Fairbanks - Visit #2
Lou says....
Fairbanks in the winter conjures up impressions of forty below temperatures, ice fog and the Northern Lights. In March ice fog is uncommon but snow, cold temperatures, and Northern Lights are to be expected as well as snowy driving conditions.
It was about forty degrees when we left Wasilla and headed north on the Parks Highway. Driving conditions were fair to good and as we approached Fairbanks the thermometer in the truck read fifty degrees, a heat wave for here! The World Ice Art Championships run for two weeks each year in early March. We missed the first week because of the Iditarod and now we were another two days later because we were snowed in at Talvista Lodge.
We quickly checked into our hotel then left to view the ice sculptures and see the awards presentation. When we arrived all of the ice sculptures were dripping wet and we learned that the warm temperatures were causing tremendous problems for the ice artists. At these temperatures the ice is not as strong or brittle and many artists were having trouble not only following their intended designs but also falling behind schedule completing their project. Because of this the awards were postponed until the next day.
Color is an important part of every sculpture so the artists use colored lighting to accent their work. The best time to view the sculptures is after dark when the colors are in full glory. I didn't realize the sculptures were so colorful and impressive. This was a surprise bonus and photographers bonanza. The artists come from all over the world and one Japanese artist, who was a strong contender for first place, had sculptured a huge owl with spread wings. Unfortunately the wings proved to large for the warm weakened ice, broke off and fell to the ground. Needless to say that put him out of the running.
Fairbanks in the winter conjures up impressions of forty below temperatures, ice fog and the Northern Lights. In March ice fog is uncommon but snow, cold temperatures, and Northern Lights are to be expected as well as snowy driving conditions.
It was about forty degrees when we left Wasilla and headed north on the Parks Highway. Driving conditions were fair to good and as we approached Fairbanks the thermometer in the truck read fifty degrees, a heat wave for here! The World Ice Art Championships run for two weeks each year in early March. We missed the first week because of the Iditarod and now we were another two days later because we were snowed in at Talvista Lodge.
We quickly checked into our hotel then left to view the ice sculptures and see the awards presentation. When we arrived all of the ice sculptures were dripping wet and we learned that the warm temperatures were causing tremendous problems for the ice artists. At these temperatures the ice is not as strong or brittle and many artists were having trouble not only following their intended designs but also falling behind schedule completing their project. Because of this the awards were postponed until the next day.
Color is an important part of every sculpture so the artists use colored lighting to accent their work. The best time to view the sculptures is after dark when the colors are in full glory. I didn't realize the sculptures were so colorful and impressive. This was a surprise bonus and photographers bonanza. The artists come from all over the world and one Japanese artist, who was a strong contender for first place, had sculptured a huge owl with spread wings. Unfortunately the wings proved to large for the warm weakened ice, broke off and fell to the ground. Needless to say that put him out of the running.
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As we were viewing the sculptures on our second night we could see people looking up and pointing toward the sky. We looked up and there were the Northern Lights! We were hoping to see them on this trip but were not expecting to because this was the low period in the eleven year sunspot cycle and the Auroral forecast prediction was poor. We immediately left and drove north to get away from the city lights but by the time we found a good viewing location the light display was just about over. We lingered but the sky remained dark. I did manage to get one fair photo but we missed the best and last opportunity of the winter for seeing a decent Auroral display.
Speaking of driving north, don't miss going to Chena Hot Springs sixty miles north of Fairbanks. We drove there on a day trip. Chena Hot Springs has become a year around destenitian for tourists from around the world. So many Japanese tourists come here that the lodge hires Japanese speaking employees. Chena is noted for its hot springs, lodge, geotherminal power generation and Ice Museum but is also a destenation for viewing the Northern Lights.
Speaking of driving north, don't miss going to Chena Hot Springs sixty miles north of Fairbanks. We drove there on a day trip. Chena Hot Springs has become a year around destenitian for tourists from around the world. So many Japanese tourists come here that the lodge hires Japanese speaking employees. Chena is noted for its hot springs, lodge, geotherminal power generation and Ice Museum but is also a destenation for viewing the Northern Lights.
You would think we saw enough dog sleding, having been at the Iditarod and Fur Rondy, but the Alaska Dog Mushers Association, here in Fairbanks, was hosting the Limited North American Championships and since we were already here it seemed prudent to see this too.
The dogsled races were much the same as we had seen at Fur Rondy but we had not seen a skijoring race so that we something new for us.
The weather for the return trip to Wasilla was excellent and provided a great ending for this leg of our year long Alaska adventure.
The dogsled races were much the same as we had seen at Fur Rondy but we had not seen a skijoring race so that we something new for us.
The weather for the return trip to Wasilla was excellent and provided a great ending for this leg of our year long Alaska adventure.
