment. I should have filed back in January rather than let the IRS have our refund for 4 months. Oh well... I didn't know. Now we have some 'found money' to put towards our summer travels. Once the taxes were done and mailed, I was able to breathe a huge sigh of relief.

The same day I mailed in my taxes, I found out that the Denali Park Road to mile 30 (Teklanika) was open to private vehicles. What better way to celebrate than to take a drive into the park? Steve and I decided to go on Monday.

We were up early, packed up the truck with some warm outerwear (just in case), took care of pet chores, and were out the door by 8am. After a stop at Sunrise Bagels for a breakfast sandwich, we got on the Parks Highway for the two hour drive to the park.

Fifteen miles outside of Fairbanks, we saw Denali on the horizon. As long as we could see the mountain from here, we knew she'd be out when we got to Denali Park. And we were right.

We began our drive into the park, ever watchful for wildlife. Unfortunately we didn't see any large animals, but the ptarmigan and snowshoe hares were abundant. The rivers (Savage, Sanctuary and Teklanika) still have a thick layer of ice hovering over them, but there are also openings where the ice has fallen through and you can see the free running river below.

On the southside of the mountains and hills, the landscape is brown and snow-free. On the northside, it is blue and white and still snow-covered. It's quite the contrast in colors as we move from winter into spring.

As always, a stop at The Monderosa for a burger on the way home was a necessary part of our trip to Denali.

	Our shadows at the river
		My main squeeze, Steve!
	Steve and Frozen Table

I hope you enjoyed your trip to Denali Park with me. I'd like to go back one or two more times before it opens for the tourism season. Maybe next time, I'll see some moose and bears.

Today we reached 60F. What a beautiful day in Fairbanks!

GO TO APRIL