The previous two posts showcased the early and mid-trip highlights from the Tangle Lakes to Delta River float in Interior Alaska. Just before pulling off the river, the final panorama of the Eastern Alaska Range unfolds.
The tallest peak in the middle is Rainbow Mountain, all part of the Rainbow Ridge Complex, aptly named for the polychromatic colors. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, the lifeblood of Alaska’s economy, can be seen stretching across center frame.
Fall in Alaska is brief and spectacular. Vibrant colors may only stick around for a few days before receding into winter, especially at higher mountain elevations.
I have never seen grass turn such vibrant colors as I have along the Delta River in September 2020. Making the scene even more stunning was a dramatic cliff background with more wonderful fall foliage! While I do edit my images, I strive to make them look natural in terms of color and saturation. Colors often seem exceptionally vibrant on such a cloudy day.
Fall colors along the Delta River in Interior Alaska. Fall in Alaska is brief and spectacular!
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.
Equinox in Alaska is always monumental — the celestial usher of long summer days or dark winter nights. On March 19, when Fairbanks had almost exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness, we were treated to an exceptionally delightful display of northern lights.
Aurora borealis fills the winter equinox sky in the hills north of Fairbanks, Alaska. Bright lights in the distance are from mining machinery at the nearby Fort Knox Gold Mine. March 19, 2021.
Northern Lights and black spruce forests in the hills north of Fairbanks, Alaska. March 19, 2021.
The rising moon greets a lingering sunset while the northern lights streak overhead and car lights cross the lower frame during a dynamic winter equinox in Fairbanks, Alaska. March 19, 2021.
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.
I have a hard time coming up with catchy things to say about the northern lights. Sure, I could infuse this blog post with lots of adjectives and verbs about the brilliant dancing bands cutting through a vast sky speckled with stars that sparkle like diamonds.
No, all I’ll say is that pictures never do the northern lights justice. The following photos were taken along the Steese Highway northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, on Feb. 15 and 16.
Northern lights fill the sky northeast of Fairbanks along the Steese highway, with car headlights visible in the far distance. Feb 16, 2021. Robin Wood/Media North
Northern lights fill the sky above a forest of scraggly black spruce, northeast of Fairbanks along the Steese highway. Feb 15, 2021. Robin Wood/Media North
