Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses

I would venture to guess that if you were asked to name 10 activities you have done at 20 below zero Fahrenheit, horseback riding probably wouldn't be on the list. This often overlooked sub-zero activity is actually quite enjoyable if you wear the proper attire. After our Christmas dinner at my older brother's house near Fox, Alaska, we ventured out into the dark (around 4:oo pm in Fairbanks) and all got to enjoy feeding and riding the horses until we could no longer feel our toes and fingers. Afterward we enjoyed warming up beside the fireplace and snacking on Christmas goodies, including cotton candy.

Bran and my older brother


Me


Sissy ready for her turn


There's a new sheriff in town


My youngest going for a ride

Back Back Train

During the Christmas Holidays, our family spent a couple of days with family in Fairbanks, Alaska. Along the side of the road was an unusual piece of machinery, a LeTourneau "Tundra Train" or VC-22 Snow-Freighter. One of only a few overland trains produced, this strange train was built to haul equipment and machinery offering support for DEW line logistics operations in the arctic regions of Alaska.
In typical LeTourneau fashion, each of its wheels (including the trailers) was powered by its own electric motor. The electric motors received their power from a large diesel powered generator. With it's six cars, it could haul 150 tons, cross rivers up to 4 feet (1.2 m) deep, cut through snow drifts and operate at temperatures as low as -68 degrees F.

"Tundra Train"


Notice the "LET" logo


Sunset over the Train at around 1:00 PM


Some archive films of the unit in action
Part I


Part II

To the North Pole and Back.

On Saturday morning we loaded up the vehicles and drove 350 miles on Highway 3 to North Pole, which is just past Fairbanks, to visit my older brother and his family. This route had us driving through Denali Park.

The Alaskan Railroad

We had a brief stop at the Santa Claus House to say hello to the reindeer.


My brother and his Chesapeake "Turner"


The necessary sky shot through the birch trees, taken on my brother's property.


Sunday afternoon we took Parrin & Sharon's four wheelers down to the river for a picnic. Everyone had an absolute blast on the four wheelers. I even managed to get my brothers new Yamaha high centered on the same berm twice (you'd think once would have been enough).


Yeah, I did that.....




Group Shot






Cooking out after returning from our afternoon at the river


On Monday, we piled back into the vehicles and drove "the long way" on Highway 2 through Summit Lake and Delta Junction. On Highway 4 through Gakona, and Highway 1 through Glennallen, Sutton, and back to Palmer. It added a few more hours to the trip, but we got to enjoy some great scenary and a part of Alaska that I hadn't even seen.

The Alyeska Pipeline




Random Mountain Shots on the side of the road




The view from Summit Lake


Dinner in Glennallen



The Matanuska Glacier