The drive speaks for itself.
Be sure you have sound on, and I'd recommend the full-screen! (lower right of the YouTube box)
Monday, August 31, 2009
A little hike and the cabin
I had some time to kill waiting for the previous tenant to move out, so I hit the trail! It wasn't much of a distance, but it was an interesting introduction to the tundra environment.
The ground was actually soft and spongy, so they laid planks to form the trail. I also was very intrigued with all the strange foliage in the area. This place has an incredible plant variety. Below is in some thicker brush, not quite "tundra" as it is defined I think.
I didn't see any wildlife on the hike other than a few birds. I have yet to see a moose! I've been told this will change... moose should frequent this area:
There it is, quaint and cozy. A decent view of the sky, too, considering it is in some pretty thick brush. There is a little shed to the left, too. Seems well insulated, headed with a Toyo oil stove. It is raised up off the ground because it rests on permafrost, which is actually frozen ground (about a foot down). A ground foundation would melt the permafrost below, making for some sinking! Its roomy enough, 16x25' with a little dividing wall. I'll post some shots of the inside once I'm a little more moved in. But here are the wonderful bathing facilities:
No door. The landlord finds them unnecessary. This makes sense, really, since there is nothing but trees and maybe a moose to spy on me, and won't keep in any heat anyways.
School gears up this week. Till next time...
Patrick
The ground was actually soft and spongy, so they laid planks to form the trail. I also was very intrigued with all the strange foliage in the area. This place has an incredible plant variety. Below is in some thicker brush, not quite "tundra" as it is defined I think.
I didn't see any wildlife on the hike other than a few birds. I have yet to see a moose! I've been told this will change... moose should frequent this area:
There it is, quaint and cozy. A decent view of the sky, too, considering it is in some pretty thick brush. There is a little shed to the left, too. Seems well insulated, headed with a Toyo oil stove. It is raised up off the ground because it rests on permafrost, which is actually frozen ground (about a foot down). A ground foundation would melt the permafrost below, making for some sinking! Its roomy enough, 16x25' with a little dividing wall. I'll post some shots of the inside once I'm a little more moved in. But here are the wonderful bathing facilities:
No door. The landlord finds them unnecessary. This makes sense, really, since there is nothing but trees and maybe a moose to spy on me, and won't keep in any heat anyways.School gears up this week. Till next time...
Patrick
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Reno to Fairbanks
Not exactly a direct flight...
I've made it to Fairbanks. It took 6 days, driving 8-12 hours each day, totaled somewhere around 3,500 miles. I took the scenic route, going far east out of my way to visit Sam in the Rubys and see some National Parks in Canada.
A nice send-off on the NV 722.
Lamoille Canyon, Ruby Mountains, Nevada. A must-do for anyone within a day's drive.
45th Parallel: Halfway between the Equator and the North Pole - somewhere in Idaho...
Up to Banff National Park now, British Columbia, Canada. This is the "Crow's Foot Glacier".
Jasper National Park, a little further north now, but still Canada. Canada is huge. I mean enormous. You could literally drive all day and still be in the same province.
Ah, the mysterious sign post forest of Watson Lake, Yukon Territory.
Encouragement! First time I saw Fairbanks on a road sign. (Fairbanks 1010 km: "think metric")
The northernmost land boarder crossing in the US. And probably the most relaxed...
This is Maya and her dog Viva. I found her stranded at the "Top of the World" Highway, Canada and USA border. She was eager to stuff herself into my car. We had to tie a few things to the roof...
Like I said... we had to tie some stuff to the roof. This is somewhere on the Alaska side.
That's the view from the top of the world. I can only imagine how it looks in the winter.
Some people lived here. . . once.
Tundra, as far as the eye can see in all directions.
That's about all the pictures for the drive! I'm working on a video which I hope to post real soon.
Patrick
I've made it to Fairbanks. It took 6 days, driving 8-12 hours each day, totaled somewhere around 3,500 miles. I took the scenic route, going far east out of my way to visit Sam in the Rubys and see some National Parks in Canada.
A nice send-off on the NV 722.
Lamoille Canyon, Ruby Mountains, Nevada. A must-do for anyone within a day's drive.
45th Parallel: Halfway between the Equator and the North Pole - somewhere in Idaho...
Up to Banff National Park now, British Columbia, Canada. This is the "Crow's Foot Glacier".
Jasper National Park, a little further north now, but still Canada. Canada is huge. I mean enormous. You could literally drive all day and still be in the same province.
Ah, the mysterious sign post forest of Watson Lake, Yukon Territory.
Encouragement! First time I saw Fairbanks on a road sign. (Fairbanks 1010 km: "think metric")
The northernmost land boarder crossing in the US. And probably the most relaxed...
This is Maya and her dog Viva. I found her stranded at the "Top of the World" Highway, Canada and USA border. She was eager to stuff herself into my car. We had to tie a few things to the roof...
Like I said... we had to tie some stuff to the roof. This is somewhere on the Alaska side.
That's the view from the top of the world. I can only imagine how it looks in the winter.
Some people lived here. . . once.
Tundra, as far as the eye can see in all directions. That's about all the pictures for the drive! I'm working on a video which I hope to post real soon.
Patrick
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