Showing posts with label Richardson Highway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richardson Highway. Show all posts

Saturday, August 16, 2008

August 16, 2008: Denali Highway to Fairbanks, Alaska

Started out leaving the Tangle River Inn on the Denali Highway early today, for the long drive to Fairbanks, up the Richardson Highway. Got some great scenery and views today!!

One last look at our cabin at the awesome Tangle River Inn
Beautiful mountain view along the Richardson Highway (Alaska Range)
Trumpeter Swan (Richardson Highway)
More Alaska Range views The famous Alaska Pipeline follows the Richardson Highway for awhile





Above seven shots: Scenes of the beautiful Alaska Range along the highway



Below: Now we have made it to Fairbanks in the early afternoon. We visited:


1. Creamer's Field to see the early Sandhill Crane migration


2. University of Alaska's Museum of the North, cool place!


3. UA's Georgeson Botanical Garden




5. A great dinner at the Fairbanks Salmon Bake!




Above five: Sandhill Cranes at Creamer's Field

Flying Canada Geese and Sandhill Cranes at Creamer's Field


UAF Museum of the North:

Grizzly Bear Exhibit

They also have quite a few mounts of birds native to Alaska

Gregorson Botanical Gardens

In Alaska because of the long summer days they can grow giant vegetables

A morning glory from the garden

A fly-by "Harlan's" Red-Tailed Hawk

They also had a reindeer

Savannah Sparrow

Large Animal Research Station (LARS)Musk Ox

Back to Creamer's Field:


Above two: Greater White-Fronted Geese


Above four: Some decent Sandhill Crane shots (did not turn out as well as I hoped)
A displaying Sandhill Crane

TODAY'S ROUTE

TODAY'S MENTIONED LOCATIONS (INTERACTIVE)

Thursday, August 14, 2008

August 14, 2008: Sheep Mountain, Glenallen to Paxson, Denali Highway, Alaska


Today we hiked early in the morning at Sheep Mountain Lodge (link), which has some nice trails of its own. Then we drove east along the Glenn Highway, briefly checked out the Edgerton Highway near Glenallen, before heading north to Paxson, and to the Tangle River Inn on the Denali Highway. We took a late evening drive on the amazing Denali Highway, but spent more time on this highway tomorrow.

Two great places of lodging, starting at the Sheep Mountain Lodge (link) near Sutton, and ending up at the Tangle River Inn (link) around Milepost 20 on the Denali Highway. Both were very rural but great places, and the people were really friendly. And both had their own restaurants, so we didn't have to drive 100 miles to the nearest place!!

A view of the mountains across from Sheep Mountain Lodge


Some shots from our hike at Sheep Mountain
Orange Crowned Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Fox Sparrow

Matanuska River from the hike
Above: Two unidentified flowers


Snowshoe Hare
Dark-Eyed Junco


Savannah Sparrow

White-Crowned Sparrow

Wilson's Warbler

Juvenile Dark-Eyed Junco

Above 2: Views of Sheep Mountain

They had Idatirod dogs at the lodge

Sheep Mountain Lodge

Driving along the Glenn Highway (Route 1) toward Glenallen

Bufflehead?

Greater Scaup

Northern Hawk Owl

Chitina River near Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Edgerton Scenic Highway

Bald Eagle at Glenallen

Common Ravens at Glenallen

Glacuous Winged Gull at Glennallen

Typical Black Spruce bog in this area of Alaska

Northern Pintails - Denali Highway

TODAY'S ROUTE

Today's locations (Interactive)