More Alaska - #7

[Blue_In_AK]

Our plan was to get a room in Fairbanks for the sole purpose of taking a shower after five grungy days camping, but we soon discovered that every decent room in Fairbanks was apparently full. Tourist season is like that here. So we went back out of town, out the Chena Hot Springs Road, to a really nice campground at the Granite Tors Trailhead where we spent the next three nights. We had the whole place to ourselves again until Friday night, and it was very relaxing to just hang out for a few days.

Here is a view of some of the beaver ponds near our campsite. I tried and tried to get a closer shot of some of these water fowl, but they were really shy and my long lens wouldn't quite reach them.



A moose coming down to the water for a late evening drink.



Here is a very well-constructed beaver home.



And now for the beaver shot. :P



I love it that I got this photo, one of the beavers slapping the water with his tail.



I really liked this little stump with the moss and mushrooms that was in the woods behind our tent.



This is the north fork of the Chena River that ran through the campground. Jim caught some grayling, but unfortunately it was catch and release here, so he had to let them go. :(



The moon rising over a wildfire-ravaged hillside. It really was this striking red color.



Here is the Chena River at sunset, or sort of sunset (10:18 p.m.). This far north it never did get completely dark at night.



Our last day at this camp, I talked HullBoss into going on the 15-mile Granite Tors trail hike with me -- rising approximately 2500 feet in elevation over the first seven miles, two miles across the "Plain of Monuments," and the final six miles of very steep descent back to camp. This was really quite an adventure for a couple of old fogies like us, but we made it, none the worse for wear -- although my throat was really sore for a couple of days from sucking wind. I took a lot of pictures on the hike, and I'll probably post quite a few of them in the coming days if you want to see them. Like I said earlier to Cons, I did this hike so you guys wouldn't have to. It's my little gift to you all.

(I will know next time when the leaflet at the trail head says "moderate/strenuous" what they really mean is that it's meant for mountain climbers. :rofl:)

[NV Whino]

1. Great beaver shot

and the last one is stunning. More, more! We want more.

[JeffR]

2. Love the moose

And the moon over the hillside. The color of the hill is very close to the color of a soybean field in late summer. Very striking.

And the near-sunset pic deserves a place of honor in your sunset oeuvre, if you'll pardon my French.

Bring on the hike.