Fairbanks Thursday

Another beautiful day. John and I started with a ride by the University of Alaska large animal farm, drove by the botanical gardens and ended up at the Museum where we spent several delightful and educational hours. After some by chance conversation  with Patrica (director of the botanical gardens who stopped by the museum to check on a new butterfly exhibit) we headed toward the Alaskan Cultural Center. We departed to a roadside eatery where we treated ourselves to a pita sandwich called a Falafel, with interesting flavors. Business was brisk and we may be in witness of the next Subway. The next stop was a drive thru a waterfowl refuge. Again, by chance we spotted a guy with his falcon. Gary Hampton is master in falconry (training birds for hunting). The season for this wild life harvesting (hunting rules) just opened and he was there to train his hand raised  gyrfalcon to address a flock of geese. He knows of only 40 or so others in the state that participate in this activity. It was just amazing to see him and his raptor in action. He also had a beautiful red tail hawk. This gentle man had a gift with these birds and patience to explain how they are raised and cared for. He spend some considerable time with a group of refuge visitors giving them some interesting and entertaining time.
  The rest of the day was a flight to the Arctic Circle, Coldfoot and a tour of a back country community of Wiseman. The flight traveled parts of the Dalton Highway and the Alaskan Pipeline. The area is pretty remote. In the distance we could see a brush fire that had been burning for several weeks. The pilot was very good in giving us information for his part of the tour. He explained the fire policy is a natural part of forest management. Only when fires threaten property will control measures take place. The areas that had burned in past years were in various stages of rejuvenation. Different trees (populars) grow on the south side of the mountains as compared to black spruce on the north slopes. This has to do with deep the surface soils thaws above the solid permafrost the different species of tree roots to grow.
  We landed in Coldfoot. A pretty austere place with a good restaurant at the truck stop and fuel service and not much else. It happens that this truck stop is the most northerly one in the world. Of course it had an airport of sorts with some lights and a gravel runway. We were guided by van by Sara who was a vibrant outgoing tough young lady with a deep love for her place in Alaska. She took us to Wiseman that is a village of 24 people living in something that looks like what you would expect 100 years past. Old rustic nicely kept primitive log cabins. These people work together as a community without any government help, no schools, no fire or police department, no town government or services what so ever.   You just get by and get along helping one another in an independent manner. A community log cabin collects old photos, articles and things gathered up to assemble a museum of sorts. They also have a community cabin for church services. The only commercial place in town is a lodge that is the addition to a residents home where she serves light meals, grocery and gifts. She also has cabins for those seeking a rustic visit or doing research in this wild country.
  Aurora lights appeared for us on the flight back. The light appear, dim, brights and disappear and reappear quickly. Our best view was actually when we returned to Fairbanks at about 11pm. With absence of colors this nite but with shapes and scale was our viewing pleasure. The lights streaked across a large portion of the sky with a cascade of illuminated shapes appearing from the curve brush of light. More pictures to come.