Winter Alaska

Fairbanks to Borealis camp

Warren, you’re right, it is freezing. Today it’s 13 degrees F which is -11 C.

And Rada, yes you can play table tennis on ice. Here’s me in action

The hotel where I am staying is packed with people here for the Northern Lights. I’m told it is one of the better hotels in town! It really is very quaint.

And caters for all types, even dogs who have their own play and wee area, and even their own rules. And of course, the hotel is famous because this is where the Iditarod used to start.

Met my guide and the group (who are all lovely) at 1 pm and we headed off to the Museum of the North, where among others was a huge skeleton of a bowhead whale( which is apparently an iconic Arctic species) and a dress made from salmon bones!

Was also fascinated by the Trans-Alaska pipeline which pumps oil from the Prudhoe Bay oil field, which turned out to be the most recoverable oil of any field in the US. Much of the pipeline is above ground on stilts because of the need to protect permafrost soils from thawing. Permafrost (for those who don’t know) is perennially frozen ground. Lots of measures are taken to insure against the melting of permafrost because the results can be disastrous.

The pipeline runs 1300 km, was completed in 1977 at a total cost of $US 8 billion. It encountered significant engineering challenges which I’m sure Les, Terry or Chris could elaborate on. Devices called “ pigs “ are sent down the pipeline to monitor its condition. Here’s pictures of old pig technology ( the black one) and new pig technology

Then we drove to Borealis Basecamp which is in the middle of nowhere. It has accommodation in the form of cubes or igloos. I’m in a cube and this is the view I have.

Lovely dinner with the group, and it’s bit cloudy tonight so we may be unlikely but if the Northern Lights appear, the staff here ring you, even if it’s 2 am so I’m hoping to be woken up!

Here’s group at dinner. Our guide had given us all “Lucky glasses”