My Fairbanks Trip Week #1 - Long + pics (Lakes, North Pole: hotel, travel)

[NatureCoastFL]

Disclaimer - These are my personal first hand experiences, and are not meant to offend anyone or suggest one place is better than another. Just my direct experiences meant to help others who might decide to visit in the middle of winter....

Hello All,
As my name suggests, I live in FL but am in Fairbanks for the month of Feb. I just wanted to share some of my experiences in my first week here. I have never been to Alaska before so everything so far is new to me.

I arrived last friday night and what a shock when I left the airport! I left Florida and it was 72 degrees, and when I got outside in Faribanks, it was -7 Fahrenheit (All temps are in F). I have been reading this Alaska forum and knew what I was getting into, but I had never been in temps below zero before.

I did drive from the airport to my hotel and my 2nd shock was driving. Being from Florida, you dont get much time on snow/icy roads. Luckily I am driving a AWD car so it does make it easier. But I am simply amazed at how fast other people drive around here. I guess experience makes a difference.

During the past week, I have experienced temps to about -48F and for the last 5 days or so I dont think it has gotten above -20F. Today I did see a -15F and what a difference 20 or so degrees makes. At -40F with only blue jeans and my big jacket, I was uncomfortably cold in less than 2 minutes. You really need to dress in layers and make sure you are warm. For someone used to constant high humidty, the dry air has been somewhat of a challenge. I did bring saline drops and I try to drink lots of water, but my nose and hands have suffered.

One of the most interesting things is having to plug my car in where ever I go. Being from the south that is just an amazing thing to have to do. One time my plugging the car in failed and sure enough the car died and the rental folks had to come and fix it.

Also being from the south, I have noticed that the prices here are a lot higher than I thought they would be. For someone visiting, you need to be prepared to pay up to 5.39 for a bag of chips, or up to 7.39 for a 12 pack of coke. I did find if I bought multiples of items, they were cheaper. It seems most grocery items are more expensive here. I understand why they are more expensive, but it was still a shock to see them. Although gas seemed to be about the same price.

If visiting in the winter, you have to try dog sledding. I did take a short dog sled ride(about 1 hour) and it was great. The dogs were beautiful and the scenary here is just gorgeous. Maybe to those who live here the snow gets old, but when the fog clears and you can see all the snow it really is beautiful!

Well if you have read this far, thanks and I included some pics below....

(please excuse any colors that may be off, I dont have all of my photo tools with me.)

I saw this on the Alaska USA building one morning, -37F

Overlooking fairbanks from the overlook up Steese highway

Santa Land in North Pole

Fairbanks welcome sign on way from north pole to fairbanks

Nice building south of airport drive



Some snow for lease!

Nice blue sky

Huge Ice sickles

Downtown fairbanks near dusk

TV station, downtown

More downtown pics


Yukon, dog sled dog.



All photos are copyrighted 2008 and not to be reused or sold without permission.

[RayinAK]

Are you going to watch the start of the Yukon Quest tomorrow (Saturday) at 11:00 AM?

It's very interesting. Also, the mushers and dog teams will run through North Pole, by the Chena flood project road, and then through the Chena Rec. Area. To get there, you pass Santa's Clearing House (shown in one of your photos), and continue down the Richardson to Lawrence Avenue. Fron the Richardson, turn left on Lawrence. A short distance ahead, Lawrence turns left; DON'T TURN LEFT, just continue driving straight ahead. At that point you will see a small parking area on the left. Pass the parking area and continue ahead. The road turns right, after you pass the parking area, and then left. From that point on, the road is a straight shot to the end. To the right of the road, all along this road, there is a sort of dam. This is the flood project. Continue on this road, and you will notice a road that goes to Chena Lakes (you will see this road soon after you pass a small shack on the middle of the road). Don't turn on this road; continue ahead.

The road you want to turn into (to the left), is the second road after you have passed the shack (small building) in the middle of the road. The second road will take you right to a parking lot. There will be people all over the place, so you can't miss it.

Now, the mushers and teams will be traveling right along the main road by the flood project, so you don't have to make a left and go to the Chena Rec. Area. You can always make a left turn like you are going to the parking lot, and stop right there. There will be people there too, an indication that the mushers and teams will be passing right through that spot.

Just make sure you don't step in front of the dogs to take pictures Some teams don't react well to that, and mushers get quite mad. The crowd will be approximately 10' from the dogs at that point on the main road. I use a 70-300 mm lens, and this is plenty.

[megensmom]

May I ask,what did the rental company do to fix the problem when you forgot to plug in the auto?

[Snootylooter]

Terrific pictures - Thanks!!

[NatureCoastFL]

Originally Posted by megensmom

May I ask,what did the rental company do to fix the problem when you forgot to plug in the auto?

It turned out that the plug I plugged the car into was bad. At that time I did not have a plug that glows when there is power. The rental car company sent someone out to warm/start the car then they dropped it back off. I also got a new cord that glows so I know that the plug has power.

The single biggest advice I can say is make sure you get one of the cords that has clear ends that light up when power is present. That way you will always know you have power.

[NatureCoastFL]

Originally Posted by Snootylooter

Terrific pictures - Thanks!!

Thanks, I have more of Chena Hot Springs I will post next week. I actually went swimming in the water and it was -15F outside. Crazy!

[jehnifer]

That pic of the sled dog is BEAUTIFUL! Thank you. When will you post more pics???

[NatureCoastFL]

Originally Posted by jehnifer

That pic of the sled dog is BEAUTIFUL! Thank you. When will you post more pics???

Thanks. I am going through my new pics now and hopefully by friday I will have more up.

[Rance]

Sure...make us suffer...

[coffeehound]

Isn't CHS the greatest? Glad you got to come get a taste of Fairbanks! (and I agree, some people here drive TOO FAST!)