Tangle Lakes (1/3)

Tangle Lakes is a spectacular Interior Alaska float in the heart of the Eastern Alaska Range, about 4 hours south of Fairbanks.

Start the trip paddling across the lakes (hopefully without headwind). Eventually the outlet forms the Delta River. Class V rapids are easy to portage before a section of fast and fun Class III boulder gardens. Finish with a leisurely but exciting and gorgeous Class I/II river.

Below is a panoramic overview shot of the lakes as it begins to form the Delta River. Opposite the lake are the Amphitheater Mountains, all awash in fall colors.

In-between runs

Mushers do not just show up at a race, hop on a sled and take off. Especially any race associated with the Yukon Quest. It takes months of work to prepare, all while dog training must continue. Much of the hard work during a race occurs in the dog yards and checkpoints, start and finish lines. Driving to-and-from, bag drops, harnessing up teams, cleaning up after.

I rarely get to see mushers in action out on the trail, but the activity in dog yards and checkpoints is always exciting and lively.

Dogs always come first — bedding, booties, feeding, loading and unloading, vet checks, melting snow, snacks, jackets, more feeding. Toss in some sled repair and a musher snack, then hit the trail again with little to no sleep.

Volunteer veterinarian Margret Lenfest examines Yukon, a dog from the team of Two Rivers musher Lauro Eklund. Every dog in the race must be checked before the start and at Central Checkpoint, at a minimum. Lenfest is doing a residence specializing in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation at Cornell University, and took the opportunity to volunteer with the Quest. Feb. 12, 2021. Robin Wood for the News-Miner.

Deke Naaktgeboren, a Summit Quest 300 veteran from Fairbanks, puts jackets on his dogs after reaching Central Checkpoint. Naaktgeboren, who arrived in third place, wanted to give his dogs a little extra warmth after encountering overflow earlier in the race. Feb. 14, 2014. Robin Wood for the News-Miner.

Willow musher Adam Lindenmuth, a Summit Quest 300 rookie, gets settled at Circle City, the final checkpoint before the finish. Lindenmuth enjoyed the run along Birch Creek, as the flat ground is typical to his training grounds, but he had trouble earlier in the race on Rosebud Summit, terrain which his dogs are unfamiliar with. Feb. 15, 2021. Robin Wood for the News-Miner.

A handler from the team of veteran Fairbanks musher Tabitha Hughes pulls dogs out of their box prior to the start of the Summit Quest 300 on Saturday. Hughes runs a mix of huskies and traditional Inuit Greenland dogs and Malamutes. Feb. 13, 2021. Robin Wood for the News-Miner.

Joe Weber loads a dog from the team of Adam Lindenmuth into a dog box on Tuesday morning after the finish of the Summit Quest 300. Weber and Lindenmuth started mushing together when they lived in Colorado. Lindenmuth took fourth place and was the first rookie to finish. Feb. 16, 2021. Robin Wood for the News-Miner.

Rookie Bridgett Watkins unloads drop bags for the Summit Quest 300 on Thursday afternoon. The race starts 11 a.m. Saturday at Pleasant Valley Store, 23 MIle Chena Hot Springs Road. Feb. 11, 2021. Robin Wood for the News-Miner.

Fairbanks-based musher Ben Good tends to his team at the finish of the 2021 Summit Quest 300 on Tuesday morning. A former Quest 300 champion, Good finished this year’s race in fifth place. He took extra rest along the trail to give help build confidence in his young team. Feb. 16, 2021. Robin Wood for the News-Miner.

Summit Quest 300 winter Dan Kaduce of Chatanika gets help loading his sled onto his trailer Tuesday morning. Kaduce will now turn his attention to the march 7 start of the Iditarod. Feb. 16, 2021. Robin Wood for the News-Miner.

Eagle Summit Quest

Two daunting and potentially dangerous summits challenge mushers early in the Summit Quest 300. First, Rosebud Summit, around 80 miles in. Second, Eagle Summit, around 120 miles into the race.

Eagle Summit has road access, making and the wide-open spaces popular among race photographers. The vast expanse is also known for exciting changes in weather, and while low snow meant for a bumpy ride, mushers were greeted with a warm and calm bluebird beauty.

