Since I had been on it on my cruise/tour last year, I knew to get there ahead of the tour buses. And I knew just where the best seats would be, so we were first in line and got seats in theupper left front of the boat where most of the action takes place.
Starting up the river a bush pilot demonstrated take-off and landings in front and beside us.
Local wildlife…this beaver was at work today.
A retired airline pilot owns this house on the river. Many residents own boats or planes instead of a second car..
There were many beautiful large log homes as well as more modest homes along the river.
Also houseboats?
And blue tarps…this roof is not in repair; it’s just what it is.
A view of the river ahead
Approaching the home of Susan Butcher, 4 time Iditarod Champion. Susan died in 2006 of cancer, but her husband and children continue to live here on this island and raise sled dogs.
He and his oldest daughter explain how they train the dogs from puppies.
David Monson and his wife, Susan Butcher wrote a children’s children’s book about Susan’s lead dog, Granite. Later David was available to sign the book. Carol bought one.
These two are learning to climb over obstacles
Dogs were harnessed to this four wheeler and eagerly demonstrated their skills by pulling it all around the island.
Here David praises them for a good job.
Then they all ran for the water to cool off.
Our journey up the Chena River ended at the confluence of the Tanana River. The Tanana, a glacier fed river, can be identified by the glacial silt in the water. It is to shallow to navigate in the sternwheeler, so we had to turn around. Last year another bush pilot demonstrated take-offs and landings on that spit of gravel, but he was not part of our tour this time.
Close up of the silt.
On the way back we stopped at an Athabascan Village where we disembarked to learn about the way of life of native Alaskans.
This girl demonstrated how salmon is caught and prepared.
First the salmon is caught in a fish wheel…these are still used in rivers by natives. The water turns the wheel and baskets scoop up the fish as they swim upstream to their spawning area.
This particular salmon variety is Chum (you remember, rhymes with thumb?). It is also called dog salmon as that’s what it is used for…dog food. Here she scores the filets so more meat is exposed to the air for drying.
Leaving the filets connected at the tail, the salmon can be hung on a drying rack. Nothing is wasted however, the head and guts are also fed to the dogs.
Once dried on the outside rack, the salmon filets are ready to be moved to the smokehouse.
Smoked salmon anyone? We were served some mixed with cream cheese & spread on a cracker….not bad.
This girl explained the different animal pelts and how they were used. I don’t remember it all, but certain ones line the parka hood because they repel water and so your breath won’t freeze to your face.
Inside of a trapper’s cabin
Oh, hello! I hope I get to see one of these big bulls that is not already taxidermied.
This is a reindeer. It’s the same animal as a caribou, except that the ones that are domesticated are called reindeer. Try not to think of Rudolph as reindeer sausage.
I don’t know what kind of flower this is, but I loved the blue center and ubusual color of the petals.
Back aboard we returned towards Fairbanks.
Another way to travel the river in the summer. In winter people use the river as a road ubtil about mid April after the first car breaks through the ice.
Here’s your little river retreat just waiting for you.
Carol…trying out for the Iditarod…photo op in the gift shop with Susan Butcher’s sled.
We’re still in Fairbanks, but it’s raining, so don’t know what’s in store for today. I’m supposed to call about the generator parts about 2 p.m. Hopefully they’ll be here and they can get the job done.
