Alaska Summer 2023

[Sir Henry]

No sunset in the next 7 days. I think the next one will be around July 23rd.

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[markiver54]

That would really take me some time to get used to.

[Hatchdog]

18” walls. Makes sense I guess. I’ve used those mileposts books before and they are great. Didn’t know they were still in production. I looked around a dozen years ago or so and couldn’t find one.

[Sir Henry]

18” walls. Makes sense I guess. I’ve used those mileposts books before and they are great. Didn’t know they were still in production. I looked around a dozen years ago or so and couldn’t find one.

Try Amazon. I bought mine here at Wally World. Have you driven the Dalton? I leave in about two hours.

[Sir Henry]

That would really take me some time to get used to.

I’m still in Fairbanks where the sun does go down for about three hours. Even though it goes down it’s just below the horizon and it doesn’t get very dark. Most people don’t use their headlights yet. I leave for the Dalton Hwy in about two hours.

[Sir Henry]

The journey begins. After 77 miles of AK2 north we begin the Dalton on AK11 milepost 0.

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Lots of road construction and better roads in the beginning. More traffic too. The further north the less traffic as less are going all the way to Deadhorse.

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The pipeline follows the road and can be seen in most places. Here is a view at Pump Sation No 5 after crossing the Yukon River.

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A typical section of the 42” above ground pipeline.

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I finally made it to the Arctic Circle.

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Further north it begins to get cooler.

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Near the end of the Spruce at mile post 235 just short of Antiguan Pass.

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First beer inside the Artic Circle at Galbraith Lake MP 275.

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In the morning we will have 140 miles to go to reach Deadhorse at Prudhoe Bay and the Artic Ocean.

[markiver54]

Thanks for sharing your journey Gene. I find it very interesting as It's very unlikely that I will ever see it for myself.

[Hatchdog]

18” walls. Makes sense I guess. I’ve used those mileposts books before and they are great. Didn’t know they were still in production. I looked around a dozen years ago or so and couldn’t find one.

Try Amazon. I bought mine here at Wally World. Have you driven the Dalton? I leave in about two hours.

No, I’ve never had the pleasure to visit Alaska. I have used the book here locally touring Washington State.

Great pictures and as Mark said, thanks for taking us along.

[RetiredSeabee]

That Alaskan Amber is a very good beer. It has been 9 years since Love of my Life and I spent time in Alaska. It was a land and sea cruise. I have wanted to go back and travel like you are on this trip. I really enjoy taking this virtual trip with you.
Thanks for taking us along.

[Sir Henry]

Thanks all for your comments. I’ve wanted to do this for 40 years. We spent the night here and I took this picture right after midnight.

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The end of the Dalton at Deadhorse near Prudhoe Bay.

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Fuel is very expensive.

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See what I mean!

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The only way to see the oil fields and get to the ocean is to pay for a tour. Here we stop so everyone can take a picture. The animals wander freely and have the right of way.

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Drilling equipment inside the oil fields.

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Oil field number one is running at 20% of what it produced in the 70’s and 80’s.

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This driftwood came from 150 miles away as there are no trees on the North Slope.

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The main pipeline is collected from many smaller lines from each well.

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I joined the Polar Bear Club and swam in the Artic Ocean.

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[Hatchdog]

Let’s see, a resident of Wisconsin after suffering the Wisconsin winter decides to spend his summer at the Artic Circle having to wear a stocking cap.

Okay fine, yes I’m jealous. Sure wish I was wearing a stocking cap too.

Congrats on joining the Polar Bear Club.

[daytime dave]

Great photographs Gene. I'm glad you got to make that journey. It's a very cool one.

[Sir Henry]

Let’s see, a resident of Wisconsin after suffering the Wisconsin winter decides to spend his summer at the Artic Circle having to wear a stocking cap.

Okay fine, yes I’m jealous. Sure wish I was wearing a stocking cap too.

Congrats on joining the Polar Bear Club.

They say it’s warm here this summer. Some years it frosts at night and snows. Today it’s raining and is in the mid 40’s.

Great photographs Gene. I'm glad you got to make that journey. It's a very cool one.

Thanks Dave it’s the experience of a lifetime. I was just thinking I need to do more stuff like this.

[Sir Henry]

My first latte in a week. It’s a hard life traveling the Dalton. We head back in an hour and will take two days to drive the 500 miles back to Fairbanks.

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We are staying at a boarding motel with the workers. It’s almost like being in the Army as there is really nothing to do on site once you have seen it. Booties are required everywhere inside and is enforced.

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[Sir Henry]

That is a grizzly bear! Picture was taken out the cafeteria window.

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[dave77]

That is a grizzly bear! Picture was taken out the cafeteria window.
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Do they wander freely around the compound? No fences? I don't think I'd be wanting to take a stroll.

[Sir Henry]

That is a grizzly bear! Picture was taken out the cafeteria window.
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Do they wander freely around the compound? No fences? I don't think I'd be wanting to take a stroll.

Yes they wander freely. As I left the mess hall I saw this notice on the door.

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They really go to great lengths not to change the area. The oil companies pay into a superfund for cleanup when it no longer produces oil. Then the remove all the buildings and the pipeline returning it to how it was in 1970.

[Sir Henry]

We made it out of Deadhorse and over the tundra of the North Slope to Coldfoot where we will spend the night. It rained the entire time except when it poured.

The pipeline is almost always in view.

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Our mode of transportation.

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[Sir Henry]

We returned to Fairbanks a few minutes ago after spending a night at the Arctic Circle Campground.

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This was one of the best campgrounds we saw along the way. It was also the best weather of the entire trip.

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We had one flat tire. Not bad for 1000 miles of mostly gravel roads.

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We missed this sign going up. It’s the official beginning of AK11 and the Dalton Hwy. I sure could use a hot shower.

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We will be doing city stuff and fishing nearby till Wednesday. I fly home late Thursday on the red eye.

[GeoBoy]

Nice trip, Gene.