It takes the lead mushers about 24 hours reach Eagle Summit, and, often with considerable effort, they charge right up.

Fairbanks-based musher Deke Naaktgeborentgeboren crests Eagle Summit with a happy team during the Summit Quest 300. Feb. 14, 2021.

Hugh Neff, a two-time champion of the 1,000 Mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, mushes up and over Eagle Summit during the Summit Quest 300 across Interior Alaska. Feb.14, 2021.

Fairbanks musher Deke Naaktgeboren makes the final push up Eagle Summit, Interior Alaska, during the 2021 Summit Quest 300. Feb. 14, 2021.

The descent down Eagle Summit can easily challenge the best of mushers. Feb. 14, 2021.

Hitting the Quest trail

The 2021 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog race was canceled this year due to Covid-19.

But the 2021 Summit Quest 300, which incorporates the toughest challenges on the Alaskan side of the trail, is still happening! And my hometown newspaper, The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, has asked my to cover the race for them, which will be my third time.

The race started Feb. 13 at Two Rivers, northeast of Fairbanks, Interior Alaska. I’m hitting the trial first thing today, with a winner expected around Tuesday. Follow my coverage at the News-Miner, and be on the lookout for fresh posts when I return!

Rookie Bridgett Watkins of Fairbanks was the final musher to hit the trail during the start of the Summit Quest 300 on Saturday. Although technically a rookie, Watkins has been mushing since the age of 5, and her dad and step-mom, Allen Moore and Aily Zirkle, are both elite long-distance mushers. Feb. 13, 2021. Robin Wood for the News-Miner. 

Summit Quest 300 rookie Kai Leddy untangles her gangline prior the the start of the race on Saturday. This is Leddy’s second mid-distance sled dog race, and she hopes to run the Iditarod in 2022. Feb 13, 2021. Robin Wood for the News-Miner. 

Pleasant Valley Store in Two Rivers hosted the start of the 2021 Summit Quest 300 due to bridge construction in Downtown Fairbanks. The full 1,000 Mile Yukon Quest was canceled due to Covid-19, but plenty of enthusiasm remained for a shorter race along parts of the trail. Feb. 13, 2021. Robin Wood for the News-Miner. 

Biking through Denali National Park

BIking through Sable Pass in Denali National Park in early spring, an optimal time to go thanks to decreased bus traffic and expanded private vehicle opportunities. May 15, 2020.

Denali National Park, home to the tallest mountain in North America, is a short 120 mile drive south of Fairbanks.

Famous for stunning scenery and ample wildlife, Denali National Park is popular among tourists and Alaskans alike.

One of the park’s primary features is also a visitor’s main access — the sole road in the massive 6 million acre park. At 90 miles, the two-lane, mostly gravel road climbs and descends three large mountain passes, navigates through dense forests, over rivers and past vibrant wetlands — all with chances of seeing moose, bear, caribou, Dall Sheep, lynx and much more.

Normally, private vehicles can only travel to Mile 15, so the majority of visitors opt for bus tours of varying lengths. But biking the park road is extremely popular, especially early in the year when private vehicles can drive to Mile 30 and traffic on the road is light. (Because tourism has been greatly diminished due to Covid-19, the Park Service has expanded public vehicle options for 2020, all of which can be explored on their current conditions).

A late May bike trip on the park road offered countless caribou, sweeping vistas, challenging climbs, delightful descents and, fortunately, full views of Denali, which is visible only 30 percent of the time.

A caribou crosses Saveage River in Denali National Park. May 15, 2020.

A young mosses crosses the road in Denali National Park. Only one 90 mile road services the 6 millions acre park, and only the first 15 miles are paved. May 15, 2020.

Caribou graze along the banks of the Savage River in Denali National Park. May 15, 2020.

Caribou rest and wander along the gravel bars of the Teklanika River, a 30 mile drive inside Denali National Park. May 15, 2020.

A ptarmagin, Alaska's State Bird, rests in a dead tree with Denali in the background. Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. Visitors to Denali National Park only have a 30 percent chance viewing the mountain. May 18, 2020.

Scoring good views of Denali pretty much boils down to luck and timing, if you have that luxury. May 15, 2020.