Aug 22, 2012 - heading way, way north

The Dalton Highway was built in the 1970's after oil was discovered in Prudhoe Bay. At first the highway was called the "Haul Road," because almost everything supporting oil pipeline development was hauled by tractor trailer rigs to its final destination. When we were here last the Dalton was only open to commercial traffic, but starting in 1994 tourist traffic was allowed all the way to Deadhorse, a few miles from the Arctic Ocean. The idea of driving all the way to the Arctic intrigued us, but we heard nothing, but scary stories about...

Aug 20, 2012 - coldfoot

while in fairbanks, flew to coldfoot, and then drove back. stopped for pic's at the artic circle. saw miles and miles of pipeline. the pipeline is not attached at all, but just sitting on it's supports, so it can move. they say it moves as mush as 6 feet with temp changes, and when they had earthquake few yrs ago, it moved so much some even came off supports, without being damaged!! Was hpoing to see northen lights, but this time of year it's only dark enough long about 1 to 3 at night, and then of course it has to be clear. sure can't...

Jun 27, 2012 - Coldfoot, Alaska

I left the FamCamp at 06:43AM and arrived at the kennel to drop off my dog at 07:03AM. I departed the kennel at 07:09AM and arrived at the Northern Alaska Tour Company at 07:26AM. I parked the SUV in the lot across the street and went over to sign in for the tour. Got my bags weighed, ordered lunch for the day, and received my itinerary. We received a short briefing on the day’s activities and nine of us and a driver departed for Coldfoot, Alaska at 08:25AM. Most of today’s drive was in the rain with some places also having fog. Everywhere...

Jun 27, 2012 - Day 13 - Wednesday, June 27, 2012

This morning we got up early and took a cab to Northern Alaskan Tour Company in Fairbanks, Alaska. There we met up with five other people that would be heading on a two day trip in a passenger van to the Arctic Ocean with us and back by plane. When checking in, Keith and I were told they did not have room for everyone on the small plane back from Deadhorse so they booked us a flight on another aircraft at a later time. We were going to be separated from Janette and Jerald at Deadhorse. The tour company would pay for our flight, but we were...

Jul 28, 2011 - Coldfoot

We headed out in the morning with the realization that we were starting our Southerner migration. I think we are a few days behind the birds as their numbers have decreased her over the last week. On our way down the Dalton we spotted a lone Musk Ox that was walking parallel to the road. After taking several pictures I got a head of it and parked the truck and walked down to the Sagavanirktok River I intercepted the Ox as it crossed to an island. The Musk Ok was no more than 75 yards away. Our luck continued as we spotted an Arctic Wolf...

Jul 25, 2011 - Coldfoot

After consulting with my nephew John Michael I decided on a Goodyear Wrangler as our new Spare tire. Armed with a full complement of two spare tires a air pump that works, we started our second attempt on the Dalton Highway. We sailed past the spot where we had the flat and cruised on past the Arctic Circle too Coldfoot were we toured the Arctic Visitor Center. Their evening presentation was on using natural resources for survival. As we headed off to locate the Campground we spotted a Black Bear. We stayed at Marion Creek Campground.

Jul 20, 2011 - Coldfoot, AK

We left Fairbanks loaded up with our survival gear for the trip to Coldfoot, then on to Prudhoe Bay. I think we hit the warmest weather yet on this entire trip. It took about 7.5 hours to drive the 252 miles to Coldfoot, with an added visit to Wiseman, an old historic mining village about 13 miles north of Coldfoot, that has always had inhabitants but now boasts a population of about 13, and most of them seem to be related in one way or another. We had very nice weather for the drive and the road, while rough with lots of potholes,...

Jun 29, 2011 - The Dalton Highway (Haul Road) - 6/28/2011

We spent most of yesterday on a tour bus traveling to and from the Arctic Circle on the Dalton Highway, also known as the Haul Road. The road was built from north of Fairbanks to Prudoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean for the construction of the Alaskan oil pipeline in the early 70s. The pipeline itself roughly follows the road south. Once you get north of Fairbanks, what facilities there are get pretty primitive (see the rest area picture from Joy). Most of the road is gravel, although there are some paved sections. It's really pretty decent road....

Jun 23, 2011 - North Slope of the Brooks Range, AK - Crossing the Brooks Range

(Ron Writing) This morning we continued our drive north on the Dalton Highway. Our first stop was at Coldfoot where there is a filling station and a very nice interagency visitor center. We spent some time in the visitor center, which has very informative and beautiful displays explaining the flora and fauna of this remote northern part of Alaska. We also topped off our gas tank again since the next fuel stop or service station of any sort is 229 miles north of here. The highway heading north from Coldfoot is new asphalt and smooth as silk...

Jun 20, 2011 - Summer Solstice

ARCTIC CIRCLE FLY/DRIVE ADVENTURE 1:OO PM – 1:30 AM MONDAY JUNE 20, 2011 OUR 47TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY By the time our tour started, it was chilly (62 ish) and cloudy, certainly not the kind of day we wanted for our flight across the Arctic Circle. Our group was divided into two groups of four, with us and the Rusnaks making up the lead group. We climbed into a Piper Navaho, which was a twin engine outfitted to seat 8 plus the pilot. Justin (pronounced Hoo stein) was not much of a tour guide, giving us just the bare details of the places we...

Jun 15, 2011 - Coldfoot, Alaska (on the Ice Road!!!)

6/15/11 After listening to shower on the roof of the camper most of the night, decided to take off for the Arctic Circle anyway. Hoping for maybe some partly sunny at least. We had paved road to Livengood, AK and then a mix of paved and gravel on the Dalton Highway (also known as the Ice Road....as on TV with Ice Road Truckers!) There was a certain amount of potholes and whoop dee dooos but all in all I'd take it any day over a drive to northern NH or a drive through Somersworth!!!! We saw a total of three moose today. One beside the...

Jun 6, 2011 - Coldfoot,AK

Took a flight to Coldfoot,AK. 60 miles north of the Arctic Circle. I'm sure all you Ice Road Trucker fans know where it is. Great views of the Dalton Highway and the pipeline along the way as well as about 8 forest fires as we flew in to Coldfoot.. Left Coldfoot by van at about 2:30PM. Our van driver, Sarah, was from Chicago and a student at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Stopped at the Arctic Circle for a photo-op and to receive our official certificate stating that we had crossed the Arctic Circle. Stopped at the Yukon River for...