Sunday, February 4, 2018 – Fairbanks, North Pole, and Steese Highway.

Breakfast was planned for 8:00 am by our host – Sourdough pancakes – made with sourdough starter that is over 100 years old.  The family had fed this starter for that long - generation to generation!  We enjoyed the breakfast, however late last night Wilbur was able to make contact with friends, Bob & Carol in North Pole, Alaska.  They wanted to meet him at 9:00 for breakfast this morning.   Great! Two breakfasts!  We drove the 20 miles to North Pole where we had an enjoyable time with Bob’s 90-year-old Mother and 6-year-old granddaughter, while Wilbur visited with Bob & Carol.  After our second breakfast we were going to Santa’s House in North Pole, but it is closed for the winter months. However, on the property next door they had an ice sculpture display.  We had to walk through and around the display.  We SOON discovered we had NOT dressed for this occasion, -20!  Wow, did we get cold in a very short time. We thought we would be in a vehicle or restaurant!!! NOT outside!

After leaving North Pole we drove northeast on the Steese Highway. It was a beautiful drive in the winter landscape.  At one point we saw signage to Ski Land.  We followed the cleared road to the summit where there was a ski lift.  There were lots of cleared ski trails.  There was a beautiful view from the summit. At this point I want to tell you about temperature inversion. Normally we think that the higher the elevation, the cooler it will be.  However, we are finding the opposite to be true here!  There is a reason for it.  We know that cold air goes to the bottom, like in a freezer, or in a room, the warm air rises.  So, what we are finding in Alaska - when you are in the valley it is colder than up on a hillside or mountain.  Today this meant that on the mountain top it was +16 degrees, where as at the bottom it was -5!!!  From our hosts home which is located on a hillside, to downtown Fairbanks, which is along the river in the valley the temperature will vary at least 10 to 15 degrees.  This is called temperature inversion.  When we crawled out of the car at the ski lodge, it was noticeably warmer than in Fairbanks – especially from North Pole where it was horribly cold just a 45-minute drive away.

North Pole Alaska

Ice Sculptures

Alaskan Pipeline

Mountain Range from the top of a Ski Slope

After returning to town we stopped at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum.  What an amazing museum.  Beside the 85 rare cars in mint condition, Mrs. Fountainhead has a collection of vintage clothing – 175 fashions and hats to go along the time-period of the car. The vintage dresses/clothing were a wonderful addition to the car collection.  We have been in several auto museums, but this one top all of them. At one point we could model clothes and sit in a car – see photo.

Ready for a Sunday Afternoon Drive

We are really enjoying Alaska in winter.  We have been here in June (summer), September (autumn) and now (winter).  It is totally different, but each season is beautiful. 

Tonight, we are going into town to buy some groceries for Cal & Wilbur’s Host (Sandy & Burr) in Eagle.  Sandy & Burr go into Anchorage twice a year to buy 6 months-worth of supplies, doctor’s appointments, and any other business!  They have a trailer in which they have a freezer and generator.  Today over the phone Sandy gave the guys a list of fresh veggies to bring with them. They need to keep them in the front of the plane or they will freeze in the baggage compartment. It is a totally different life-style.  In fact, our host here in Fairbanks, Jean, told me last night that she was in college before she ever tasted fresh milk.  It was always canned or powdered.   Jean’s Grandfather came to Alaska, so she is deeply Alaskan.  Her family’s business (now run by her brother) is the oldest in Fairbanks. Whereas Bob came to Alaska after college, 40+ years ago, and stayed.  I find the stories of how and why people came to Alaska, and stayed, to be very interesting.