Strategizing

07/16 – 07/17 Throughout our travels we have been kept informed by other travelers as well as friends here in AK on the status of numerous forest fires and their effect on the air quality as well as the ability to see some of the vast scenery of these places. We got word that Fairbanks had been experiencing a lot of smoke and our friends Charlie, Robin and Tory Boulding, who we are hoping to meet up with, would not be back in that area until August. So, upon reaching our Camp spot at Moon Lake we broke out the maps again and decided we would turn south and see the sights of southern AK and the Kenai peninsula before turning north, towards Denali and Fairbanks. We drove to Delta Junction and stopped at the restored Sullivan Roadhouse. These roadhouses were essential during the early settling and gold rush days of AK. They operated in the capacity of a Hostel, Restaurant, and Mercantile for weary travelers along the trails. This one also had a garden just as it would have in the summer months tended by many volunteers. We were even given vegetables after touring the place and seeing all the interesting stories and antiques. We made our way down to Fielding Lake State Recreation Site where we were met with crazy windy conditions but thankfully no bugs. We were told by a local that there was a great hike with a suspension footbridge, not too far away, out to the Gulkana Glacier. We all packed into J&J’s truck and drove the very bumpy road to the trail head a few miles away. The glacier was amazing and we were able to reach part of it after crossing the roaring runoff from it using that bridge. It definitely took some concentration, deep breaths and careful placement of our feet to make it across. Sierra did great with only a couple of minor slips of her rear feet on her initial crossing. It was a warm day and rocks from the top of the glacier kept tumbling down the hillside which was a bit nerve wracking. The amount of movement & melt was astounding. We made it down the mountain safely and can now say we touched ice that was thousands of years old. Too much fun!