Alaska: Part Three

To Talkeetna

Sunday, Gail and I headed to Talkeetna for a couple nights.  The plan was for Sarah to meet us on Monday for our scheduled Denali flight, and then Gail and I would drive up to Denali National Park on Tuesday.  Talkeetna is the launching point for climbing expeditions on Denali.

 Our first stop on the way was a short hike to Thunderbird Falls.

The canyon was steep and lush.

 Driving further, we stopped at the Musk Ox Farm.  How about that cabbage!

Britany was our tour leader, and was exceptionally enthusiastic and funny.

 The bottom layer of hair, called qiviut, is combed out and is the finest wool in the world (also very expensive).

 Britany explained how the rams head charge each other to establish dominance.  They collide at full speed, and the sound can be heard for a mile.   The farm only harvests the qiviut and the musk ox get to live out their lives there.

We got to feed the calves fireweed.  How cute are they!

We had to stop at this collection of antique shops.

We loved this little cabin!

Talkeetna

At last, we arrived at the historic Talkeetna Roadhouse.  This is one of the coolest places we've stayed at yet.  The staff really seemed to enjoy being there, and the building creaked with history.

 Inside is a bakery.

 And you can just make yourself at home.  Gail even felt comfortable lounging around in her PJ's.

Small World

I was most surprised to see this picture hanging in our bathroom!  I hung out at Juanita's in Fetters Hot Springs near Sonoma in 1973-75 until it burned down (like her other places).  The restaurant had pigs and peacocks in the yard, a monkey that had free reign inside, employees on parole, and Juanita herself who often watched from her bed with a clear shot down the hall to the restaurant.  If her bedroom door was open, you could go in and have a chat.  Look out, though, if she was in a foul mood!  She was a 300 pound brawler who might dump your plate of food in your lap if you questioned the tipping policy.  Juanita Musson died in 2011 at the age of 87.

 I also appreciated this picture on the wall and its sentiments.

 Cool cab!

Inside the Fairview Inn was a game we had never seen.  This place reportedly gets wild when the climbers are in town in the late spring.

 Talkeetna is a town about two blocks long.  Its mayor is a cat, Mr. Stubbs.  Since the town is unincorporated, many homes are makeshift.

 Small planes are popular in Alaska, and some end up as yard art.

 We took a walk down to the river, which flowed through town in 2012.  We are seeing mushrooms everywhere!

Three rivers join at this spot to form the Big Susitna River.  We were walking near this spot when a large birch tree fell into the river a few feet away - startling! 

The cemetery has a memorial to climbers who have died, mostly on Denali.  Although Denali isn't the highest mountain in the world at 20,310 feet, it is possibly the most dangerous due to its far northerly location.

Climbers who have died on Denali.

Sarah arrived later in the morning and we headed over to the little landing strip.  Our flight was put on hold due to the low visibility.  Rather than wait for a possible later flight in bad weather, we rescheduled to come back on Saturday when the weather looked to be mostly sunny.  It would be a disappointment to fly around Denali without seeing it!  The mountain is actually only visible about one out of four days.  We went to the Princess Lodge for lunch, and then to the Ranger Station for a short film on Denali.  Sarah drove back to Anchorage, about a two and a half hour trip. She is very optimistic about Saturday!

Monday afternoon, we took a hike around Talkeetna Lakes.  There was a steady light rain which was most enjoyable in this lush forest.

 At the first lake, we heard, then saw, this Belted Kingfisher perched at a distance.  It dove into the water and brought up a fish which it proceeded to eat while perched on a limb.

 I'm still trying to ID this little bird.

 We have never seen such a variety of fungi!

 A pair of Pacific Loons resting on the water.

 Common Mergansers will soon be heading south.

 We saw a number of wasp nests.

 Birch tree

 The forest floor looked like an underwater reef in some areas.

 Fly agaric (Aminita muscaria)

Fresh moose tracks were going in our direction.

Tuesday morning, we took a ranger walk with Ranger Laura.

 Here she tells us about this large leafed plant, Devil's Club.  The roots are edible, the leaves toxic.  Laura was part of a Denali climb in 2012, but only about 30% of the teams were actually able to summit that year - her's did not.

We crossed the Talkeetna River railroad bridge.  The train runs twice a day  to Fairbanks, and is one of the only trains left in the world which can be flagged down for a ride - it is that rural!

Well, we better get driving!  We have a seven hour tour bus ride at Denali National Park in the afternoon.